Rafael Nadal keeps Darwin Blanch, who is supposedly the future of tennis, at arm’s length. theathletic.com/5445897/2024/0…

In Challengers, tennis is a cipher for relationships: their highs and lows, romance and toxicity.

That doesn't mean that Zendaya and her tennis boys don't have something to say about the sport — thanks to tennis-obsessed screenwriter Justin Kirtzkes

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Dante ascending to Paradiso from Purgatorio:

'I will play Roland Garros if I feel competitive. If I can play, I play. If I can’t play, I can’t.'

What does it mean for the Rafael Nadal of today to “compete”, if it doesn’t mean matching up to the standards of the Rafael Nadal of the last two decades?

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I am going to fall over

Roger Federer-esque pass from Martin Ødegaard for Havertz's goal

♟️🎾 In the chess match between the tennis tours and grand slams, the slams make their move.

More prize money, equal pay, and fewer tournaments are all on the table.

And this time, the kings and queens — the players — are in the loop.

✍️Matt Futterman

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Iga Swiatek holds the longest winning streak on the WTA Tour since 2000.

She has been world No 1for 100 weeks and counting.

She has played 143 matches as world No 1 and won 120.

But you really need to look at her bagels per week...

Charlie Eccleshare

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🎾 143 matches
✅ 120 wins
🏆 Three Grand Slam titles
🥯 39 bagels
🗓️ 100 weeks — and counting

This is the story of Iga Swiatek's reign as world number one.

📝 Charlie Eccleshare

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The last week in tennis with Matt Futterman:

🎾 Will the four best women's players make a semi-final quartet?
🎾 The data behind what's eating Andrey Rublev
🎾 Coco Gauff's fine margins
🎾 A kick serve from outer space

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A professional football club and its league engaging in tit-for-tat statements on social media — while professing concerns for sporting integrity and propriety — is a remarkably unserious situation

There should be moral tolerances built into VAR so that if you deserve to lose then your offside line moves back by an inch

Garbine Muguruza won two Grand Slam titles, defeating one of the Williams sisters in the final on both occasions.

Today, the former world No 1 confirmed her retirement from tennis

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Marta Kostyuk is having quite a week in Stuttgart.

After saving five match points against Zheng Qinwen, she saw eight slip against Coco Gauff, finally beating the US Open champion in a third-set tiebreak.

Through it all, in her box, is Sandra Zaniewska

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the rest of the wta tour watching coco gauff almost win another three-set match she should have won in two sets about 45 minutes ago

From The Athletic: The best tennis players — even competing on their favorite surface — generally have at least one humiliation they’d prefer to forget. The exception to this rule is Rafael Nadal. nyti.ms/49DEiIT

Trying to solve the riddle this spring is going to be — complicated. For him and for us. The Athletic Rafael Nadal is solving a tennis riddle – and we’re solving it with him theathletic.com/5423827/2024/0…

Here’s why the rest of the men should be terrified by what Novak and Sinner did in Monte Carlo last week. The Athletic. Why Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic won’t mind defeat in Monte Carlo theathletic.com/5414902/2024/0…

Rafael Nadal plays an ATP match today for the first time since January.

He's still the only player in the 'Big Three' yet to suffer a humiliating defeat on his favourite surface.

Part of his comeback is trying to keep it that way.

✍️Charlie Eccleshare

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Out of Monte Carlo, but in for Barcelona - with a suitably hedgy statement.

Nadal's not taking his clay-court swan song lightly, and why would he? He's desperate to avoid his 'George Bastl moment'. Piece on Rafa's dance between fitness and pride ⬇️

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