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Alcaraz vs Sinner: A Roland Garros epic promising a golden post-Big Three era

Alcaraz vs Sinner: A Roland Garros epic promising a golden post-Big Three era

India Today2 days ago

The Big Three, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, would have watched Sunday's 5-hour, 29-minute epic at the French Open with a mix of pride and quiet relief. These titans forged tennis into a symphony of brilliance and passion, painting a golden era in men's singles. On Sunday, it was two young gladiators in their early twenties who took center stage, reigniting the flame of a sport many feared was losing its spark. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner traded fierce punches on the red dirt of Paris, reminding the world that the magic of men's singles tennis is alive and well.Today's roller-coaster final is our Extraordinary Moment by @HaierOfficial #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/5Af9R71449— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025advertisementTwo years after Federer retired, a year after Nadal hung up his boots, and just days after Djokovic's final shot at clay-court glory slipped through his fingers, Alcaraz, 22, and Sinner, 23, summoned the ghosts of the golden era, the artistry, the fire, the unbreakable spirit, to signal the dawn of a new era forged from the echoes of greatness.For any sport to thrive, the torch must be passed. Fresh faces, wunderkinds bursting with potential, are essential to writing the next chapter. But as the golden generation stretched its reign, so did a growing fear: who would carry that torch forward? The dominance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic was so overwhelming that anyone even half as good risked being seen as a disappointment. Could the next anointed flagbearer create those moments of magic that tied billions to their TV sets and filled stadiums, year after year?advertisement
The late 2010s were a nervous time for tennis's top brass. Federer's magic was fading; Nadal's fiery fight was nearing its twilight; and Djokovic, though still winning, was entering his 30s without his legendary rivals meeting him on the biggest stages as frequently as before.In 2021, Djokovic delivered a cheeky yet pointed jab at the buzz around the Next Gen in men's singles tennis.'The Next Gen young people? Me, Rafa, and Roger are reinventing the Next Gen,' he said after capturing both the Australian and French Open titles that year.It wasn't arrogance. It was a stark critique of the emerging stars who hadn't yet risen to the pressure of carrying the sport's momentum. Up until then, only Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka had broken through with multiple Grand Slam titles outside the Big Three since 2010. It wasn't until 2020 that Dominic Thiem became the first man born in the 1990s to claim a Slam, winning the US Open.That reality was, to say the least, unsettling. Even as whispers grew louder about a Spanish wunderkind doing extraordinary things with the calm assurance of a future great. Around the same time, the world's gaze shifted toward a lanky teenager from Italy who announced himself by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals at just 18, showcasing ice in his veins and fire in his game.advertisementTHE WATERSHED SEASONThen came 2024, a watershed year. For the first time since 2003, not one member of the Big Three lifted a Grand Slam trophy. Alcaraz and Sinner had stepped into the spotlight, splitting all four majors between them and becoming the new faces of men's tennis. By year's end, Sinner was World No. 1. Alcaraz, No. 2.Titles and rankings alone do not forge legends. To truly declare themselves the heirs of greatness, they needed a night like Sunday in Paris, a clash drenched in sweat, spirit, and the electric charge of destiny. Just their first Grand Slam final meeting felt like a blaze that sparked a new dawn.SETTING THE BAR HIGH: SINNER AND ALCARAZ
Their first Grand Slam final meeting was an all-time blockbuster (Reuters Photo)
On Sunday night in Paris, time paused for five hours and 29 minutes—long enough for two young warriors to go toe-to-toe and ensure tennis will carry forward the spirit of the golden era, with battles fought like there's no tomorrow.advertisementSinner started like a man in control of time itself—his strokes crisp, his decisions unhurried. The World No. 1 glided through the first two sets with the composure of someone who'd been here before, even though he hadn't. It was his first French Open final, and he had returned from a three-month doping ban only last month, playing just one tune-up event in the lead-up to Roland-Garros. At one point on Sunday, it appeared as if he would dethrone the new King of Clay without dropping a set in the entire tournament.Every corner he painted, every angle he found, drew gasps from the crowd that seemed too stunned to take sides.But clay has memory. And Alcaraz, raised on its grit and ghosts, began to rise. Slowly, then suddenly. He broke in the third, survived in the fourth, and by the time the fifth set arrived, he was at his zenith.CARLOS YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/UBno0CjWRW— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025The Spaniard's forehands began to spit fire, his drop shots drew Sinner into the dirt, and the match turned into a grind only the strongest could survive.advertisementThe points grew longer. The shots sharper. The tension louder. At 5–4, with Alcaraz serving for it all, Sinner lunged for a drop shot like a man refusing to surrender his fate. He broke back. The battle twisted again.And then, the tie-break. Alcaraz played it like a dream—his feet floating, his racquet dancing, and the ball obeying.When the final point was won after five hours and 28 minutes, Alcaraz dropped to the clay—a champion twice over. There were no toilet breaks, no medical timeouts in this brutal marathon. At times, they even corrected calls that had gone in their favour.In the red dust of Chatrier, Alcaraz and Sinner gave us something we hadn't dared expect so soon: a match that belonged on the same shelves as the great ones. A night that made the future feel already golden.A new era has dawned. If this is how it begins, what follows will be lived and remembered forever by generations to come.

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Serena Williams drawn into debate over husband Alexis Ohanian's comments post Grand Slam 2025
Serena Williams drawn into debate over husband Alexis Ohanian's comments post Grand Slam 2025

Time of India

time36 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Serena Williams drawn into debate over husband Alexis Ohanian's comments post Grand Slam 2025

After witnessing one of the most grueling matches in recent Grand Slam history—the semifinal showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner—Alexis Ohanian, entrepreneur and husband of tennis legend Serena Williams, offered a candid opinion on social media. His statement, seemingly simple, stirred a flurry of fan reactions and rekindled a long-standing debate in tennis: the relevance of the five-set format in men's matches. While many stood by the endurance and drama of the Alcaraz–Sinner match, Ohanian raised a different point—about tension, pacing, and viewer engagement. 'I think we're playing a completely different sport': Why did Ohanian's comments spark debate in the tennis world In a post that went viral within hours, Alexis Ohanian wrote: 'I first got into tennis because of the women's game. I fell in love with how every point mattered. Then I watched my first 5 set men's match and was confused why this diluted the tension — these early sets felt more like warm-ups than high stakes.' 'I understand the history of 5 sets in men's Grand Slam tennis — but from an entertainment standpoint, I prefer the format where every point matters more.' The timing of the post—just after Alcaraz defeated Sinner in a five-hour French Open battle—drew significant attention from fans and sports media. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists: Losing a Hanging Tummy Comes Down To This 1 Thing Health Wellness Journal Learn more Undo While many praised Ohanian for highlighting the compact intensity of the women's three-set matches, others argued that the very endurance and momentum shifts of five-set tennis are what make men's Grand Slam clashes legendary. The topic also touched deeper issues. According to Wikipedia and other sources, the men's five-set format has long been seen as a benchmark for stamina and psychological resilience. On the other hand, critics argue that the women's game often delivers greater drama in a shorter span. Serena Williams herself, one of the greatest in the sport, once commented in a 2013 interview: 'I think we're playing a completely different sport. ' Ohanian, known for championing equal pay and investing in women's sports, likely intended to elevate the unique strengths of the women's format—not downplay the men's. However, as many fans saw it, the timing of his comments—coinciding with one of the most thrilling men's matches in recent memory—sparked misunderstanding. Ohanian's words tapped into more than just format preferences; they reignited a conversation about how we experience tennis. For some, the lengthy tension of five-set matches builds storylines and epic comebacks. For others, the condensed format of the women's game offers faster emotional payoffs. The truth may lie somewhere in between. Rather than choose one over the other, perhaps it's time tennis embraces the idea that greatness comes in many forms—whether it's decided in three sets or five. What's certain is that the sport, like its fans, thrives on passion—and debates like this keep it evolving.

Australia vs South Africa WTC 2025 Final LIVE Streaming Details: Timings, Telecast Date, when and where to watch
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Australia vs South Africa WTC 2025 Final LIVE Streaming Details: Timings, Telecast Date, when and where to watch

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Pickle juice: Carlos Alcaraz's quick fix to stave off cramps in French Open final
Pickle juice: Carlos Alcaraz's quick fix to stave off cramps in French Open final

Indian Express

time3 hours ago

  • Indian Express

Pickle juice: Carlos Alcaraz's quick fix to stave off cramps in French Open final

French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz took sips of pickle juice during the five-hour, 29-minute marathon men's final against Jannik Sinner on Sunday, the longest-ever at Roland Garros. Alcaraz is not the first nor will be the last athlete to take small portions of pickle juice, known to help stave off the onset of cramps. There are many examples, recent and from the aughts. Over two decades ago, when temperatures touched 43 degree Celcius in Texas, the American football team Philadelphia Eagles drank pickle juice to stay hydrated during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Indian women's hockey team which finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics took shots of pickle juice at the onset of cramps. At last year's UEFA Euros, England full-back Kieran Trippier was seen sipping from a sachet of pickle juice after cramping during the game against Serbia. Decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, the national record holder, Asian Games and Asian Championship silver medalist, swears by pickle juice as a quick-fix solution for cramps. What is pickle juice? Pickle juice is a briny liquid made up of water, salt and vinegar used for pickling. Gherkins, baby cucumbers, are a popular choice for pickling. The acetic acid in vinegar, a byproduct of fermentation, helps provide immediate relief from cramps, experts say. Brine also contains sodium and potassium, electrolytes the body loses through sweating. With it gaining popularity, commercial pickle juice is available in small PET bottles and sachets which may also contain dill oil or starch extracts. What in pickle juice gives relief from cramps? Experts believe that it's the acetic acid which is most effective in stopping cramps. 'Nerve receptors in the mouth detect acetic acid in the pickle brine and provoke a neurological reflex in which the brain sends messages to the muscles telling them to relax,' Anita Bean, a sports nutritionist told The Times, London. Tejaswin, India's high jump and decathlon national record holder, reckons, going by his practical knowledge, that acetic acid is like a silver bullet for cramps. 'It is not just sodium or potassium. We know because it's in electrolyte drinks and when you have it the cramps don't stop immediately. Maybe the brine in the pickle juice, or the vinegar or the acetic acid — one of those triggers a neuro reflex that stops the cramping,' Tejaswin told The Indian Express. Tejaswin uses a band-aid analogy. 'This is like a quick fix. I can't address hydration in the middle of a competition because if I do oral hydration it is going to take time to show results. When you are cramping you need to have something quick, like a pickle juice which puts a band-aid or a pause on the cramping and then you can continue.' What do top athletes experience? Tejaswin usually drinks pickle juice just before or during the high jump, the fourth event in decathlon on the first day. He reasons it is because of two reasons — he is starting to get tired because he has completed three events and also because he is tense ahead of his strongest event. 'I usually cramp right before or during the high jump. If I am cramping too much, I consume two shots but when I run the 400 metres (the event that follows the high jump), I feel really weird in my stomach, and after I finish I throw up for at least 10 minutes. To avoid that I don't consume it, but just gargle it so it just hits the back of my throat and the cramping stops,' Tejaswin said. Other than lack of hydration and loss of electrolytes, Tejaswin says a stressed mind can result in tense muscles that can cause a cramp. 'It comes down to the fact that it is my most important event, and there is some amount of stress that I carry going into the high jump thinking, 'I have to maximise my score here'. When you are not relaxed, your body tends to stiffen up, and those tight spots contribute to make a cramp worse. I am also fatigued by the time I reach the high jump because I have already done three events. All these add up,' Tejaswin said. He also carries a 'dabba' of mustard sauce in his bag as an option because he feels it has a similar effect on cramps. Did the women's hockey team benefit? Yes, ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the team's strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard went shopping for pickles with gherkin and vinegar. He carried one hundred servings of pickle juice. 'When it was back-to-back games, the girls would drink that after breakfast, or depending on when the game was. And then, at the onset of cramps they would have additional shots if required,' he had told this paper. The bronze-medal match, which India lost narrowly to Britain, was played when the temperature touched nearly 40 degree Celsius. 'There are two ways to consume it. You either have it as a shot or you can gargle so your membranes get it, and then you spit it out,' Lombard said.

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