Cleaning out the notes app and notebook, wrapping up a rollicking Australian Open β¦. A reminder: If you want these columns and the weekly tennis mailbags sent directly to your email, just DM me. She went from a hard-hitting, well-liked, oft-injured slugger to a major winner and, dare we suggest, likely Hall of Famer? Note, too, the quality of her run. She beat four top opponents, including No. He has won each of the past three hard court majors. His next big match, though, will come before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in April.
An unfavorable ruling and he may have played his last major of Alexander Zverev did himself proud, living up to his No. During the final we discussed on X : Is Zverev the best player never to have won a major? Not currently. But β¦ ever?
Two-time defending champ Sabalenka nearly won a third. Name another athlete who deftlyβif delicatelyβmarries ferocity with humor and levity.
He then retired against Zverev after an minute set, ending his event, forestalling a 25th major and handing Andy Murray his first loss as a coach. Glass half-empty: Djokovic has gone more than a year without a major title.
He will be 38 at Roland Garros and time seems to be doing its dance. The scan he shared is no joke. Glass half-full: For someone who thrives on adverse situations and outwitting time and other forces thought to be immutable, another triumph in Paris is shaping up nicely for Djokovic. What an event for Paula Badosa. Then, she lost 18 games in her classic semifinal defeat to Keys. While there was little talk about the doping controversy, there were renewed questions about her sportsmanship.
