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5 things we learned from the 2025 French Open following two epic finals

5 things we learned from the 2025 French Open following two epic finals

Here, the PA news agency looks at what we learned from Roland Garros 2025.
Do believe the hype
Carlos Alcaraz (right) and runner-up Jannik Sinner look set for an enduring rivalry (Lindsey Wasson/AP)
The dawn of a new era in men's tennis finally arrived, and in some style. Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have dominated the sport for two years but, like a pair of heavyweight boxers ducking one another, they had never met in a grand slam final. Roland Garros set the stage and the best players on the planet delivered a stone-cold classic, with Alcaraz saving three championship points before winning the longest final in French Open history, a five-set, five-hour 29-minute epic. It was the first major final between two men born in this century and on this evidence, there will be plenty more. Just one thing. Lose the rugby shirts, guys.
Coco's star shines
Coco Gauff dazzled as the women's champion (Thomas Padilla/AP)
It is hard to believe Gauff is still only 21, having burst on to the scene six years ago at Wimbledon. The charismatic American's victory over Aryna Sabalenka for a second grand slam title showed such maturity, as did her comments afterwards about trying to be a beacon of hope for 'Americans who look like me' amid a period of political turmoil in her homeland. She became the first American idol of Roland Garros since Serena Williams a decade earlier and has time on her side to collect many more titles.
Aryna angry again
Aryna Sabalenka lost a second-straight grand slam final (Lindsey Wasson/AP)
Sabalenka remains the best player on the planet – the runaway world number one – and will head to Wimbledon as a big favourite for the title. The Belarusian has made huge strides to exorcise the demons that used to dog her in big matches and has three grand slam titles to show for it. But she has lost the last two major finals, including a surprise defeat to Madison Keys in Australia, and the mental fragility seemed to return against Gauff with 70 unforced errors telling their own story. A reset is required if the 27-year-old is to add a Wimbledon crown to her US and Australian Open titles.
Novak's Aussie farewell?
Novak Djokovic admitted he may have played his last match at Roland Garros after going down in three tight sets to Sinner in the semi-finals. He proved once again he can still mix it with the elite, especially after a superb four-set dismantling of Alexander Zverev in the last eight. But at 38, he knows he is running out of time. Will he hold his retirement party at next January's Australian Open, a tournament he has won 10 times and which he feels is his best chance to land that elusive record 25th grand slam title?
The Brits are all right
Jack Draper reached the fourth round (Jon Buckle/PA)
Jack Draper led the British challenge and, as predicted, got the furthest. Yet he was probably the biggest disappointment. Seeded fifth and drawn to meet Sinner in the quarter-finals, he fell in the fourth round to world number 62 Alexander Bublik. Still, he got his first Roland Garros wins under his belt, as did Jacob Fearnley, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal, while Cameron Norrie enjoyed a much-needed run to the third round following a tough 18 months. Then there was Hannah Klugman, at 16 a first British junior finalist in almost 50 years. It was all a vast improvement on last year's first-round wipe-out.

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George Russell believes a ban for Max Verstappen would be justified
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  • North Wales Chronicle

George Russell believes a ban for Max Verstappen would be justified

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George Russell believes a ban for Max Verstappen would be justified
George Russell believes a ban for Max Verstappen would be justified

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  • Leader Live

George Russell believes a ban for Max Verstappen would be justified

Verstappen is one point away from being forced to sit out a race following his collision with Russell at the last round in Spain where he accelerated into the British driver. Verstappen issued a veiled apology for the coming together which relegated him from fifth to 10th and sees him head into this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix 49 points off the championship pace. Speaking in Montreal, Mercedes' Russell, who finished fourth in Barcelona, said: 'If he (Verstappen) gets to 12 points it (a ban) wouldn't be unjust. 'At the end of the day, that's why the penalty points are there. If you keep driving recklessly you will accumulate points, and get punished with a race ban. You've got it in your own hands and it doesn't go without risk. 'He was trying to run me off the road. I don't think he was trying to intentionally crash into me. He wanted to just sort of scare me a bit, but he just misjudged it. Again, it wasn't going to scare me, it was just all a bit surprising. 'I'm not looking for an apology. His actions cost him and they benefited me. So I should be almost thanking him. Obviously I'd be feeling very differently if it took me out of the race. But it is good to see that he took accountability. I was a bit surprised about that.' The flashpoint marked another controversial chapter in Verstappen's career following run-ins last year with Lando Norris and multiple clashes with Lewis Hamilton in their title duel four years ago. But when asked if he believes a ban would change Verstappen's aggressive approach, Russell continued: 'I don't think so. 'It depends on the circumstances, doesn't it? When you are going for a championship, it's slightly different. That's why I believe he wasn't intentionally trying to crash into me. He was just trying to get his elbows out and show who's boss. 'But he got it wrong. Jos (Verstappen's father) is the boss. I'm going to continue racing exactly the same way because at the end of the day that's what I did last week and I benefited from it.' In the moments after the race, Verstappen sarcastically offered Russell a tissue when he was informed of the Mercedes man's criticism. 'That was quite funny to be fair and I did have a giggle about that,' continued Russell, who watched Carlos Alcaraz defeat Jannik Sinner in last Sunday's French Open final at Roland Garros. 'We bumped into each other at the airport on Sunday morning when I was going to Roland Garros. 'To be honest, I totally forgot about Barcelona because he was there with his newborn, and we were at the security machine. He just had a quick chat and then he was busy folding the pram down to put it through the machine.' Oscar Piastri won in Spain and holds a 10-point championship lead over McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.

USMNT standout Michael Bradley named Red Bulls II coach
USMNT standout Michael Bradley named Red Bulls II coach

Reuters

timean hour ago

  • Reuters

USMNT standout Michael Bradley named Red Bulls II coach

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