Two weeks ago, Rafael Nadal waved good-bye to Roland Garros, and to tennis.
Two days ago, Novak Djokovic walked off with a handful of clay from Court Philippe Chatrier, and said he may never be back.
Finally, on Sunday, the fortnight ended with their young successors, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, playing their first Grand Slam final, and turning it into the match of the decade, and maybe the century.
It seems safe to say that the men’s-tennis torch has, at long last, been passed. It seems equally safe to say that Alcaraz, 22, and Sinner, 23, are ready to run with it. Their rivalry is just getting started, but if Sunday’s epic is any indication, they’ll be taking tennis fans to places we’ve never been before.