Faulkner

Hernando Taniko from Malaysia

Rothenberg stirring up shít per usual. I made the mistake of giving that nonsense oxygen.

Nabil Taleb from Paris

Eritrean model Bruck Tekle

So this is becoming a thing, stoked by the usual suspects: the RG press folk forced Dominic to leave the main press room in the middle of interviews (moving to a smaller room) because Serena wanted to take questions immediately after her loss. Of course, Serena has become the target of most of the ire. Tempest in a teapot caused by reporters who don’t find the actual tennis interesting enough to cover.

Yeah, the Margaret Court hunt is all media-created bullish!t to create some kind of narrative to excite viewers. Djokovic vs Struff Fognini vs Zverev Thiem vs Monfils Khachanov vs Del Potro Tsitsipas vs Wawrinka Federer vs Mayer Nishikori vs Paire Londero vs Nadal All of the non-Big 3 battles are potentially great.

I’m wondering about Serena’s fitness moving forward. Injuries at 37/38 are simply harder to manage. “And American tennis has a new name on the big stage.” Alright, Mike Tirico, calm down. We’ve seen young Americans with confidence blow up and flame out before. Kenin played a solid tactical match against a champion who didn’t have her A game. Still, all credit to her for playing the player and not the name and for regrouping during nervous moments in the second set when she lost that break advantage. Serena could have steamrolled her after that.

This Kenin girl’s got moxie. Serena’s serve keeping her somewhat in the match, but her mobility issues are getting exposed.

Leon, a trans man from Milwaukee (now in FL) who has been sharing his journey

Another “oh dear” for Borna. These chokes keep happening. Struff is a tough customer, but...

Oh dear. Naomi. At least she defended her points from last year at RG. Serena’s path looking a lot clearer.

Ignacio from Chile

Lebanese model Assad Shalhoub

Grigor just broke Stan, who was serving for the match. Encouraging signs for him this tournament. It’s a hot day in Paris, and tomorrow will be even hotter.

Brazilian dancer Leandro Paes, a ginger who wears his freckles with pride

Glad BLACKPINK was great in concert. They are dazzling performers. I see they are building a friendship with Ariana Grande, so I can imagine a collaboration could be in the works, which, of course, would be huge for them.

I like him, and he’s made a lot of interesting, non-commercial career choices in recent years (Good Time, the Cronenberg stuff), but I just can’t get excited about an actor cashing in to play the umpteenth Batman. Good for him and his bank account, I suppose. And given how often these roles turn over these days, he probably won’t be playing him for long.

Sakuraway, a photographer/model in Shanghai

Daniel Gueta from Israel

Ok, Sloane vs Mugu. That’s an intriguing match if both bring their A level.

Lolwut

Walter Savage in NYC