Tennis Magazine

One of the thrills of watching sports is the element of surprise. And no one could’ve scripted a more surprising, unbelievable story than Emma Radacanu’s run at the 2021 US Open. Ranked 150th in the world, the 18 year-old qualifier won 10 matches without dropping a single set to win the title. It was the most improbable of fairy tales. Going from Cinderella to defending champ at this year’s US Open will be a huge adjustment for Radacanu, but in her brief career she’s already familiar with intense scrutiny. Entering Wimbledon she had a losing record on the season, and doubters have questioned her dedication. Some of that criticism stems from her cashing in on her meteoric rise with several notable endorsement deals. Which is silly, because no one in her…

Double Bounce My opponent hit a volley for a clear winner. However, her racquet came flying over the net with the ball. I was watching the ball, so I didn’t see exactly when the racquet landed on our court. After a short discussion, she conceded the point. However, I probably could have been convinced to replay the point, since she hit a winner. What was the right thing to do? —Tina Colbert, Cape Coral, Fla. The right thing is to ask your opponent what she saw. Under Rule 24.g., she loses the point if her racquet touched your court before the ball went out of play (in this case, bounced a second time). In an unofficiated match, this call should be made by the player whose racquet touched the court (The Code, #19).…

THE RULE Rule 5.a, Score in a Game (Standard game), is either the defender of tennis as it was played since its inception nearly 150 years ago, or the enabler of a contest that literally could have no end. When combined with Rule 6.a, Score in a Set (Advantage set), it can lead to interminable matches. Your opinion about match length might determine how you feel about these Rulebreakers’ ideas. THE RULEBREAKER Andy B. Hoerer, from Ventura, Calif., and Mark Milne, from Arboath, Scotland, want to speed things up—Andy by a smidge, Mark by a lot. Andy thinks enough is enough with back-and-forth scoring games, but he’s not willing to go straight to No-Ad scoring because “it’s over too quickly,” and “a whole match can be decided on a crazy mishit or even a bad…

There’s a lot to like about playing on a hard court. True bounces make it easier to line up shots; sure footing enables quicker movement; faster ball speeds reward aggressive tactics. But the nature of the surface—especially in hot, humid conditions—makes it taxing on both your body and your equipment. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your summer hard-court experience: Balls Optimize hard-court sessions with extra duty balls. Their thicker felt covering increases durability. The felt is also wound less tightly than regular balls, so it fluffs up sooner—which helps slow them down on the quicker surface. Shoes Jetting across an unforgiving surface with sharp, sudden changes of direction can exact a physical toll. A dependable, well-cushioned shoe can protect ankles, knees and lower backs from constant pounding.…

> May 20:After Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from participating, the ATP and WTA strip the Slam of its ranking points. > May 24: Merci! Beloved Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retires from tennis after his exit at Roland Garros. > May 26:Irina-Camelia Begu narrowly avoids a default after throwing her racquet, which bounced into the stands and almost hits a young fan. > May 28:Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz were among players spotted at the Stade de France, watching Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the Champions League final. > May 29:While his rivals slug it out in Paris, Roger Federer wins the internet as he posts a “delfie” (dog selfie) with new pup Willow. > May 29:“I was so f— ing petrified man.” Naomi Osaka is rattled after being caught up in an ‘active…

What does your pre-match playlist look like? MB: I listen to all sorts of things. I like some Czech songs but I also love the classics, especially The Beatles. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with “Where is the Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas, but interestingly I’ve gotten into Mozart because I know Rafa listens to that. I’m trying to follow his model of listening to classical music before going on court, just to calm the mind! AL: When I need a little more energy, it’ll either be rap or some kind of dance music, EDM. I’ve been actually listening to a lot of throwbacks recently: Jason Derulo, Ne-Yo, T-Pain. I also love country music, so it’s kind of all over the place. Is there a match you watched when younger that inspired you…