Nearing the Paris Pinnacle

Love-Love Letter #13 | June 2-6

Your tennis cheat sheet — for fans who like the game, but don’t want to live on Tennis Twitter.

🌍 Where in the World Are We?

Roland Garros (aka the French Open) is deep into the back half of the tournament as we enter the final weekend. Grab your baguette and settle in - this is where legends are made.

What’s happening: We’re down to just four men in the semi-finals (Sinner, Djokovic, Musetti, Alcaraz), and two women in the finals (Sabelanka, Gauff). The men’s draw features a “old guard vs. new guard” subplot - Djokovic chasing another title against Sinner’s fearless youth, and Alcaraz taking on Musetti’s clay-court wizardry. Meanwhile, Sabalenka and Gauff will battle for clay-court supremacy, with both players peaking at exactly the right moment.

✅ Results You Should Know

Aryna Sabalenka def. Iga Swiatek 7–6(7–1), 4–6, 6–0 (Semifinal)
💡 Why it matters: Sabalenka snapped Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros and bageled her in the final set—an emphatic reminder that Aryna’s not just a hard-court powerhouse anymore.

Loïs Boisson def. Mirra Andreeva 7–6(7–4), 6–3 (Quarterfinal)
💡 Why it matters: The French wildcard—ranked No. 361—turned Paris into her own stage, outlasting Andreeva and becoming the first homewoman in the last four since 2011. Her run captured everyone’s hearts, but Coco Gauff’s 6–1, 6–2 semifinal win in the following round reminded us that underdog stories are great - until they abruptly end.

Novak Djokovic def. Alexander Zverev 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 (Quarterfinal)
💡 Why it matters: A case of “my god, he’s still got it.” Zverev opened the match with confidence, but Djokovic dialed his game back to “vintage” after the first set - peeling off winners and playing with the calm precision we’ve seen for years.

Alexander Bublik def. Jack Draper 5–7, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 (Round of 16)
💡 Why it matters: Bublik rallied from a set down to knock out Draper and reach his first major quarterfinal - proof that his unorthodox style can still surprise. That surprise didn’t last long, though: Jannik Sinner steamrolled him 6–1, 7–5, 6–0 in the next round.

🔥 Can’t-Miss Highlights

🎥 Djokovic being insane
This 41-shot rally is maybe the point of the year.
▶️ Watch here

📆 What to Watch For

Some incredible tennis coming up this weekend on either Max, TNT & truTV, or Tennis Channel App.

🔍 What to Watch For (Friday, 6/6)

Men’s Semifinal
• Carlos Alcaraz vs. Lorenzo Musetti
When: ~8:30 a.m. ET
Why tune in: Musetti’s flair could rattle Alcaraz, but if Carlos summons his trademark magic, you’ll witness some of the slickest point construction and shot-making in tennis.

• Men’s Semifinal: Jannik Sinner vs. Novak Djokovic
When: ~1:00 p.m. ET
Why tune in: If you’re looking to tune in for a contest that could go down as one for the ages, this is it. Both players are firing on all cylinders and these two are the best that men’s tennis has to offer at the moment (arguably ever?).

🔍 What to Watch For (Saturday, 6/7)

Women’s Final
• Women’s Final: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Coco Gauff
When: TBD
Why tune in: It’s two Grand Slam champions both chasing their first French Open crown. Sabalenka’s been a model of consistency - this marks her fifth major final in her last six appearances, proving clay’s no longer her kryptonite. Gauff, after a rocky start to 2025, has rediscovered her groove and had an incredibly strong last few weeks on tour.

📰 Off-Court Happenings

Bublik gives a masterclass on life
Listen to him open up about his unique approach to his tennis career - there’s some lesson in here for all of us (I think).

👗 An Outfit Worth Seeing

Coco Gauff’s Marble-Print “Dusk Shower” New Balance Dress
Gauff swapped court classics for two custom New Balance dresses rendered in a dreamy dusk-shower marble print—one in pale blues and grays, the other in deeper navy tones.