Novak Djokovic and Barbora Krejcikova were the surprise French Open champions -- plus 5-foot-7 Diego Schwartzman and 6-foot-7 Benjamin Lock got me all worked up. Read my full tennis report BELOW.
Let the "Fun-size" shoot begin
Novak Djokovic captured his 19th major title on Sunday, coming from two sets down to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas -- 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 -- in a match that lasted more than four hours. While part of me felt that the 22-year-old Greek blew a golden opportunity -- not unlike Dominic Thiem in the 2020 Australian Open final or even Daniil Medvedev when he had Rafael Nadal scared to death in the 2019 U.S. Open final -- a kinder part of me thinks what happened is just a huge reminder of how incredible it is what Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka have accomplished in their careers. (Clearly it is not easy in this era, much less three times each.)
Between dethroning Nadal on clay and completing a second career Grand Slam, plus the endless list of other top stats, it was no surprise that Mary Carillo, John McEnroe and even my Nadal-loving hubby had all declared Nole the greatest by Sunday afternoon. Novax has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in the past year -- even hardcore fans like me and my friend Greg. But nothing can take away from his incredible gift, one that seems to have already relegated the great Roger Federer to "era gone by" status the way Fed did Pete Sampras not long ago.
On the women's side, 25-year-old doubles specialist Barbora Krejcikova won her maiden Grand Slam singles title on Saturday, beating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 to become the first Czech woman in 40 years to capture Roland Garros. It was nice not really caring who won -- if Krejcikova, I was happy that her Jana Novotna connection paid off; if Pavlyuchenkova won, it would be a nice breakthrough for a player who has been good for so long. Still, it's hard not to see the WTA in crisis mode. Serena Williams's days are numbered. Neither of its top two stars seem very interested in playing yearround. And with unheralded players winning majors and then fading into obscurity, I'd be surprised if corporate sponsors maintain interest when even a diehard fans like me can't.
I was, however, relieved to see that Krejcikova and Czech teammate Katerina Siniakova took out kooky Bethanie Mattek-Sands and 2020 single champ Iga Swiatek in Sunday's final, 6-4, 6-2. Krejcikova became the first woman to win the singles and doubles since Mary Pierce in 2000.
Meanwhile in mixed, Joe Salisbury and Desirae [sic] Krawczyk defeated Aslan Karatsev and Elena Vesnina (2-6, 6-4, 10-5) to claim the title on Thursday in the Battle of Bods.
Stefanos was understandably emotional -- and disaappointed -- after coming so close on Sunday. What we didn't know is that he had just gotten word that his paternal grandmother had died as he stepped out on the court.
In Stuttgart, Marin Cilic captured his 19th ATP Tour title -- and his first for three years -- on Sunday after he defeated third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(2), 6-3 in the MercedesCup final. (Poor Felix. The young Canadian is now 0-8 in ATP finals, having lost all 16 sets.)
In doubles, Marcelo Demoliner and Santiago Gonzalez overcame Ariel Behar and Gonzalo Escobar 4-6, 6-3, [10-8] to claim the MercedesCup title on Sunday.
Elswhere around the net ...
Borna Coric endorses another product
Fellow ass standout Dominic Thiem follows suit
Marton Fucsovics is giving it away
Reilly Opelka takes on John Millman in the first round at Queen's Club
Taylor Fritz is already on the mend, hopes to compete at Wimbledon ... in two weeks!
Robert Farah came up short in the Roland Garros doubles semis, but returned to doing what he does best: Pitching himself
Everyone's favorite multilevel marketer is back
John Millman models his new sneaks
All the hot boys were in Nottingham, including Liam Broady
A super fit Lloyd Glasspool
And Tommy Fabbiano
J.J. Wolf's lower body didn't just happen
Frances Tiafoe claimed his first grass-court title by winning the Viking Open Nottingham in the United Kingdom. The 23-year-old Maryland native beat fellow American Denis Kudla 6-1, 6-3 in the singles final on Sunday.
Big win for Big Foe
And in doubles, Matt Reid of Australia and Briton Ken Skupski battled past the all-Australian combination and No. 2 seeds Matthew Ebden and John-Patrick Smith 4-6, 7-5, 10-6.
Matt Ebden: Sexy and funny
Mischa Zverev's love affair with the camera continued. I believe he is working for Eurosport, where his wife might be interested to know that Chris "The Courage" Evert is also employed.
Andreas Mies continues his rehab ...
While partner Kevin Krawietz prepares to see yet another man right under his nose
When Roger encouuontered his first Karen
No complaints here!
Two Skupskis are better than one
Big Ben
Mats Rosenkranz outlasted Benjamin Lock in an ITF event in Italy that provided me with endless Zimbabwean porn
Not to mention local piece Alessandro Bega
Czech mates
We all want to be Tommy Haas
Holger Rune chills out
This is the first IG story I've seen by Andrew Fitzpatrick, left, since I was sent his gay-for-pay videos!
Sam Groth looking sharp
Benoit Paire should really consider early retirement
Who is Krstin Pedja's friend on the right and and is that rainbow writing cause for hope?
Lorenzo Musetti is also rainbow high
Next stop for Guido Pella: Halle
Recovery time for Marcelo Areevalo Gonzaalez
27 candles
Assorted Christian Harrison hotness
Hourly Franko Skugor update
Thiem makes some new friends
Then and now
Top seed Pablo Cuevas claimed the Lyon title, beating Elias Ymer from Sweden 6-2, 6-2 in Sunday’s singles final.
In doubles, Pablo Cuevas also came out on top, teaming with brother Martin to defeat the all-French combination of Tristan Lamasine and Albano Olivetti 6-3, 7-6(2). The final lasted one hour and 18 minutes.
Albano did, however, win the genetic lottery
Thiago Seyboth Wild from behind
I can think of some better ways to enterain Jonny O'Mara on a bed
Andrew Seppi's pretty hair hits the road
Zizou Bergs of Belgian captured his third Challenger
A freshly shorn Denis Shapovalov reports for media duties
Diego Schwartzman enjoying some well-earned R&R
Either Mikhail Youzhny has been rushing too much blood to his head, or there's a blackface scandal brewing on the ATP
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