The Return of the Cutest Mahut: @NMahut Brings Out His Secret Weapon Again, This Time at @USOpen
Steve Fogleman, Tennis Atlantic
Nicolas Mahut’s cutiepie valet has made his first official appearance at the US Open. Natnel Mahut, 6, made his tennis debut at Roland Garros in June and made many fans himself when he rushed on court to celebrate Mahut’s doubles title in Paris.
Today, he was even cuter, assisting Mahut with towels and even offering them up to the fans as Papa Mahut posed for selfies after a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 win over Norbert Gombos of Slovakia at US Open qualifying in New York.
As Natnel tugged on Mahut’s bag to stay with Dad, I asked Mahut if it made him extra proud to win in the presence of Natnel.
“I am proud, and he likes it alot,” he told me after the match. “But I have to win. When I lose, it’s a different story.”
Does Natnel plan to follow in Nico’s footsteps?
“He wants to be a professional but I don’t think he knows how difficult it is, but so far, I will let him dream about it,” he said.
I wondered if Natnel knows all the details about his dad making tennis history at Wimbledon a few years back.
“No, for him, I’m just his Dad, and that is good enough for now. He knows I won the French Open doubles, and for him, that’s big enough.”
Here’s another detail: Mahut faces Tommy Robredo in a blast-from-the-past matchup for a main draw berth tomorrow. If Mahut’s secret weapon is there, odds look good for the Frenchman.
Best moment of the doubles final. � Nicolas Mahuts’s son ran on court to congratulate his dad on his doubles win from federico on Vimeo.
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