The post-Ash Barty era would have started on a bleak note had it not been for the injury-prone baseliner’s maiden win in ParisWith the light fading in Paris on Sunday night, a one-time prodigy of Australian tennis enjoyed arguably the finest moment of a career that has been sadly restricted by injury. Well over a decade after matching the junior deeds of 13-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, Jason Kubler finally broke through for his first ever win at Roland Garros.After making it through qualifying in his fourth visit to Paris as a senior, Kubler was able to hold his nerve at critical times when defeating American Denis Kudla 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3). He closed out the triumph...
The world No 2 has been treated as a threat, a familiar reception that black athletes receive when they step outside the boxOn Monday evening the four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka, the brightest young star across the world of tennis, withdrew from Roland Garros because she felt that her attempts to preserve her mental wellbeing were a distraction to her peers. In other words, it marks a shameful moment for tennis.Osaka had announced in a statement last week that she would not conduct her press obligations during the tournament, a decision that led to six days of attention and widespread discussion across the internet. While Osaka’s initial announcement and communication was far from perfect, it was bold of her...
Young athletes are expected to answer the most intimate questions in a cynical and often predatory environmentRegular attendees of Arsenal press conferences at the Emirates Stadium – in the before-times, when these things still happened – will tell of a mysterious character by the name of First Question Man. Nobody ever discovered who FQM worked for, or if he was even a journalist at all. His only real talent, if you can call it that, was to sit in the front row and make sure he asked the first question, usually by barking it while everyone was still taking their seats.Why FQM did this was never clear. It can’t have been ego: I never met anybody who knew his real...
The Swiss posted a long statement on social media welcoming his great rival to the 20-title club shortly after the finalIn his astonishing straight-sets bludgeoning of Novak Djokovic on Sunday, Rafael Nadal unlocked many surreal achievements. He now owns 13 Roland Garros titles, 15 years after his first outing.Nadal is the first man in history to win six grand slam titles over the age of 30, a level of longevity that must taste so sweet after years of hearing his game was too physical to last. His 100-2 win-loss record at the event simply does not make any sense. Still, the subject was about Nadal joining Roger Federer on 20 major titles. Related: Rafael Nadal demolishes Novak Djokovic to win...
Teenager is latest young winner who has shown contempt for custom and experienceAt the end of her speech after a seventh dismantling of seven, Iga Swiatek returned to the mic with one final thought: “Maybe it just had to be like that,” she said, laughing. “Another underdog is gonna win a grand slam. In women’s tennis it’s so open right now that it’s crazy.”Although it was a shock to see Swiatek forego a more conventional path to a first slam title by winning at just 19 years old, conceding an absurd 28 games and clinching her first tour-level title at Roland Garros, in some ways women’s tennis has not been open for the past two years. The youth have arrived...