🎾 A Roland-Garros For The Ages

June 10, 2025

Happy Tuesday! Roland-Garros delivered two instant classics as Carlos Alcaraz saved triple championship point against Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff came back from a set down to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for their respective titles.

In this week's newsletter:

  • 🧱 Instant Classic: Alcaraz Completes Historic Comeback

  • 💪 Gauff's Championship Mentality Shines

  • 5️⃣ Top 5 Moments from Roland-Garros 2025

🧠 Tennis Trivia Challenge 🧠

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Which was the only year each of the Big Four (Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray) won a grand slam title?

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🧱 Instant Classic: Alcaraz Completes Historic Comeback 🧱

Image: India Today

Facing triple championship point down 3–5, 0–40 in the fourth set, Carlos Alcaraz’s Roland-Garros title defense was hanging by the thinnest of threads against the world No. 1. But under maximum pressure, when lesser champions might fold, Alcaraz produced his finest tennis. He saved all three championship points, broke back to level at 5-5, and then took the fourth set tiebreak with authority. He completed the comeback by dominating the fifth set tiebreak 10-2, sealing his victory after 5 hours and 29 minutes in the longest French Open final in history.

Post-match, both players met the moment with grace. Sinner congratulated Alcaraz with genuine warmth before admitting to the crowd "I won't sleep very well tonight, but it's okay." Alcaraz responded by saying “It's a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you.” The mutual respect was unmistakable as they embraced after the match, marking the end of their first Grand Slam final meeting with sportsmanship that elevated an already historic occasion.

At 22, Alcaraz now holds five Grand Slam titles, trailing just Björn Borg and Nadal among the youngest to do so. His perfect 5-0 record in Slam finals hints at something greater than talent. It suggests staying power. With recent victories in Monte-Carlo, Rome, and now Paris, Alcaraz has established himself as tennis's next great champion and the new King of Clay.

💪 Gauff's Championship Mentality Shines 💪

Image: ABC

Coco Gauff's determination shone brightest when it mattered most. After dropping the opening set in a tiebreak to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the 21-year-old American showcased the mental toughness that defines champions. Gauff stormed through the second set 6-2 in just 33 minutes, then held steady under intense pressure in the decider to claim her second Grand Slam title, becoming the first American to win Roland-Garros since Serena Williams in 2015.

Post-match, Gauff handled Sabalenka's candid disappointment with remarkable grace. The Belarusian called her own performance "terrible tennis" and suggested that Iga Świątek would have won had she reached the final. Gauff, composed and respectful, deflected any negativity and instead praised Sabalenka, demonstrating the maturity that has become her trademark.

At just 21, Gauff's rise to becoming a two-time Grand Slam champion feels inevitable rather than surprising. She joins Serena, Venus, Evert, and Tracy Austin as the only American women to win multiple majors before turning 22. Her 27 career wins at Roland-Garros tie her with Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario for the fourth-most in the Open era before age 22. With her fearless attitude and continuous improvement, Gauff appears destined to be at the top of women’s tennis for years to come.

5️⃣ Top 5 Moments from Roland-Garros 2025 5️⃣

Image: The Boston Globe

The 2025 French Open delivered two epic finals, but the tournament's magic extended far beyond the championship matches. Here are the top five (non-finals) moments.

#5. French Veterans' Retirement Ceremonies: 

Richard Gasquet and Caroline Garcia both played their final Roland-Garros matches, drawing ovations from tennis legends and the home crowd alike. Their tearful farewells provided touching moments of gratitude for two former top-10 French players.

#4. PSG's Champions League Celebration: 

Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembélé brought the Champions League trophy onto Court Philippe-Chatrier, shouting "Ici, c'est Paris!" to a raucous Parisian crowd. The moment perfectly captured the city’s electric atmosphere after PSG's historic first Champions League victory.

#3. Djokovic's Possible Last Stand: 

After losing to Sinner in the semifinals, Djokovic received a standing ovation and kissed the clay, saying "this could have been the last match I ever played here." The emotional farewell left fans wondering if they'd just witnessed tennis history.

#2. Loïs Boisson's Cinderella Run: 

After tearing her ACL last year and facing nasty on-court comments weeks earlier, No. 361 Lois Boisson captured French hearts by beating three seeds, including Pegula and Andreeva, to reach the semifinals. The roaring home crowd chanted "Loïs, Loïs" between points as their underdog hero inspired a nation.

#1. Nadal's Emotional Farewell: 

The "King of Clay" received a grand reception during an unforgettable ceremony on Court Philippe Chatrier. Spectators wore colored t-shirts that spelled out "14 RG, Rafa" as Federer, Djokovic, and Murray joined him on court for a touching tribute that culminated with his footprint being etched into the clay.

🎥 Reel of the Week 🎥

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