Roger Federer descended from his cloud exactly a week into a grueling Roland Garros to share news that his family was bringing home a dog.

The former No. 1 has been off the court since last summer, undergoing knee surgery and ostensibly debating how soon to, at 40 years old, personally re-engage in the decade-long men’s tennis GOAT debate. Currently tied with Novak Djokovic and trailing Rafael Nadal by one major at 21-20-20, the race has slowed to a crawl as injuries, younger rivals, and ego have all taken turns threatening to end the contest entirely.

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Perhaps Federer, who is the pick of many to finish third in some order behind Djokovic and Nadal, is looking like the sadder but wisest one at the moment: after all, his announcement came just as Nadal took the court for a cracking five-setter with Félix Auger-Aliassime. Given the choice between a puppy and gambling away your knee’s remaining cartilage, I know what I'm picking.

Nadal will next play Djokovic for the 59th time in a quarterfinal that will again put both their legacies on the line. Roger Federer will be playing with a puppy.

The winner will (likely) face a 19-year-old robot hybrid of their former selves just to reach the final. Roger Federer will be playing with a puppy.

Grand Slams come and go. Puppies, so sayeth Sia, are Forever.