COVID seems thing of the past at full-capacity French Open
They sipped from glasses of Champagne or rosé while seated on the sandcolored cushions of wicker couches on a “terrasse” overlooking some smaller courts at Roland Garros. They crowded walkways and stood in lines dozens deep for waffles painted with Nutella or baguettes layered with ham, cheese and butter — and, sometimes, they gave up on those waits that could take 15 minutes or more.
In the stands, they wore their white hats and cried “Allez!” and punctuated points with rhythmic clapping. They took etiquettebreaching strolls through the stadium aisles during play. Most of all, and most important of all, they were there.
The crowds at the French Open were back to their no-mask, no-distancing, full-capacity, pre-pandemic levels Sunday for the start of this year's edition, as much a part of the fabric of the event as the red clay that defines the Grand Slam tournament.
“A really festive atmosphere,” observed Alice Dufour, a 21-year-old who was part of a group trip from her Miramont tennis club near Bordeaux. “It's a huge party.”
Because of COVID-19 restrictions in a country that went through three severe lockdowns, attendance at the French Open was capped at 1,000 spectators daily in 2020, creating a total two-week count of 15,000, instead of the more than 470,000 that came through the turnstiles in 2019. A year ago, the maximum was 5,388 for each of the first 10 days, before being eased somewhat to allow 8,500 in when the men's final was held.
Sunday's attendance was 32,453.
• In first-round matches: Rising star Carlos Alcaraz showed what the fuss is all about with a quick and clean victory. The 19-yearold from Spain never faced a break point while beating Juan Ignacio Londero 6-4,
6-2, 6-0 in less than two hours . .... American teenager Coco Gauff earned a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino . ... Two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza is out in the first round for the second year in a row. Muguruza won the title at Roland Garros in 2016 and was seeded 10th this year but was defeated 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 by Kaia Kanepi of Estonia . ... Twotime French Open finalist Dominic Thiem's losing streak reached 10 matches with a first-round exit as he works his way back from a torn tendon in his right wrist. Thiem bowed out 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 against Hugo Dellien, a Bolivian ranked 87th who entered the match with a 2-7 career record in Grand Slam matches.
Horse Racing
RICH STRIKE YES, PREAKNESS CHAMP EARLY VOTING NO FOR BELMONT >> Twelve hours before Early Voting won the Preakness, Kentucky Derby champion Rich Strike was back on the track at Churchill Downs to begin preparations for the Belmont Stakes.
After impressing with a strong workout, Rich Strike remains on track for the third leg of the Triple Crown. Trainer Eric Reed confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday the plan is “absolutely” still to run Rich Strike in the Belmont.
But there won't be a
showdown between the surprise Derby champion and the Preakness winner. Early Voting's owner and trainer confirmed the colt will bypass the Belmont; they plan to run him this summer with the ultimate goal of getting him ready for the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York on Aug. 27.
NHL STAMKOS, KUCHEROV LEAD LIGHTNING PAST PANTHERS >>
Steven Stamkos scored two goals and Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists and Tampa Bay beat the Florida 5-1 to move to the brink of another trip to the Eastern Conference final.
Corey Perry and Erik Cernak also scored, and reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy had 34 saves to help the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Panthers, who had the NHL's best record during the regular season.
Game 4 is Monday night at Amalie Arena, where the Lightning have won three of four games this postseason. One more victory will send them to the Eastern Conference final for the sixth time in eight years.
Vasilevskiy allowed just one goal for the fourth straight game after allowing at least three in each of Tampa Bay's first six games this postseason. He's been helped in that dominating stretch, as his teammates in front of him have helped by playing excellent team defense.
NBA NBA FINES MAVS $100,000 FOR 3RD BENCH VIOLATION IN PLAYOFFS >>
The NBA fined the Dallas Mavericks for a third time in the playoffs because of violations of rules regarding their bench.
The fine has doubled each time, with the latest at $100,000 after Game 2 of the Western Conference finals at Golden State on Friday. Game 3 in Dallas was Sunday night. None of the fines was from games in Dallas.
Several Mavericks players have stood for most or all of the games during the playoffs, including home games. The fines have been for players and coaches standing for extended periods, straying too far from the bench and encroaching on the court during game action.
Both of the first two fines were from the West semifinals against Phoenix, after Games 2 and 7 in Arizona. The first fine was $25,000, the second $50,000 after a 33-point Dallas victory in the deciding game.
Soccer MAN CITY CLINCHES 6TH PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE IN 11 SEASONS >>
Manchester City clinched a sixth Premier League title in 11 seasons by scoring three times in five minutes to come from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in the finale and hold off Liverpool's challenge.
After starting the day in first place, City was at risk of an historic choke when it conceded twice to trail 2-0 at home to Villa. It took Ilkay Gündogan's header to begin the comeback in the 76th and Rodri equalized two minutes later by placing the ball through a tight gap into the bottom corner.
The Etihad Stadium erupted in celebrations in the 81st when Gündogan tapped in Kevin De Bruyne's cross.