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Jannik Sinner came so close to winning the French Open on Sunday at Roland Garros in Paris, but he blew it and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, continuing his losing streak in lengthy matches.
Sinner, who entered the match as the top seed in the tournament, lost to two-seed Alcaraz 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in a stunning turn of events.
Sinner had been up 5-3 in the fourth set and leading 40-0. He had triple-championship point but was unable to close it out. He allowed Alcaraz to serve his way back into the game. Then while leading 5-4 in the fourth set, Sinner had his serve broken. The set went to a tiebreaker, which Alcaraz won. The two then went to another tiebreaker in the fifth set, which Alcaraz won 10-2 to capture the championship.
Sinner entered the match 0-5 in his career in matches lasting over four hours. That was the tipping point on Sunday too, as Sinner had his big lead in the fourth set at around three hours and forty-five minutes into the match. Once Alcaraz forced his way back into the match, it pushed things into that dreaded fourth hour for Sinner. Sinner still forced a tiebreaker in the final set, though he fell apart while Alcaraz surged to win that 10-2.
Sinner is now 0-6 in matches lasting longer than four hours. Sunday’s French Open final went 5:29, which makes it the second-longest major final ever. Only the 2012 Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal lasted longer (five hours, 53 minutes).
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Carlos Alcaraz’s Buzz Cut Becomes the Talk Of US Open
Leave it to Carlos Alcaraz to create more buzz with his haircut than most players do with their entire first-round performance. The Spanish sensation rolled into Flushing Meadows sporting a fresh buzz cut that had everyone from Rory McIlroy to Frances Tiafoe weighing in like they were judging a hair show instead of watching tennis. We’ve seen some questionable style choices in sports over the years, but Alcaraz’s decision to go full buzzcut mode has divided the tennis world faster than a Serena Williams serve. One minute, he has his signature flowing locs, the next, he looks like he enlisted in the tennis army. The Great Hair Debate Of 2025 The drama unfolded Monday when Alcaraz stepped onto the practice courts looking like a completely different person. Gone were the locks that had become as much a part of his brand as his incredible drop shots. In their place? A buzz cut so severe it made onlookers do double-takes. McIlroy, who happened to be hanging around the practice facilities, couldn’t resist getting hands-on with the situation. The golf superstar immediately reached out to feel Alcaraz’s freshly shorn scalp, asking the obvious question: “Why this?” It is the kind of moment that makes you realize athletes are just like the rest of us. Completely fascinated by dramatic hair transformations. McIlroy, being the diplomat he is, gave it his seal of approval. “I like it,” he said, calling it a “good look.” Frances Tiafoe Delivers the Reality Check Enter Tiafoe, who provided the comedic relief this whole situation desperately needed. The American star took one look at his buddy’s new ‘do and delivered a reaction that was pure gold. Wide-eyed shock followed by brutal honesty that only true friends can get away with. “It’s definitely terrible,” Tiafoe said. “From a guy who gets haircuts week in, week out, and prides myself on good haircuts, it’s horrendous.” But here’s where Tiafoe showed why he’s not just a great tennis player but also a great friend. Despite roasting Alcaraz’s hair choices, he quickly added, “He’s my guy, though. It’s funny. I looked at him and I was like, ‘I guess you’re aerodynamic.'” The aerodynamic comment might actually be onto something. Maybe Alcaraz is playing 4D chess here, reducing wind resistance to gain that extra fraction of a second on his movement around the court. The Brother Who Started It All The story behind the buzz cut is almost as entertaining as the reactions it generated. Alcaraz explained that his brother was the unwitting architect of this whole situation. “My brother just – he misunderstood with the machine. He just cut it. Then the only way to fix it is just shave it off,” Alcaraz said. We’ve all been there, well, maybe not exactly there, but we’ve all had family members who thought they could handle tasks they probably shouldn’t have attempted. In this case, a simple trim turned into a full-scale hair emergency that required drastic measures. The fact that Alcaraz was too far from his regular barber, Víctor Martínez, only added to the comedy of errors. Sometimes being a global tennis superstar means making do with whatever is available, even if that means letting your brother loose with clippers. Performance Over Presentation Here’s the thing that makes this whole story even better – the haircut didn’t seem to affect Alcaraz’s game one bit. He dismantled Reilly Opelka in straight sets (6-4, 7-5, 6-4), proving that sometimes less hair means more focus. “I felt like my hair was really long already, and before the tournament, I just really wanted to get a haircut,” Alcaraz said. The Spanish star even joked about the supposed aerodynamic benefits, saying the unexpected buzz cut made him feel “faster and more aerodynamic on the court.” Whether that’s scientifically accurate or just psychological warfare, it worked against Opelka. Social Media Goes Wild Of course, this being 2025, the hair situation immediately went viral. Social media platforms exploded with reactions, memes, and hot takes about whether Alcaraz looked better with or without his signature locks. The US Open’s official accounts leaned into the madness, posting videos of the various reactions that only added fuel to the fire. The internet never fails to turn even the most mundane sporting moments into content goldmines, and Alcaraz’s haircut was anything but mundane. From comparison photos to artistic renderings of what he might look like with different hairstyles, the tennis world temporarily became obsessed with follicular fashion. The Bigger Picture What makes this story so endearing is how it humanizes one of tennis’s biggest stars. Here’s a guy who’s won five Grand Slam titles, who’s considered one of the faces of the sport’s future, and he’s dealing with the same kind of hair mishaps that happen to regular people every day. Alcaraz’s response to the whole situation, laughing it off and focusing on his tennis, shows the kind of mental toughness that’s helped him reach the top of the sport. “Some people like it. Some people don’t like it,” he said. “To be honest, I’m just laughing about the reaction of the people.” Looking Ahead As Alcaraz prepares for his second-round match against Italian Mattia Bellucci, the hair will undoubtedly continue to be a talking point. But if his opening performance is any indication, this buzz cut might just become his secret weapon for another deep US Open run. Whether the aerodynamic theory holds up remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain – Carlos Alcaraz has reminded us that sometimes the best sports stories happen off the court. And sometimes, all it takes is a brother with clippers and a sense of humor about the results.
How Browns feel about Deshaun Watson amid unsettled quarterback situation
Deshaun Watson has become somewhat of a forgotten figure regarding the Cleveland Browns' unique quarterback situation that could involve the club having starter Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders on the roster for its Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. For an article published on Monday, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted that Watson will miss at least the first four games of the 2025 season after he suffered a torn Achilles last October and then tore the Achilles again during his recovery. However, it sounds like the Browns haven't yet completely closed the door on Watson returning to the active roster before Week 18 wraps up. "He’s coming along well in his rehab from his re-torn Achilles repair and could be ready to go later in the season," Cabot wrote about Watson. "Whether or not the Browns will activate him remains to be seen, but they’ve been happy with how he’s attacked his rehab and how he’s helped the other QBs, especially Gabriel and Sanders." Watson has made just 19 regular-season starts with the Browns since he received a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract from the club in March 2022. He served an 11-game suspension related to allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions to open his first campaign with Cleveland. His 2023 season ended prematurely because of a shoulder issue. He then lost six of seven starts last season before he went down with the initial Achilles injury. It was suggested earlier this month that Watson could essentially force the Browns to move him to the 53-man roster if he's cleared to play this coming fall. Such a scenario theoretically would result in Cleveland having to part ways with a different signal-caller. While the previously mentioned Sanders is clearly fourth on Cleveland's current depth chart, Cabot wrote that the Browns like the rookie "a lot and will continue to develop him." Cabot added that "the Browns have always planned to keep four quarterbacks and will only pivot if someone makes them an offer they can’t refuse." Pickett presumably would become the odd man out regarding such a potential trade. Still, he first needs to fully recover from the hamstring injury he picked up on July 26 that kept him from playing in any preseason games. Meanwhile, Watson will continue his recovery behind the scenes after Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said earlier this year that Cleveland "took a big swing and miss with Deshaun." The Browns reportedly could escape Watson's deal next offseason.
Browns Release Former Steelers Starting WR
Ahead of today's 53-man roster deadline, the Cleveland Browns parted ways with a former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver who has been on quite the journey over the past year. Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Cleveland released Diontae Johnson after signing him to a one-year contract worth $1.170 million in late April. The 29-year-old appeared in all three of the Browns' preseason games this year, finishing with two receptions for 19 yards on six targets. Cleveland's decision to cut ties with Johnson comes after they opted to trade former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2026 fifth-round pick on Monday night amidst a logjam at the position. Pittsburgh selected Johnson out of Toledo in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft at No. 66 overall, which was a pick they acquired upon sending Antonio Brown to the Raiders. He immediately became a key piece of the Steelers' offense, logging 59 receptions for 680 yards and five touchdowns over 16 games (12 starts) as a rookie while also returning 20 punts for 248 yards and a score, earning him second-team All-Pro honors. During the 2020 campaign, Johnson finished with 88 catches for 923 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 contests (13 starts). He garnered the first and only Pro Bowl nod of his career in 2021 with 1,161 yards and eight scores on 107 receptions before posting a combined 1,599 yards and five touchdowns between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Pittsburgh later dealt him and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in March 2024 for cornerback Donte Jackson and a 2024 sixth-rounder, which was used on defensive lineman Logan Lee. Johnson logged 30 catches, 357 yards and three scores in seven games for Carolina before returning to the AFC North in a trade at last year's deadline that sent him to the Baltimore Ravens. His tenure with the team was rocky to say the least, as he was suspended after refusing to enter their Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles and was released on Dec. 20. The Houston Texans claimed Johnson off waivers from Baltimore, though they too would cut ties with him after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Raiders sign five-time Pro Bowl WR amid Jakobi Meyer drama
Hours after the NFL Network reported Jakobi Meyers requested a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders amid a contract dispute, the team added a veteran wide receiver. Per Ian Rapoport, the Raiders are signing Amari Cooper. "Reunion: Former Bills WR Amari Cooper, one of the NFL’s top free agents still available, is signing with the Raiders on a 1-year deal, per source," Rapoport posted on X. "Some late, big-time pass-catching help for the team that once drafted him in the first round." Cooper helps provide depth to a receiver room that was light at the position, even if the situation with Meyers was cleared up. Behind Meyers on the depth chart are receivers Tre Tucker and Dont'e Thornton Jr., a rookie fourth-round pick. The Oakland Raiders selected Cooper with the No. 4 pick in the 2015 draft. He's earned five Pro Bowl nominations, with his last appearance coming in 2023. Cooper has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Buffalo Bills. The 31-year-old has appeared in 154 games and started 143, recording 711 receptions for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns. He recorded 297 yards receiving and two touchdowns in 2024. The signing gives Geno Smith another talented receiver to throw to this season. The Raiders have three solid targets with Meyers and second-year tight end Brock Bowers. Signing Cooper also gives the Raiders flexibility if they want to trade Meyers (or if he holds out), unhappy with playing in Las Vegas on the final season of his three-year, $33 million deal he signed in 2023.
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