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Morning Edition

June 9, 2025

The French Open has seen epic matches. But the 2025 men’s final was a record-setter—longest ever, richest prize, and a perfect Year 1 showcase for TNT.

— Colin Salao [[link removed]]

Alcaraz Outlasts Sinner in Longest French Open Final, Wins $2.9M Prize [[link removed]]

Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

There are moments in sports where fans can sense that history is unfolding. On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner let fans sit in that blissful moment for a long time.

Alcaraz prevailed over Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in the French Open final Sunday in a 5-hour, 29-minute final, the longest final ever at Roland-Garros. The previous French Open record was 4 hours and 42 minutes set in 1982 between Mats Wilander and Guillermo Vilas.

It was also the second-longest Grand Slam final in history, behind the 2012 Australian Open between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal that lasted 5 hours and 53 minutes.

Alcaraz, the world No. 2 who won for the second straight year at Roland-Garros, also took home a tournament record of $2.9 million, bringing the 22-year-old’s career earnings to about $44.7 million. Sinner, who will leave Paris still as the world No. 1, added $1.4 million to bring his career earnings to around $41.5 million.

It looked as though Sinner had the match won after taking a two-set-to-none lead. Alcaraz won the third set, but Sinner had three championship points up 5–3 in the fourth set before the Spaniard mounted a miraculous comeback.

Sinner is now 0–6 in matches over four hours.

Gauff Ends U.S. Drought

On the women’s side, Coco Gauff snapped a decade-long drought for Americans at the French Open [[link removed]] after defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4, on Saturday. The last American to win at Roland-Garros was Serena Williams in 2015.

The 21-year-old Gauff also won $2.9 million, bringing her career earnings to about $27.3 million.

An American woman has now won the first two majors of 2025 after Madison Keys prevailed at the Australian Open. Wimbledon is up next, beginning June 30, and takes over as the longest drought for a U.S. player, as Williams was the last American to win it back in 2016.

TNT Gets Year 1 Gift

Viewership numbers for the French Open have yet to be released, but the weekend’s final matches are likely to bring strong numbers for Warner Bros. Discovery in the first year of its 10-year, $650 million media deal [[link removed]] for the tournament.

Americans always provide a huge local viewership draw, and Gauff is the biggest name of them all. Meanwhile, Alcaraz and Sinner delivered an instant classic, and the match length gave TNT Sports extended run time with increased viewership.

It’s a nice consolation prize, which comes a week after TNT aired its final NBA game.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS HONORS

Is Your Team Award-Worthy?

The Most Innovative Teams Award [[link removed]] will recognize sports organizations revolutionizing the fan-team relationship through innovative, personalized, and multidimensional engagement.

They’re the teams breaking new ground in fan connection—both digitally and in person—by championing their players, embracing diverse fan identities and fluid fandom, and leveraging their platforms and partnerships to leave a positive impact on the communities they represent and serve.

Nominations for Most Innovative Teams will be evaluated on areas including fan experiences, partnerships, athlete resources, and data and analytics.

Think your team deserves to be recognized? Nominate them now [[link removed]]. Nominations are open through June 22.

Thunder Even Series at 1-1, Remain NBA Finals Betting Favorites [[link removed]]

Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The Thunder made sure lightning didn’t strike twice in Oklahoma City.

Following a shocking Game 1 loss in which they were behind for just the final 0.3 seconds, the Thunder bounced back to beat the Pacers, 123–107. The series, now tied at 1–1, shifts to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Wednesday.

The Thunder, who were seven-to-one favorites on DraftKings entering the Finals [[link removed]], remained three-to-one favorites despite the Game 1 loss and losing homecourt advantage. Oklahoma City is now more than five-to-one favorites ahead of Game 3 (-525).

In terms of predicting the correct score [[link removed]] (team and number of games to clinch the series), the most likely outcome is the Thunder winning in five games (+200), followed by six games (+225). Thunder in five had the shortest odds before the start of the series (+250), though an Oklahoma City sweep, which can no longer happen, followed at +260.

The most likely outcome that has the Pacers on top has Indiana in six games (+1000).

Viewership Turnaround?

The series was not expected to draw strong ratings [[link removed]], given that it was a battle between two small-market teams. Game 1’s viewership numbers proved the expectations to be true.

The series opener drew just 8.91 million viewers on ABC, the least-watched Game 1 for the NBA Finals since 1988, excluding the two COVID-impacted series in 2020 and 2021. The game peaked at 11 million viewers around the time of Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning shot, which is about the same as the average viewership of last year’s series opener between the Celtics and Mavericks.

Given the drama of the first game, this series could see a viewership lift in the coming games, especially as it’s expected to be more competitive now that the Pacers currently have homecourt advantage.

Mercury Star Criticizes WNBA Commissioner Over Heavy Schedule [[link removed]]

Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Salaries aren’t the only thing WNBA players are looking to change in the next collective bargaining agreement. Phoenix Mercury star Satou Sabally made that clear Saturday.

Following a loss to the Seattle Storm, Sabally called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for the team’s grueling schedule. The Mercury had just finished a stretch of playing nine games in 18 days from May 21 to June 7.

“I think this is a conversation that could also be important for the next CBA. Cathy [Englebert] added a lot of games, and [for] us as players, recovery is so important. We put our bodies on the line every single time. We had nine games in 18 days. That’s not really responsible for a commissioner,” Sabally said [[link removed]].

The WNBA added four more games to the regular-season schedule this year, giving each team 44 games, the maximum number allowed under the current CBA. The increase also came as the league added a 13th franchise, the Golden State Valkyries. Two more teams will be added next year in Toronto [[link removed]] and Portland [[link removed]].

Sabally has played in all Mercury’s league-high 10 games this season, though the same can’t be said for teammates Kahleah Copper (knee) and Alyssa Thomas (calf), who are out with injuries. Phoenix also had to sign Haley Jones last week with a hardship exception, though they waived her Sunday.

Injuries Piling Up

The Mercury aren’t the only team dealing with injuries. The Indiana Fever signed Aari McDonald last week to a hardship exception [[link removed]] with Caitlin Clark [[link removed]] (quad) and Sophie Cunningham (ankle) on the shelf.

The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association are due for a new CBA next season after the latter opted out of its current deal in October [[link removed]]. The main focus of a new deal has been an increase in player salaries, especially after the WNBA agreed to a record 11-year, $2.2 billion media-rights deal [[link removed]] that starts next season. The WNBA’s deal could reach as much as $3 billion [[link removed]] by the time all its broadcast partners are finalized.

ONE BIG FIG Pittsburgh Price Tag

USA Today

$13.65 million

The salary of Aaron Rodgers for his one-year deal [[link removed]] with the Steelers. The contract has $10 million guaranteed and can be worth as much as $19.5 million with incentives, according to ESPN. Rodgers played just two seasons of a three-year, $112.5 million contract with the Jets. He was injured in the opening minutes of his first season, then went just 5–12 last year.

It was reported Thursday that the 41-year-old, four-time MVP was signing with the Steelers for his 21st NFL season. His arrival in Pittsburgh brings a new kind of attention [[link removed]] to an organization that values stability and minimizes off-field drama.

STATUS REPORT Two Up, Two Push

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Chicago Sky ⬆⬇ The franchise drew a sellout crowd of 19,496 fans to the United Center [[link removed]] for its game against the Indiana Fever on Saturday, a franchise record and the fifth-largest live WNBA audience in the last decade. Indiana’s Caitlin Clark is still hampered by an injury and missed the game. However, it was a tough night for Chicago, which lost franchise icon Courtney Vandersloot in the first quarter with a torn ACL. The Sky lost by 27 after scoring a season-low 52 points.

Las Vegas ⬆ The WWE announced Saturday that WrestleMania 42 will be held at the Allegiant Stadium, the second straight year the company’s flagship event will be held at the Raiders’ NFL home stadium. It’s the first time since WrestleMania IV (1988) and V (1989) that the event will be in the same venue in back-to-back years. The WWE had previously announced that WrestleMania 42 would be held in New Orleans, but changed course late last month.

Aryna Sabalenka ⬆⬇ After her loss in the French Open final, the women’s world No. 1-ranked player said that Coco Gauff won “not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes.” Sabalenka also said that her semifinal opponent, Iga Świątek, would have won in the final if she had made it. On Sunday, Sabalenka clarified her postgame comments, posting on Instagram [[link removed]] that Gauff “earned” her title.

Ram ⬆ The truck brand announced Sunday that it is returning to NASCAR in 2026 [[link removed]] and will join the Craftsman Truck Series. Ram, which left NASCAR in 2012, is the motorsport’s first new national manufacturer since 2007 [[link removed]], according to The Athletic.

Conversation Starters The PGA Tour has debuted a new “Smart Trace” that changes color based on the probability the shot will land on the fairway. Watch it here [[link removed]]. Check out [[link removed]] New Balance’s new ad for Coco Gauff after she won the French Open. Take a look [[link removed]] at Nike’s ad for Carlos Alcaraz following his French Open title. Editors’ Picks Agassi-Backed Ballers Blends Racquet Sports and Social Clubs [[link removed]]by Ben Horney [[link removed]]Ballers’ debut venue launches in Philadelphia next month. Every College Wants a Flashy Basketball GM Hire Right Now [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]] and Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The role is more important than ever, and the definition is ever-evolving. [[link removed]] Federal Judge Approves House v. NCAA Settlement, Allowing College Athlete Pay [[link removed]]by Amanda Christovich [[link removed]]The ruling ushers in a new era for college sports. Question of the Day

Did you watch any of the epic Alcaraz-Sinner French Open final?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]]

Friday’s result: 76% of respondents think Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing should get to keep its NASCAR charter.

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Shows [[link removed]] Written by Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]]

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