It was the evening of the second Tuesday at the French Open and that meant it was a special night on the annual tennis social calendar.
The movers and shakers of the tennis community -- players, former players, officialdom and other dignitaries -- took off their casual clothing and perhaps their sneakers, put on their gowns and tuxedos, or at the very least smart black suits, and were ready to party. It wasn't just a chance to socialize and catch up -- the evening was primarily designed 30 years ago to pay tribute to the ITF's World Champions of each year.
And in more recent times the dinner also honors a special person or organization that has displayed a dedication to the sport with the annual Philippe Chatrier Award.
The most notable names in the game that have been anointed ITF World Champions in the past include Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.
All of the 2007 World Champions made the scene except for three-time consecutive women's champion Justine Henin, who announced her retirement from the game two months ago.
"It's just a fantastic honor for me to be named the ITF World Champion for the third year and it means a lot to myself," Henin said in a video message she sent to the dinner. "It's a very special time in my life now that I decided to retire. I have only good memories. I am feeling happy and only relief that I can move on with my life. Tennis has been good in my life and I will never forget these memories. I promise to come and see you all again in the future."
Although Roger Federer had a quarterfinal date with Chilean Fernando Gonzalez on Wednesday at the courts, he never thought twice about showing up at the Pavillon d'Armenonville, on the edge of the famed Bois de Boulogne, to acknowledge his fourth consecutive time as World Champion. He arrived fashionably late, missing the cocktail hour, but made the dinner.
However, Federer's parents, Robert and Lynette, turned up earlier with Tony Godsick, Federer's agent, and Godsick's wife, former player and ESPN commentator Mary Joe Fernandez. Still as fit as the day she played, Fernandez, a mother of two, looked elegant in a stunning white ball gown with a red wrap.
Both of Federer's parents stopped by to say hello and his mother seemed pleased to be at another World Champions dinner after nine years of absence. She had special memories of the last time she saw her son win an ITF award as the boy's junior champion in 1999 -- a dinner held in a party tent erected near "The Thinker" in the Rodin museum garden.
The 2007 women's doubles recipients, Cara Black and Liezel Huber, had each of their husbands in the audience. Huber discussed how long they would continue playing: "The plan is to be able to have kids one day and not play forever."
Despite being upset in the men's doubles quarterfinals earlier in the week, Bob and Mike Bryan showed up to accept a record fifth men's doubles champion award.
In the wheelchair category, Dutchwoman Esther Vergeer, who has been No. 1 in the world for 379 consecutive weeks, won for the eighth year in a row. And Japan's Shingo Kunieda of Japan couldn't quite decide if he's famous back home in Japan, but won the men's Wheelchair World Champion for the first time in his career.
Among the dignitaries making the black-tie scene for the first time was New York's No. 1 tennis fan, former Mayor David Dinkins. Hizzoner serves on a USTA committee that was instrumental in funding the Arthur Ashe stadium at the U.S. Open during his tenure as mayor.
Dinkins, who will turn 81 on June 10th, which he pointed out was the same birthday as his friend, the late Arthur Ashe, humorously weaved a tale about the last time he was at the French Open.
"As a matter of a fact, I haven't been to the tournament since I played Borg in 1980," Dinkins said with a wry smile. "I took him to five sets in the quarterfinals."
When it was suggested to Dinkins that it was difficult to recall that match, he continued on without missing a beat: "Well, it was a hell of a match. I took him to 8-6 in the fifth, but he was such a gentleman I almost didn't mind losing. (In reality, Borg defeated Italian Corrado Barazzutti in straight sets en route to his third of four consecutive French Open titles in 1980.)
From tennis, the conversation not surprisingly drifted to politics on a day when Barack Obama earned the right to be called the presumptive Democratic candidate for the 2008 presidential election. Dinkins, an elected delegate for Hillary Clinton, didn't hide his frustration about party politics but remains steadfastly a Democratic, particularly concerned about potential Supreme Court nominations during the next presidential term.
Todd Woodbridge, a three-time world doubles champion, was happy to return to the formal affair and remembered the excitement of past parties. But what he also didn't forget was prodding Lleyton Hewitt to show up for the first of his two consecutive times as men's World Champion in 2001.
"I think it's really important that the people who are the champions should always come because you have to live those moments when you can because they're fleeting some of the time," Woodbridge said. "I know for myself, I look back now and really remember those moments. It's very special.
"I remember Lleyton when he was the No. 1 and he was saying, 'Oh, I don't want to go to that dinner, why do I need to go.' I told him that the explanation was that you don't know how long you're going to be No. 1. He went. He's good like that and does appreciate the history and tradition. I think he probably looks back and he's glad he did go."
Every year the event seems to take on the mood that comes along with the winner of the Philippe Chatrier award. Last year that responsibility belonged to John McEnroe, who delighted attendees with his humor. He explained how perplexed he was when learning he was to be honored with the Chatrier award, named for the former French Federation and International Tennis Federation President. A long memory, he noted that the late Chatrier did not appreciate his ill-temper and actually tried to have him thrown out of the game.
Australian Neal Fraser, an overall 19-time Grand Slam champion who picked up the Wimbledon singles trophy in 1960 and the U.S. Championships in 1959 and '60, was the recipient of this year's Chatrier award. Fraser was a Davis Cup stalwart as player, captain and to this day a valued member of the ITF's Davis Cup committee.
Fraser, 74, visibly choked up during his acceptance speech in front of many fellow Australians -- contemporary and former Grand Slam champion Fred Stolle, Woodbridge, Mark Woodforde and Darren Cahill.
"I knew if I played for my country, I would enjoy the trimmings of the game, which would make my family proud," said an emotional Fraser. "So after 55 years involved in this game, I think I've enjoyed more trimmings than anyone can imagine."
As the evening came to a close at around midnight, the focus started to shift back to the reason everyone had gathered in Paris -- to find the 2008 French Open champions. And on Wednesday, no matter what role the attendees had in their involvement in tennis, it would be back to business at Roland Garros. But a night off of dress-up, fine French wine and gourmet food certainly provided a welcome break.
Sandra Harwitt is a freelance tennis writer for ESPN.com.