Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were already on vacation, but a throwback men’s tennis season ended in throwback fashion on Sunday with the captain Yannick Noah leading another French Davis Cup celebration at home.
Noah, 57, wears spectacles and gray hair now. The dreadlocks are gone along with some of his relentlessly positive energy.
His albums do not sell like they used to in France. Not all of his players even want his input during matches. But enough of Noah’s power of persuasion clearly remains intact along with his good fortune.
Consider this: France won its first Davis Cup in 16 years without having to defeat a singles player ranked in the top 40 all season.