King Carlos

Be careful with what you wish for. Or in the case of Novak Djokovic, with what you see in the future. The greatest of all time, based on statistics at least, saw three men replacing his great trivalry with the kings of clay and grass. He lost to one of them in the semi-finals at the French Open.

The Serbian, who won at least 90 matches in all surfaces, bowed down to world number one Jannik Sinner. Disappointed, the 24-time grand slam champion hinted at retirement. Had he reached the finals, he could have faced the other man in the next generation three kings. Carlos Alcaraz bucked a two set deficit to stage one of the greatest comebacks in a grand slam final, against the world number one whose suspension was believed shortened in time for Roland Garros. Had he won the final, the accommodation would have haunted him.

Enough of what ifs. They can never be answered. But what was is a spectacle to be remembered for ages. After more than four hours, the top two players were still tied at least twice, separated only by a super tie break dominated by the Spaniard who punctuated the championship with an even more emphatic match point at the 5 hour and a half mark.

Tennis players are the strongest athletes in the world. Other sports are time bound. Barring overtime, basketball is played by alternating five men per team in 48 minutes, divided into four 12-minute quarters where they dribble, pass and shoot the ball, without reference to those who just dribble and pass a constitutional process, without balls, literally and figuratively.

Soccer, arguably the most popular sport in the world, is played in 90 minutes split into two 45-minute halves. But could be longer due to added time at the end of each half to make up for play stoppage, without reference to lawmakers extending the term of office of elective village officials.

But tennis refuses to end until the match point is won, without reference to those who refuse to concede. Well, protest is an available legitimate remedy, either to invalidate the results or to save face. No one gets tired to pursue public office, either by election, disqualification or protestation.

Just as Alcaraz and Sinner did not show any sign of exhaustion, they fought tirelessly to the end. The Italian must have thought it would end earlier in his favor. He held three championship points in the fourth set. But the heir apparent to the king of clay stormed back to buck each one of them.

Sinner admitted the loss hurt him, but congratulated Alcaraz just the same. Whereas Aryna Sabalenka blamed the wind, like it to chose to blow her and spared the woman at the other side of the net. She then theorized Coco Gauff could not have won had another woman played her. Faultless logic, based on what if. Pretty much like, never mind, they’re pretty ugly, literally and figuratively.