Of tennis youth, Giants third base coaches, and Niners' memories

And from out of the June gloom, proof that the sporting world is even more confusing than the real one—and in some cases, just as satisfying or unsatisfying.

We’re all growing older, of course, except the people who play tennis.

In the men’s semi-final Tuesday at Roland Garros—okay, the French Open—Jakub Mensik defeated the new kid, Joao Fonseca, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.

Fonseca is 19. Mensik, an ancient 20. A few days ago, Fonseca defeated Novak Djokovic. He’s 39, which in the game is almost antediluvian. Then again, as you probably heard, Serena Williams is returning after four years of retirement and motherhood. She won 23 individual grand slams, the same as Djokovic. 

Marta Kostyuk dedicated her quarterfinals win to “the Ukrainian people for their resilience.” Did she clear that with the White House? 

Yes, the San Francisco Giants recently had a one-game winning streak. At the moment, they have a two-game losing streak, as opposed to the recent five games.

San Francisco just hired a new third-base coach, Gary Pettis. Maybe you’d prefer a new reliever or clean-up hitter, but that’s probably asking for too much. Oh yeah, how’s the idea of bringing a college guy to manage the team working out so far?

The NBA finals will start on Wednesday, and it seems a bit lonely without the Golden State Warriors or even the Los Angeles Lakers. Didn’t those two teams have an unbreakable lease on that spot in the playoffs? The experts saw this coming when Victor Webanyama was the first pick by San Antonio in the draft two and one-half years ago.

Is he enough to overcome the New York Knicks? Not sure, but Wembanyama has turned into the superstar the NBA hoped for and other teams can only fear.

There is a wonderful piece on Roger Maltbie by Brody Miller in The Athletic, bringing to life the unvarnished personality of the man—now a 74-year-old grandfather—who learned his golf in San Jose. Maltbie went from winning tournaments, including the first Memorial in 1976, to winning accolades and laughs as a television announcer. This year’s Memorial starts Thursday at—where else?—Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village course in Columbus, Ohio. Maltbie will be working as a walking commentator and on-course reporter for The Golf Channel. Roger partnered with 49ers’ owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which is the reason Maltbie has three Super Bowl rings. Are you old enough to remember when the Niners won a Super Bowl?

A Niners Super Bowl this upcoming season is probably more wish than reality, especially with the Rams trading for All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, who has been described as a superstar. 

And then there are the defending Seattle Seahawks, who, like the Rams and Niners, are in the NFC West. 

Yet, nothing will be decided for months, long after the tennis is finished at Roland Garros.

Your serve, Niners.