Cleaning out the notebook and Notes app after Roland Garros 2024. Your 50 Thoughts column for Sports Illustrated …
1. Another French Open, another title for Iga Swiatek, who cements herself on clay. Her fifth major—and third straight here—entailed her staving off a match point … and also cruising as if playing a version of the sport thoroughly elevated from the player on the other side of the net. Here’s a Tennis Channel interview we did after the final.
2. A theme of transition echoed through this event. In the first round, Rafael Nadal, the 14-time champ was defeated. In the middle rounds, Novak Djokovic, a 24-time major champ, withdrew because of a knee injury. In the final match, the heir apparent, Carlos Alcaraz won his third major, taking out Rafa-slayer Alexander Zverev in a wild and sometimes brilliant final. Alcaraz, who turned 21 last month, is the youngest player to win majors on all three surfaces. He is now ranked No. 2 and goes on to defend his Wimbledon title.
