Five Point Friday: October 29, 2021
/October 29, 2021
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Sinner’s Unique Achievement
On Sunday, world No. 11 Jannik Sinner defeated No. 14. Diego Schwartzman at the European Open in Antwerp, Belgium 6-2, 6-2, which marks his fourth title of the year and fifth of his career. As a result, he became the youngest man to win five ATP titles since Djokovic accomplished the feat at 19 years old in 2007.
2.) 21-Year-Old’s 1st Title
It’s always refreshing to see new names earning wins on tour. This week, American Ann Li earned her first singles WTA title defeating Camila Osorio 6-1, 6-4 at the Tenerife Ladies Open in Spain. Ranked No. 725 in the world, Li has found more success to date playing doubles, where she’s ranked No. 48, but as a young athlete, she has plenty of years ahead, so wishing her best of luck in the future!
3.) Tsitsipas’ Face on a Shoe
In collaboration with Adidas, Stefanos Tsitsipas announced a new shoe that’s a blend of Adidas classic Stan Smiths and Superstars and features his name and face on the shoe’s tongue. Currently, the shoes are only available in Europe and Japan, but they’ll be available soon in North America.
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4.) AO Vaccination Update
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that “the state of Victoria will not be applying for any exemptions for unvaccinated planers.” His statement contradicts Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s comments suggesting players could apply for a skilled worker travel exemption and undergo a 14-day quarantine. It would seem there’s likely to be some extra debate ahead of the Australian Open.
Premier on Aus Open: ‘on behalf of every vaccinated Victorian who has done the right thing – my Goverment will not be applying for an exemption for any unvaccinated player’ @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/xKrymQpXNR
— Sharnelle Vella (@SharnelleVella) October 26, 2021
5.) Triniti Ball Gets Upgrade
Since their launch in 2019, the Triniti tennis ball has been a success, and it’s one of our favorites in the pressureless ball category. Earlier this month, Wilson released an upgraded version called Triniti Pro, which offers the same Engage core as the original but with a new felt for faster play, added durability, and greater consistency on bounces.
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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.
Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v7 vs. v8 – A Detailed Comparison
/Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v7 vs. v8
A Detailed Comparison
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In 2021, Wilson released the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 v8, which begs the question. Is it better than the v7, and should you upgrade?
In this guide, I’ll provide you with a detailed comparison between the seventh and eighth generations of the Wilson Blade to help you decide whether you should upgrade or purchase.
Five Point Friday: October 22, 2021
/October 22, 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 v7 vs. v8 [VIDEO]
In my latest video, I share a detailed comparison of the seventh and eighth-generation Wilson Blade 98 16×19 to help players decide if they should buy it and if it’s worth an upgrade.
2.) Warm & Fuzzy Interviews
During the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, TennisChannel held a specialty shoot called “Warm & Fuzzy,” where players from the ATP & WTA were asked casual off-beat questions that led to lots of laughs, and they teased on social media. Hopefully, they will release the extended conversations for us to enjoy sometime soon.
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3.) Badosa’s Indian Wells Victory
Paula Badosa of Spain claimed the second title of her career in Indian Wells with a tough 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 7-6 (7-2) win over former world No. 1, Victoria Azarenka, which pushed her ranking to an all-time high of No. 13. Her previous title came in May at the Serbian Open in Belgrade. Paula’s an exceptional talent, and we hope to see more of her in the future.
4.) Murray vs. Tiafoe in Belgium
Andy Murray and Frances Tiafoe played a grueling three-set match at the European Open that lasted three hours and 45-minutes, where all sets were decided with a tie-break. Andy came out the winner by the slightest of margins with a final scoreline of 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (10-8). Murray’s results have continued to improve over the past few weeks, so it will be interesting to see how his body holds up, and he continues to progress.
5.) Roddick’s Take on Mental Health
Mental health remains at the forefront of discussions surrounding tennis and the sporting world at large. Recently, Andy Roddick weighed in on how he views the difference between mental health and toughness when discussing Osaka’s break from tennis.
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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.
Five Point Friday: October 15, 2021
/October 15, 2021
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Hall of Fame Voting
Fans can now vote to help push a player into the Tennis Hall of Fame. Last year, Lleyton Hewitt captured the most fan votes, which helped put him in a position to receive his induction into the Hall of Fame.
2.) Academy Life: New TV Series
Former top 150 tennis player Alizé Lim of France hosts Academy Life, a new TV series that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at some of the best tennis training grounds in the world. The series launched this week and starts at Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy in Nice.
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3.) Raducanu’s Return to the Tour
Fans eagerly awaited Emma Raducanu’s return to the tour after learning about her wild card entry to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA. Despite her 6-2, 6-4 loss to Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Emma kept things in perspective during her post-match interview and took it as a learning experience.
4.) Grigor Rallies Against Medvedev
World No. 28 Grigor Dimitrov had his hands full facing No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open. However, despite a first set loss, Grigor managed to claw his way back into the match and play outstanding tennis to secure a solid 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win and spot in the quarter-finals against Hubert Hurkacz.
5.) The Players’ Lounge
Back in August, before the US Open, Racquet Mag organized a sit-down between Billie Jean King, Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios, and Mardy Fish. Discussion ranges from mental health to the media, tough opponents, and the greatest player of all time. I hadn’t caught the video and thought it was interesting, so I hope you enjoy it.
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.
Five Point Friday: October 8, 2021
/October 8, 2021
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Head’s Racquet Prototype
Late last week, Head teased a new tennis racquet prototype that they’ve shared with ambassadors to test and get feedback. The frame weighs 10.4 oz unstrung, features a 100 square inch head and a thicker 24 mm beam. You can find images of the new racquet online by following the hashtag #HEADYouGotThis.
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2.) ATP Investigates Zverev
Domestic abuse accusations have swirled for Alexander Zverev for quite some time, and many have suggested the ATP should address it. On Monday, the ATP announced they have launched a formal investigation “to establish the facts and determine appropriate follow-up action.” Zverev won men’s singles gold this summer at the Tokyo Olympics and is currently ranked No. 4 in the world.
3.) Nishikori on the Move
Yesterday, during his 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 win against João Sousa in Indian Wells, Kei Nishikori showed us his wheels with some impressive court coverage and an eventual winner down the line. Kei will face world No. 22 and 18th seed Dan Evans tomorrow.
Kei in full flight ?
The explosive footwork of @keinishikori on full display at Indian Wells. #BNPPO21 pic.twitter.com/WBVPCpYlEj
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 7, 2021
4.) Bagel Inspired Overgrips
Do you love bagels? If so, you might appreciate Bageled NYC’s take on overgrips. Playing on our sports slang for winning a set 6-0, the company has created a new line of bagel-themed overgrips that look delicious.
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5.) Vaccines for Australian Open
Although the Australian Open hasn’t made an official statement, comments from Daniel Andrews of the Victoria government and an article from The Age suggest that vaccination may be required for players to attend the tournament next year.
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.
Compression Sleeves for Tennis Elbow: Do They Work?
/Compression Sleeves for Tennis Elbow
Do They Work?
Players commonly use compression sleeves for tennis elbow, with many individuals reporting glowing results, but do they actually work, and if so, what benefits do they provide?
Although they’re not quite as popular as tennis elbow braces, they’ve been gaining popularity as an alternative or complementary solution in recent years.
Tennis Elbow Braces vs. Compression Sleeves: A Comparison
/Tennis Elbow Braces vs. Compression Sleeves
A Side-by-Side Comparison
Despite their perceived similarities, tennis elbow braces and compression sleeves function differently and offer varying benefits.
Depending on your injury or discomfort, one is likely to be more appropriate, so it’s beneficial to understand the nuance between the two so you can select the best for your needs.