Skip to Content
Features

A European Tennis Experience

In this feature from our latest Issue No. 24, Paramore's Zac Farro gives us a preview of his upcoming zine, Souvenir: A European Summer.

By Zac Farro

10:13 PM EDT on July 16, 2024

"There are many reasons to know, love, and follow Zac Farro. He is a striking photographer and a world-renowned musician. He is a tastemaker, being one of the original members of the Grammy-winning alternative rock band Paramore, and the founder of Congrats, a record label Farro built from the ground up, which supports indie artists in his creative orbit and beyond. He has a wry sense of humor and impeccable style, with undeniably one of the best hat collections in the industry." -Anna Zanes for Alternative Press

I love tennis almost as much as I love music these days. I play as many times a week as I can. I think it’s good for artists to have a period of time during the week to turn off the “creation” part of their brain and move into a competitive and active mindset.

Photo Feb 08 2020, 11 56 39 PM
Photo Feb 05 2020, 3 34 53 PM
Photo Feb 05 2020, 1 34 23 PM

One of my favorite things about playing tennis on tour, and especially in Europe, is that you see a different side of a city you wouldn’t normally see. There’s a common ground on a tennis court that’s very different from a city center or a hotel lobby. [vc_column width="1/2"]

image0

[vc_column width="1/2"]

Photo Jan 30 2020, 1 16 07 PM

When I was younger, I used to want to see the most notorious monument or tourist attraction only, and I thought that would feel like I was getting some sort of special experience in a place.

Photo Feb 03 2020, 5 49 38 PM
Photo Jan 30 2020, 2 12 04 PM
Photo Jan 30 2020, 12 57 25 PM

But there’s nothing quite like the feeling of someone explaining how to prepare a clay court in a foreign language or the anticipation of finding directions to a brand new court you’ve never been to before. Once you’re there, the familiarity returns and you play tennis. That’s something you can’t buy at a souvenir shop.[vc_column width="1/2"]

Photo Feb 05 2020, 3 51 17 PM

[vc_column width="1/2"]

Photo Feb 05 2020, 3 41 22 PM

Courts photographed: Colombes Tennis Club -Paris, France. Hellas Tennisklubb -Stockholm, Sweden. Haga Tennis -Stockholm, Sweden. Lisbon, Portugal. Photos of me by Brian O’Connor.

Photo Feb 08 2020, 11 59 13 PM

Zac Farro spends his free time on tour photographing friends, finding each city's best restaurants, and more recently, searching for some white clothes before stepping out onto the hallowed grass courts at Wimbledon.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Racquet

Portofino or Bust

Sease, with a little help from Feliciano Lopez, takes over the Italian Riviera.

April 1, 2025

Is Men’s Tennis in Crisis?

Petko joins Rennae on the pod to recap an eventful Sunshine Double, where Aryna Sabalenka and the women are more than making up for the existential dilemma facing men's tennis as the stars continue to fade and the new faces falter. Plus: A daring new t-shirt design inspired by the legend herself, Serena.

March 31, 2025

PTPA Lawsuit, Miami’s Fresh Faces & More

Rennae and Caitlin attempt to break down the well-intentioned? Ill-intentioned? obvious yet nonsensical? PTPA lawsuit filed against both tours as well as clear up the rules about acute injuries, discuss the Raducanussaince and give some deserved guff to the tournament organizers.

March 28, 2025

Asmara Open: Postcard from the Philippines

A vacation turned one aspiring player into a tournament volunteer in the Philippines.

March 28, 2025

Seen Around Miami Open Grounds

Alexander Aguiar is a photographer based in Miami who is capturing scenes and matches around the second half of the Sunshine Double for Racquet. His impressionistic photography captures the heavy conditions in South Florida as well as the brightest stars on both tours.

March 22, 2025
See all posts