As the culmination of the clay-court season begins in Paris, the NBA and NHL seasons are approaching their conclusions in the United States. Between both leagues, just eight teams remain, each with various strengths and weaknesses, along with an intrinsic quality that their loyal fans know all too well. At the risk of sounding cliché, it’s their narrative.
We could pinpoint the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of all 256 main-draw singles players at Roland Garros, too. But for each our sanities, let’s consider the eight French Open participants whose stories most closely resemble the eight remaining basketball and hockey teams:
The connection: The Cavaliers are led by LeBron James, perhaps the world’s most recognizable athlete—but, more to the point, an Ohio native. He was drafted by his hometown team in 2003, but in the prime of his career bolted for Miami, where he won two NBA titles. Now back in Cleveland, James is trying to bring his tortured city a long-awaited title. It’s comparable to the task Tsonga, arguably France’s best hope for a champion, is faced with at Roland Garros. No Frenchman has won a singles title on the terre battue since Yannick Noah in 1983. Tsonga might not advance as far as James’ Cavs, but it’s not hard to envision both men coming up painfully short once again. Paris and Cleveland can commiserate over red wine and Polish Boys.
The connection: The Bay Area franchise set an NBA record with a 73-9 regular season, thanks in large part to Stephen Curry, the game’s most exciting player and unanimous MVP. (Seriously, he received every vote.) But unless the Warriors cap their season off with a title, it will be hard to look back and enjoy all of that early success. Djokovic, along the same lines, has done everything he can on clay—win Masters tournaments, beat Rafael Nadal—and has won every other Grand Slam tournament. But the Serb needs to come through when it matters most on the dirt. No excuse will suffice, no matter how hot or inspired his opponents get. One possible good omen: One of Golden State’s best players is named Klay Thompson.
The connection: The talent is unquestioned. The question is, is it finally the time for either the Thunder or Muguruza to win it all? At this point, you’d have to give Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Co. a better chance, given their impressive showings against Golden State. But Muguruza, a former Wimbledon finalist and very capable clay-courter, can take complete control of a match when she’s on target. The Spaniard might need some things to go her way to go far in the draw, not unlike the Thunder in the loaded Western Conference, but eventually, it seems like both should break through.