Because it was time to address the dark clouds overhead at #RolandGarros: I wrote about how Alexander Zverev is almost certainly going to win the French Open, and how people around the sport are feeling about that likelihood. Read here: www.benrothenberg.com/p/alexander-...

Naomi Osaka is no longer taking losses as brutally hard as she used to, which is a very, very good thing. Read at Bounces for free (and get yourself a free subscription, even the free level comes with a lot!) www.benrothenberg.com/p/naomi-osak...

The level in Sabalenka-Osaka has been GREAT and it’s *so* annoying that it felt like it had to be this good to justify something because of this tournament’s dumbass schedule structure. #RolandGarros

Serena Williams finally announced the comeback I've been reporting was coming for months now. Ahead of her encore on tour, read Bounces for the news, plus analysis of how it could affect her Hall of Fame eligibility, rules around GLP-1 drugs, and more: www.benrothenberg.com/p/serena-wil...

On the imminent Serena Williams comeback, which will be officially announced within days—if not hours. Read Bounces for all the current details on the champion's return: www.benrothenberg.com/p/serena-wil...

On Zachary Svajda, the most surprising entrant in this #RolandGarros fourth round by some distance. Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/french-ope...

Writing about S _ _ _ _ a today.

Sabalenka-Osaka is the night match tomorrow, first time since 2023 that a women’s match gets put at night here. Honestly, the very occasional women’s match getting put at night makes it worse, in terms of marginalization. It CAN be done, they just almost never do. #RolandGarros

Loved how Frances Tiafoe and Madison Keys--in very different ways--discussed the undeniable nerves on display in the post-Sinner, post-Djokovic men's #RolandGarros draw today: www.benrothenberg.com/p/french-ope...

What a comeback for Frances Tiafoe, hot dang. Won a marathon game at 4-4 in the third, and once he battled through that crucial tiebreak he rolled. 4-6, 6-7(2), 7-6(4) 6-1, 6-2 over qualifier Jaime Faria. Tiafoe stays alive in the opportunity of a lifetime. #RolandGarros

Coco Gauff's #RolandGarros title defense ends in the third round, with Anastasia Potapova winning a three-setter where every set was a roller coaster. 4-6, 7-6, 6-4. One of these women will make her first major semifinal: Potapova Kalinskaya Chwalinska Parry

Holy heck, what a win for Zach Svajda, coming back from ahead to beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3. F. Cerundolo had been a popular pick to make it out of the wide-open #RolandGarros top half; instead, this beret-on-hoodie-wearing man plays on...

Jovic-Osaka has been really, really good. #RolandGarros

We are getting the first grey cell in nearly five years.

#RolandGarros has moved the Lacoste signage wedges to behind the line umpires, up against the back walls, here on Court 7.

Novak Djokovic’s exit leaves the keys to the mountaintop fully unattended now. Read Djokovic’s remarks, both from English and Serbian press. Also, read (and see) more about Oleksandra Oliynykova’s unprecedented pre-game chatter about Diana Shnaider: www.benrothenberg.com/p/novak-djok...

Hell yeah, Jodar changed hats so now he and Michelsen are in the exact same outfit. #RolandGarros

And this paragraph is a perfect example of why a Bounces subscription is worth every penny 🫡

Wrote about what has to be, surely, the most stunning collapse in tennis history. With Jannik Sinner out, what remains of the field? www.benrothenberg.com/p/jannik-sin...

In her press conference today, Oleksandra Oliynykova came prepared with receipts. She showed photos of her next #RolandGarros opponent Diana Shnaider having played at a Gazprom exhibition, and screenshots of her social media likes of Russian “propagandists.”

Sinner says he woke up not feeling great, and was more affected by low energy than the non-crazy midday heat. “It was warm, but it was OK. It’s not like I was dying because of the heat.” He’s played and won a ton this spring. “Now I need, really, some time off.” #RolandGarros

“People in the crowd were telling me during the match, ‘Your brother won! Your brother won!’” -Francisco Cerundolo in his on-court interview. #RolandGarros

Jannik Sinner, who led 6-3, 6-2, 5-1, is into a fifth set on Chatrier, and he's still approaching the hottest part of the afternoon. Juan Manuel Cerundolo, still mostly only known as Francisco's younger brother, has one of the biggest upset wins in tennis history within reach.

In what might become the most stunning collapse ever, Jannik Sinner led 6-3, 6-2, 5-1 and now finds himself in a third set, losing six straight games to JM Cerundolo. Sinner leaving court again before the fourth; only going to keep getting hotter out there these next hours.

With an underarm serve on match point, Oleksandra Oliynykova wins 6-3, 0-6, 7-6(5) over Kim Birrell to reach the third round of the French Open. #RolandGarros

In the latest Bounces, I wrote about just how remarkable it was for #RolandGarros to put Sinner first on Chatrier tomorrow. His is the first men's match to get the opening Chatrier slot in THREE YEARS. And it's very obvious that it's to protect him from heat. www.benrothenberg.com/p/jannik-sin...

Love when @fortydeucetwits.bsky.social asks Starodubtseva about her coaching set up and so we randomly learn that Yuliia’s boyfriend who is also her coach told her he’d propose if she’d break the Top 50. “He’s getting scared now.“ 😂

Dammit, Hailey Baptiste stayed down on the ground after landing very badly on her left foot, looked like her ankle really crumpled. Paramedics out on court. She stood up on her own power but looks like she'll be wheeled off court. #RolandGarros

Thanks to everyone who has been buying into what I am doing at Bounces in recent days! Back-to-back days atop the Substack Sports chart, just the second and third times ever atop the ladder. ☺️ Subscribe with the #RolandGarros discount below while it lasts! www.benrothenberg.com/subscribe?co...

Naomi Osaka's flashy French Open look got a lot of big reactions, but I especially wanted to clarify the ones from her opponent Laura Siegemund (and also what the rules might say about such sparkly shimmer). Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/naomi-osak...

After her win at #RolandGarros, Oleksandra Oliynykova took the mic again, for a growing crowd of global interest, and railed against the war in Ukraine and the tennis players and organizers she sees as complicit in its continuation. Free at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/oleksandra...

Two non-contradictory thoughts: 1. Adam Walton was seriously impressive, particularly in that marathon 4-4 game in the fifth. 2. Given his demons here, I think Daniil Medvedev could lose to truly anyone on tour in a French Open first round. #RolandGarros

Thank you again to everyone who has been treating themselves to Bounces subscriptions during this French Open! Bounces was #2 on the last 24-hour sports chart; think there could be a real shot at #1 in the next cycle with your help! Discount link in the quote below:

After months of whispers and questions, Emma Navarro spoke about the health issues that forced her to step back from the tour this year, and how she's learning to balance quantity and quality as she returns (very successfully, so far). Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/after-step...

Tennis is so high-key goofy sometimes. "Oh, when is that match tomorrow?" "It's fourth after 11 a.m.!" "When is that?" "Truly no idea."

Forgot to include the graph 📈

Very pleasantly surprised by how much this has moved the needle, honestly. Slams always get an uptick, but this has been pretty next-level. Hope more of y’all can take the jump and become Bounces subscribers while this discount runs during the French Open!

2015 champion Stan Wawrinka's #RolandGarros career ends against lucky loser Jesper de Jong, who played two VERY snappy points at the end to finish that match off in four. Great atmosphere out on Mathieu; a prelude to what could be an even bigger send-off tonight for Monfils.

As I started thinking more and more about it, the more convinced I became: Could the true Greatest Of All Time actually be…Gael Monfils? On a player that brought dimension and possibility to tennis like no one else. Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/gael-monfi...

We’ve got a nice little tennis community that has been awesome over in the FD Discord. You can join here: discord.gg/2cQuThBRv

After three very tight sets, Nishesh Basavareddy routs #7 Taylor Fritz in the fourth, clinching a 7-6(5), 7-6(5), 6-7(9), 6-1 win. Biggest win of Basavareddy's career, by some distance. He took advantage of the big edge he had in clay reps this year. www.benrothenberg.com/p/taylor-fri...

French Open Day 1 preview just dropped over at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/french-ope...

I wrote about Howard. www.benrothenberg.com/p/howard-fen...

Taylor Fritz wasn’t eager to step back from the tour, to say the least, but once his team forced his hand he made the most of his time away with a physical transformation. Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/taylor-fri...

Ben is one of very few subscriptions I have personally, and if you’re into tennis, he’s indispensable. Sign up now!!

A bargain at any price but especially at this price!

To echo player complaints about only receiving an alleged ~15% of tournament revenues at Roland Garros, Bounces is giving a 15% discount on annual subscriptions during the 2026 French Open! Our first ever discount--and maybe the last --so check it out! www.benrothenberg.com/rg26discount

Howard Fendrich and I were the last two in the press room countless times around the world. He was SO great, as a person and as a reporter, and he was the standard bearer for US tennis media, easily the most-read of us all. I miss him so much already. apnews.com/article/howa...