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Good morning! If you’re up in time for F1 this morning (9 a.m. ET), enjoy having high-stakes sports on TV for the vast majority of the day.
Slam Season: A new chapter in French Open history
For the better part of the last two decades, you could count on one guarantee in the world of professional sports: Rafael Nadal ruling Roland Garros. The aptly named King of Clay won 14 of 18 French Opens from 2005-2022 while compiling a 112-4 record. It was a level of dominance that may never be matched.
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But the Nadal era at Roland Garros is officially over. Nadal retired from the sport last year after a first-round exit in his final French Open. Meanwhile, tennis’ GOAT Novak Djokovic looks far from the favorite to reclaim the crown — he said so himself — despite just winning his 100th title in Geneva yesterday.
Until proven otherwise, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will be the heavy favorites in every tournament they enter. This year’s French Open is no different as first-round action is already underway, beginning today:
Who else should you have your eye on? I asked our senior tennis writer Matthew Futterman for his dark horse:
💬 Everyone not named Sinner or Alcaraz has to be considered something of a dark horse. So along those lines I have to call the world No. 5 Jack Draper a dark horse, especially the way he’s shot up the rankings the past year. I don’t think he’s going to win, but I have my eye on him. He won Indian Wells and made the final of Madrid. He’s got a big game, and if it gets hot and dry the second week and the ball flies, watch out.
Let’s move to the women’s side, where we saw a run of eight different champions in eight years before Iga Świątek won the last three titles and four of the last five. We’re talking about legitimate Nadal-level dominance from the 23-year-old.
This year, however, Świątek looks … beatable? Aryna Sabalenka has been the best player in the world and is the rightful favorite at Roland Garros, and this may be American Coco Gauff’s best shot at a Grand Slam since she won her first at the U.S. Open in 2023. Gauff dominated Świątek on clay earlier this month.
Outside of the favorites, who can make a surprise run on the women’s side? Back to Futterman:
💬 I’ve got my eye on Zheng Qinwen. She’s not had a great year, but she’s a terrific clay-court player who won the gold medal here last summer. In doing so she beat Świątek here for the first time since 2021. She’s not exactly a dark horse at No. 8 and with a gold medal around her neck, and she beat Sabalenka in Rome for the first time. If she’s serving well, she’s extremely dangerous.
Nadal’s absence and Świątek’s sudden fallibility aren’t the only changes to the French Open this year. Warner Bros. Discovery is attempting to reinvent tennis coverage on TNT and Max in its first year broadcasting the tournament. Mic’d up coaches, whip-around coverage akin to NFL Red Zone and a fresh crop of analysts in the booth? Count me in.
Stay tuned to our live blog throughout day one. One other change: The Athletic is now home to “The Tennis Podcast.” Watch its French Open media day rundown here.
News to Know
More playoff blowouts
Last night presented another pair of postseason shellackings in the NBA and NHL. Let’s start in Minnesota, where the Thunder — seemingly in cruise control in this series — were run out of the building by Anthony Edwards and the Wolves in a 42-point loss. Make some time today for Jon Krawczynski’s heartwarming story on how an orange wristband and Edwards’s promise to a 6-year-old boy are bringing magic to Minnesota.
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On the ice, the Hurricanes extended their conference finals losing streak to 15 games in a 6-2 loss to the Panthers. Woof. Do we even need to play Game 4? Our NHL staff has more takeaways as Florida closes in on a third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance.
Sunderland back to Premier League
Sunderland beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the promotion playoff final of the Championship, the second tier of English soccer. That means that the former Premier League mainstays, after eight years toiling down the relegation ladder, will finally be back in the big time. It’s been a long journey, including four years spent in League One, the third tier. Also heading up next season: Leeds and Burnley, which secured spots by finishing one and two in the table. Heading down: Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton. The Premier League’s dramatic final day is today.
More news:
What to Watch
📺 IndyCar: Indianapolis 500
12:45 p.m. ET on Fox
The first part of a day to remember in Indy (and the second part of a big day in motorsport). The race will be a nice tonic after some bleak IndyCar news during the week.
📺 NHL: Stars at Oilers, Game 3
3 p.m. ET on ABC
The Oilers came back with authority in Game 2 after getting run out of Dallas in Game 1. A team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl mostly just needs to not be in its own way.
📺 NBA: Knicks at Pacers, Game 3
8 p.m. ET on TNT
The Knicks are in a brutal spot, down 2-0 and going on the road. It’s not easy to win when your starters are constantly not doing the job.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
Joey Votto and Steph Curry found a secret to workplace happiness. You can, too, Rustin Dodd writes.
Zab’s hot sauce, specifically the St. Augustine style. I’ve seen it in stores for a while now but finally pulled the trigger and it’s quickly become a favorite. I’m not even a big hot sauce collector guy, but it’s phenomenal. — Chris Branch
No One Knows When They Don’t Die is a wildly thought-provoking 3-minute watch. And inspiring, not morbid! — Chris Sprow
This week, our college football team did a bunch of top-25 lists, seeing as we’re now 25 years into the 2000s:
- Stewart Mandel ranked the 25 best teams of this era. 2001 Miami gets No. 1. I stand with 2019 LSU.
- Bruce Feldman has the top 25 players. Tell your grandkids about Cam Newton.
- Chris Vannini handled the list of the top 25 coaches. Hardest call: USC’s Lincoln Riley. Three Heismans! And … everything since.
- Maybe the funnest list is David Ubben’s of the 25 best games. Surreal to realize there were arguably multiple games better than the Kick Six.
- Rounding it out is Stewart again with the top 25 programs, not just single-year teams. At No. 1, he makes a case for … Ohio State!
— Jason Kirk
The Whole Foods brown butter chocolate chunk mini cookie dough makes the perfect weeknight dessert. A worthy challenger (or combo!) to the Trader Joe’s coffee bean mini ice cream cones recommended a couple months ago. — Sam Settleman
This cheap roller thingy is a dream for sore legs and a cinch to use in the fleeting moments of stillness while hanging with my toddler. — Torrey Hart
Splurging on fresh pasta (or daring to make it at home), then making this pasta primavera recipe that feels perfect for late spring. — Mark Cooper
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our newser on the 2025 All-NBA teams.
Most-read on the website yesterday: More news from David Ornstein on coach Ruben Amorim staying with Man United — but telling Alejandro Garnacho to find a new club.
Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Top photo: Tim Goode / Getty Images)
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Rogério Ceni, do Bahia, elege time afetado pela arbitragem no Brasileirão
Rogério Ceni durante entrevista antes de jogo no Brasileirão (Rafael Rodrigues/EC Bahia - Divulgação) Rogério Ceni não poupou críticas ao árbitro Bruno Arleu de Araújo e toda a equipe do apito envolvida no jogo Grêmio x Bahia, ocorrido neste domingo (25), em Porto Alegre, classificando que o Esquadrão foi diretamente prejudicado, após um pênalti ser marcado sobre Braithwaite, no revés de 1 a 0. No papo com a imprensa, o treinador externou o inconformismo que já havia mostrado através de gestões e expressões faciais após a penalidade polêmica ter sido assinalada. Para ele, o cenário ficou ainda mais grave pelo fato do árbitro ter ido ao VAR e a marcação não ter sido anulada. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O erro do árbitro é dar o pênalti, depois que ele vai ao VAR já não é mais ele. Aí é outra coisa que […]
Rogério Ceni, do Bahia, elege time afetado pela arbitragem no Brasileirão
Rogério Ceni durante entrevista antes de jogo no Brasileirão (Rafael Rodrigues/EC Bahia - Divulgação) Rogério Ceni não poupou críticas ao árbitro Bruno Arleu de Araújo e toda a equipe do apito envolvida no jogo Grêmio x Bahia, ocorrido neste domingo (25), em Porto Alegre, classificando que o Esquadrão foi diretamente prejudicado, após um pênalti ser marcado sobre Braithwaite, no revés de 1 a 0. No papo com a imprensa, o treinador externou o inconformismo que já havia mostrado através de gestões e expressões faciais após a penalidade polêmica ter sido assinalada. Para ele, o cenário ficou ainda mais grave pelo fato do árbitro ter ido ao VAR e a marcação não ter sido anulada. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O erro do árbitro é dar o pênalti, depois que ele vai ao VAR já não é mais ele. Aí é outra coisa que […]
Rogério Ceni, do Bahia, elege time afetado pela arbitragem no Brasileirão
Rogério Ceni durante entrevista antes de jogo no Brasileirão (Rafael Rodrigues/EC Bahia - Divulgação) Rogério Ceni não poupou críticas ao árbitro Bruno Arleu de Araújo e toda a equipe do apito envolvida no jogo Grêmio x Bahia, ocorrido neste domingo (25), em Porto Alegre, classificando que o Esquadrão foi diretamente prejudicado, após um pênalti ser marcado sobre Braithwaite, no revés de 1 a 0. No papo com a imprensa, o treinador externou o inconformismo que já havia mostrado através de gestões e expressões faciais após a penalidade polêmica ter sido assinalada. Para ele, o cenário ficou ainda mais grave pelo fato do árbitro ter ido ao VAR e a marcação não ter sido anulada. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O erro do árbitro é dar o pênalti, depois que ele vai ao VAR já não é mais ele. Aí é outra coisa que […]
Race for the Champions League: Man City, Newcastle and Chelsea sneak in but agony for Villa and Forest
For a lot of this season, the Premier League has been light on compelling, competitive narrative.It was pretty clear that Liverpool would be champions from fairly early on, and it was even more obvious that Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton were going to go down. Stakes seemed low, attention could easily wander, the summer loomed.AdvertisementBut then, emerging over the hill to save us all as winter turned into spring, was the race for the Champions League places. The fact that the Premier League had five places this season rather than four gave things an added element of spice, so as Nottingham Forest faltered, Manchester City started to look more like themselves and both Newcastle United and Aston Villa found some form, it was all headed inexorably towards high drama and teeth-chattering tension on the final day.Before the games started, […]
‘People can write what they want’ – Norris responds to critics with ‘perfect’ Monaco
Lando Norris says his critics can "write what they want" after a "perfect" Monaco Grand Prix weekend, where he converted pole position into victory.Norris returned to winning ways for the first time since the season-opener in Australia by fending off Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, who is now just three points ahead of his McLaren team-mate ahead of next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. The British driver was particularly proud of his qualifying performance after openly struggling with his one-lap form and coming under scrutiny for not executing under pressure."People can write what they want. It's not up to me. People have their own opinions, they can do all of those things," said Norris."Thing is, none of them are true, 99 per cent of the time. So, it's all c**p. I don't mind what people write as long as I know […]
Jack Grealish exclusion from Manchester City’s final game ‘not personal’ – Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has said Jack Grealish’s exclusion from Manchester City’s final matchday squad of the campaign was “nothing personal”.Grealish, 29, was left out of the squad for City’s two-goal victory at Fulham on Sunday to conclude their 2024-25 campaign.Grealish has started in just seven Premier League matches for City this term and was an unused substitute in last week’s FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.AdvertisementSince January, the England international has made just one league start for Guardiola’s side — the 2-0 win against Leicester City in April.“Don’t ask me about Jack, who said I’m not happy with Jack?,” Guardiola asked when questioned on whether he was unhappy with Grealish.“Rico (Lewis) was not selected, (James) McAtee was exceptional against Aston Villa and Wolves, why not ask me about McAtee?“I have to get rid of six players last game and five […]
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Rogério Ceni, do Bahia, elege time afetado pela arbitragem no Brasileirão
Rogério Ceni durante entrevista antes de jogo no Brasileirão (Rafael Rodrigues/EC Bahia - Divulgação) Rogério Ceni não poupou críticas ao árbitro Bruno Arleu de Araújo e toda a equipe do apito envolvida no jogo Grêmio x Bahia, ocorrido neste domingo (25), em Porto Alegre, classificando que o Esquadrão foi diretamente prejudicado, após um pênalti ser marcado sobre Braithwaite, no revés de 1 a 0. No papo com a imprensa, o treinador externou o inconformismo que já havia mostrado através de gestões e expressões faciais após a penalidade polêmica ter sido assinalada. Para ele, o cenário ficou ainda mais grave pelo fato do árbitro ter ido ao VAR e a marcação não ter sido anulada. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O erro do árbitro é dar o pênalti, depois que ele vai ao VAR já não é mais ele. Aí é outra coisa que […]
Rogério Ceni, do Bahia, elege time afetado pela arbitragem no Brasileirão
Rogério Ceni durante entrevista antes de jogo no Brasileirão (Rafael Rodrigues/EC Bahia - Divulgação) Rogério Ceni não poupou críticas ao árbitro Bruno Arleu de Araújo e toda a equipe do apito envolvida no jogo Grêmio x Bahia, ocorrido neste domingo (25), em Porto Alegre, classificando que o Esquadrão foi diretamente prejudicado, após um pênalti ser marcado sobre Braithwaite, no revés de 1 a 0. No papo com a imprensa, o treinador externou o inconformismo que já havia mostrado através de gestões e expressões faciais após a penalidade polêmica ter sido assinalada. Para ele, o cenário ficou ainda mais grave pelo fato do árbitro ter ido ao VAR e a marcação não ter sido anulada. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O erro do árbitro é dar o pênalti, depois que ele vai ao VAR já não é mais ele. Aí é outra coisa que […]
Rogério Ceni, do Bahia, elege time afetado pela arbitragem no Brasileirão
Rogério Ceni durante entrevista antes de jogo no Brasileirão (Rafael Rodrigues/EC Bahia - Divulgação) Rogério Ceni não poupou críticas ao árbitro Bruno Arleu de Araújo e toda a equipe do apito envolvida no jogo Grêmio x Bahia, ocorrido neste domingo (25), em Porto Alegre, classificando que o Esquadrão foi diretamente prejudicado, após um pênalti ser marcado sobre Braithwaite, no revés de 1 a 0. No papo com a imprensa, o treinador externou o inconformismo que já havia mostrado através de gestões e expressões faciais após a penalidade polêmica ter sido assinalada. Para ele, o cenário ficou ainda mais grave pelo fato do árbitro ter ido ao VAR e a marcação não ter sido anulada. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O erro do árbitro é dar o pênalti, depois que ele vai ao VAR já não é mais ele. Aí é outra coisa que […]
Race for the Champions League: Man City, Newcastle and Chelsea sneak in but agony for Villa and Forest
For a lot of this season, the Premier League has been light on compelling, competitive narrative.It was pretty clear that Liverpool would be champions from fairly early on, and it was even more obvious that Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton were going to go down. Stakes seemed low, attention could easily wander, the summer loomed.AdvertisementBut then, emerging over the hill to save us all as winter turned into spring, was the race for the Champions League places. The fact that the Premier League had five places this season rather than four gave things an added element of spice, so as Nottingham Forest faltered, Manchester City started to look more like themselves and both Newcastle United and Aston Villa found some form, it was all headed inexorably towards high drama and teeth-chattering tension on the final day.Before the games started, […]
‘People can write what they want’ – Norris responds to critics with ‘perfect’ Monaco
Lando Norris says his critics can "write what they want" after a "perfect" Monaco Grand Prix weekend, where he converted pole position into victory.Norris returned to winning ways for the first time since the season-opener in Australia by fending off Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, who is now just three points ahead of his McLaren team-mate ahead of next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. The British driver was particularly proud of his qualifying performance after openly struggling with his one-lap form and coming under scrutiny for not executing under pressure."People can write what they want. It's not up to me. People have their own opinions, they can do all of those things," said Norris."Thing is, none of them are true, 99 per cent of the time. So, it's all c**p. I don't mind what people write as long as I know […]
Jack Grealish exclusion from Manchester City’s final game ‘not personal’ – Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has said Jack Grealish’s exclusion from Manchester City’s final matchday squad of the campaign was “nothing personal”.Grealish, 29, was left out of the squad for City’s two-goal victory at Fulham on Sunday to conclude their 2024-25 campaign.Grealish has started in just seven Premier League matches for City this term and was an unused substitute in last week’s FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.AdvertisementSince January, the England international has made just one league start for Guardiola’s side — the 2-0 win against Leicester City in April.“Don’t ask me about Jack, who said I’m not happy with Jack?,” Guardiola asked when questioned on whether he was unhappy with Grealish.“Rico (Lewis) was not selected, (James) McAtee was exceptional against Aston Villa and Wolves, why not ask me about McAtee?“I have to get rid of six players last game and five […]
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