How to Wear a Tennis Elbow Brace: Step-by-Step Placement
30 Sep 2021/Start the ConversationCheck out my new custom vibration dampener

How to Wear a Tennis Elbow Brace
Step-by-Step Placement
We hope you love this article. Just so you know, TennisCompanion may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page to help keep this site running. Learn more.
By Jon Crim
TennisCompanion
For many, a tennis elbow brace or strap may offer an effective means of relieving discomfort when playing the sport you love.
However, wearing a brace with proper placement is essential to achieve optimal results and avoid aggravating symptoms.
Five Point Friday: October 1, 2021
30 Sep 2021/Start the Conversation
October 1, 2021
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) 6,000 Days for Nadal
On Wednesday, the ATP shared that Rafael Nadal has been a top 10 player for 6,000 consecutive days. That brings us all the way back to April 25, 2005.
6,000.
That’s how many days @RafaelNadal has been in the Top 10 ?
Since April 25th, 2005. #InfosysStats pic.twitter.com/1sMUT6dzOa
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2021
2.) Kim Clijsters Back Again
Kim Clijsters made a comeback in 2020, but her last match was at the US Open that year, with her progress being interrupted by knee surgery in October. However, she never let the dream die, and Monday stepped back on the court for her first WTA match this year, facing world No. 97, Su-Wei Hsieh. Kim lost 3-6, 7-5, 3-6 but was happy with her progress and will compete again.
3.) Indian Wells in the Fall
On Monday, the 47th edition of the BNP Paribas Open will kick off in Indian Wells. It’s the first time the tournament will run in over two years after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. The event is usually held in March, but for 2021 it was moved to give the tournament the best shot at running. Emma Raduccanu, who did not receive direct entry due to the timing of her US Open victory, has been awarded a wildcard along with Kim Clijsters and Andy Murray. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic and Ash Barty have withdrawn.
4.) Wozniacki’s Last Match
At the end of 2019, Caroline Wozniacki announced she’d retire from tennis after the 2020 Australian Open with a final exhibition match against Serena Williams at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen in May. Of course, due to the pandemic, this didn’t pan out, but she recently announced she’d still play her final match. On February 9, 2020, it will take place at the Royal Arena, but she’ll be playing Angelique Kerber instead.
Excited to announce we found a date for my “Final Match” in Copenhagen! It is going to be February 9, 2022 in Royal Arena against my great friend @AngeliqueKerber ! Can’t wait to see you there!! pic.twitter.com/tdreCznV7s
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) September 23, 2021
5.) Medvedev’s Response
After the Laver Cup concluded, with Team Europe defeating Team World for the fourth time, Diego Schwartzman and Felix Auger Aliassime faced off against Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud for an entertaining doubles match. During the match, Medvedev made an aggressive approach of a second serve from Felix, which came in response to a previous point where Felix tried an underarm serve.
The ? version of a SABR. How do you rate it ?? @DaniilMedwed pic.twitter.com/0fAkiFGKch
— Tennis GIFs ?? (@tennis_gifs) September 26, 2021
If you have a moment, I’d love to hear your feedback. Which topic is your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of each week?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and have a great weekend.
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Five Point Friday: September 24, 2021
23 Sep 2021/Start the Conversation
September 24, 2021
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Laver Cup 2021
Starting tomorrow, the Laver Cup will kick off its fourth edition of the tournament in Boston. The event runs through the weekend from September 24 – 26. Federer and Nadal won’t be competing, but it should be a fun event that quickly became a fan favorite after it first launched in 2017.
2.) New Guinness World Record
Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia joined the WTA Tour in 1998 and won the first tournament she entered in singles, doubles & mixed doubles. As the first player to achieve these results, Guinness awarded her a world record.
Guinness World Records holder ?
??Katarina Srebotnik joined the WTA Tour in 1998 and won the first tournament she entered in singles, doubles & mixed doubles!
She is the first male or female to win the first main-draw tournament entered in all three disciplines of the sport. pic.twitter.com/0sJXWhSlrT
— wta (@WTA) September 20, 2021
3.) 1st ATP Event In San Diego
For the first time in history, the ATP Tour will hold a tournament in San Diego. The San Diego Open will be played at the Barnes Tennis Center and has a solid lineup of players. San Diego native and world No. 85 Brandon Nakashima boarded the USS Midway to promote the event.
4.) Halep & Cahill Split
After six years, Simona Halep and Darren Cahill have ended their successful partnership. They first began working together in 2015, and since then, Simona has achieved some fantastic results. In 2017, roughly two years after they started working together, she became world No. 1. Then, in 2018 Simona won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open. Less than a year later, in 2019, she captured the title at Wimbledon.
After six wonderful years working together, @darren_cahill and I have decided that it’s time to end our working relationship.
Thank you D for everything, for making me a better tennis player and a better person. ??? pic.twitter.com/VOEt4i81Bf
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) September 22, 2021
5.) Andy Murray Into Quarters
For the first time since 2019, Murray has reached the quarter-finals of an ATP tournament. He notched the result at the Moselle Open in France, where he defeated world No. 26 Ugo Humbert and No. 66, Vasek Pospisil. Tomorrow he’ll face No. 13 Hubert Hurkacz.
If you have a moment, I’d love to hear your feedback. Which topic is your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of each week?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and have a great weekend.
Play Better Tennis
Improve your game alongside our community of tennis players
Why join?
Discussion Boards
Join the conversation with other members of the community.
5 Point Friday
Read our weekly recap of the 5 most interesting things we dig up in tennis.
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Tennis Balls: Buyer’s Guide + 12 Best Balls for Performance
17 Sep 2021/Start the ConversationCheck out my new custom vibration dampener

Tennis Balls
Buyer’s Guide + 12 Best Balls for Performance
We hope you love this article. Just so you know, TennisCompanion may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page to help keep this site running. Learn more.
By Jon Crim
TennisCompanion
On the surface, it may seem that all tennis balls are created equal, but look a little closer, and there’s more than meets the eye.
Beyond their complex manufacturing process, there are various types of tennis balls with different materials and construction designed to meet the ever-growing demand of players.
Five Point Friday: September 17, 2021
16 Sep 2021/Start the Conversation
September 17, 2021
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Golden Slams x2
Djokovic received plenty of well-deserved attention at the US Open for his attempt at winning a Grand Slam in 2021. However, behind the scenes, Dylan Alcott of Australia and Diede de Groot of the Netherlands completed a Golden Slam in wheelchair tennis. That is, they won every single major AND Olympic Gold this year, which is thoroughly impressive.
2.) US Open Viewership
According to ESPN, US Open prime time viewership was up 33% over 2020 and 13% for the entire two weeks of the event. Furthermore, the women’s final averaged 2.44 million viewers while the men’s averaged 2.05 million. It’s excellent to see the numbers were strong and the ladies pulling huge interest.
3.) Unique US Open Tradition
On Sunday, Andy Roddick highlighted a US Open tradition that I hadn’t seen before where players leave behind a pair of their shoes for the attendants of the players. I thought it was a fun way for players to show their appreciation.
Just one row of the shoes that have been left behind in the US Open locker room for the attendants from the players … One of the cool traditions that never gets talked about pic.twitter.com/Tf8GDbwCkn
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) September 12, 2021
4.) Emma Speaking Mandarin
Although it’s not surprising, considering her mother is Chinese, many fans were intrigued to learn Emma Raducanu is fluent in Mandarin. Following her US Open title, she posted a message to the tournament’s Weibo account and has now opened one herself.
@EmmaRaducanu is building her Chinese social media presence by launching an account on Weibo with a video message. Viewed over 1M times in 7 hours. Very fluent and expressive Mandarin, thanked the support from the fans, and wished to come to China to play in 2022. pic.twitter.com/AJvdXGORMz
— mad_joe (@madjoechina) September 16, 2021
5.) 53 Shot Rally
Mulling over various highlights from his years US Open, I had to stop and replay Djokovic and Zverev’s 53 shot semi-final rally. If you didn’t catch it, it’s worth a view.
53 shots.
A rally you’ll never forget. #USOpenpic.twitter.com/VGLeMSUrSK
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 11, 2021
If you have a moment, I’d love to hear your feedback. Which topic is your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of each week?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and have a great weekend.
Play Better Tennis
Improve your game alongside our community of tennis players
Why join?
Discussion Boards
Join the conversation with other members of the community.
5 Point Friday
Read our weekly recap of the 5 most interesting things we dig up in tennis.
In-depth Resources
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Five Point Friday: September 10, 2021
10 Sep 2021/Start the Conversation
September 10, 2021
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Wilson Blade 98 v8 [Review]
Now in its eighth generation, the Wilson Blade is one of the game’s most popular tennis racquets that’s well known for its excellent feel, control, and comfort. In my latest video, I dive deep to provide an overview of the racquet, including noteworthy changes and how it performs on the court to help players decide if it’s a good fit.
2.) Emma & Leylah
For the first time since 1999, we’ll have a US Open women’s final with two teenagers. 18-year-old Emma Raducanu of Great Britain and Leylah Fernandez of Canada, who turned 19 on Monday, has captured the imagination of fans with an impressive display of tennis that’s both refreshing and incredibly entertaining. Instead of going on about how impressive these two ladies have been, I’ll simply encourage you to check out their highlights and tune in for their matchup this Saturday.
3.) Untold: Breaking Point
Untold is a Netflix docuseries that goes behind the scenes to tell compelling stories from the world of sports. Breaking Point is one of five episodes that chronicle the rise of Mardy Fish and his crippling struggle with anxiety.
4.) Social Media Abuse
Anyone who’s spent even a little time on social media has likely been exposed to the negativity that’s often overwhelmingly pervasive on these platforms. Late last week, after her third-round loss, Sloane Steven’s shared that she received 2,000+ abusive and negative messages. It’s unfortunate, to say the least, but posts like hers help raise awareness and encourage change. A spokesperson from Facebook, which owns Instagram, addressed the issue publicly.
Sloane Stephens opens up about the 2000+ abusive messages she received after yesterday #USOpen loss. (warning: the language is disgusting and disheartening to read) pic.twitter.com/oGHEbHPkjN
— Analis Bailey (@analisbailey) September 4, 2021
5.) Carlos Alcaraz’s Run
At only 18 years old, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, who’s currently ranked No. 55, became the youngest man since 1963 to make the quarterfinals of the US Open. Perhaps his most memorable win came in the third round when he defeated world No. 3, Stefanos Tsitsipas, in five sets. Unfortunately, his run ended in the quarters due to a right adductor injury that forced him to retire in the second set.
If you have a moment, I’d love to hear your feedback. Which topic is your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of each week?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and have a great weekend.
Play Better Tennis
Improve your game alongside our community of tennis players
Why join?
Discussion Boards
Join the conversation with other members of the community.
5 Point Friday
Read our weekly recap of the 5 most interesting things we dig up in tennis.
In-depth Resources
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Five Point Friday: September 3, 2021
02 Sep 2021/Start the Conversation
September 3, 2021
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Final Set [Movie]
Last week, I stumbled upon the movie trailer for Final Set, which appears to have debuted in the US this week. As of now, it appears you may be able to watch it via Film Movement for a fee. However, I also see a page for it on Netflix, so perhaps it will become available there at some point soon.
2.) CrossCourt Episodes
Tennis United has released the first two episodes of its CrossCourt series, where a player from the ATP and WTA sit down to discuss what is described as ‘largely untouched subjects.’ New videos will debut every Wednesday on YouTube, and you can learn more about the series and view the complete episode list here.
3.) Nishioka Between the Legs
During his first-round US Open match against Jack Sock, Yoshihito Nishioka fielded an impressive between the legs shot for a winner. Despite a strong start, Nishioka wasn’t able to overcome Sock, who won in four sets.
4.) Parks Ties Fastest Venus Serve
In 2007, Venus Williams clocked a 129 mph (211 kph) at the US Open; the third-fastest WTA serve on record. This week, 20-year-old wildcard Alycia Parks from Atlanta tied Venus’ record, which also happens to be the fastest women’s serve in US Open History.
5.) Armstrong With Roof Gets Wet
Remnants from Hurricane Ida hit the North East last night, which prompted a flash-flood warning in New York during matches. Louis Armstrong Stadium has a retractable roof, but it’s naturally ventilated, so strong winds managed to blow rain into the court and suspend play between Kevin Anderson and Diego Schwartzman.
Update. Getting worse pic.twitter.com/ezVe9mSfep
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) September 2, 2021
If you have a moment, I’d love to hear your feedback. Which topic is your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of each week?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and have a great weekend.
Play Better Tennis
Improve your game alongside our community of tennis players
Why join?
Discussion Boards
Join the conversation with other members of the community.
5 Point Friday
Read our weekly recap of the 5 most interesting things we dig up in tennis.
In-depth Resources
Learn with comprehensive resources to help you improve your game.
Wilson Blade 98 v8: In-Depth Review & Playtest
01 Sep 2021/Start the ConversationCheck out my new custom vibration dampener

Wilson Blade 98 v8
In-depth Review & Playtest
We hope you love this article. Just so you know, TennisCompanion may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page to help keep this site running. Learn more. Disclosure: Wilson gave me this frame to evaluate, but they did not pay me to write this review or influence its contents.
By Jon Crim
TennisCompanion
One of the game’s most popular tennis racquets, the Wilson Blade aims to deliver best-in-class feel, control, and comfort.
For 2021, Wilson releases the Blade’s eighth generation, which continues to offer excellent all-court performance with a stylish new cosmetic and subtle refinements to the racquet’s tech.