Five Point Friday: July 29, 2022
/July 29, 2022
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Musetti’s First Title
Lorenzo Musetti claimed his first ATP title defeating Carlos Alcaraz in a highly-entertaining match at the Hamburg Open in Germany. The win propels the 20-year-old Italian to a world no. 31 ranking, breaking into the top 50 for the first time. Despite the loss, Carlos debuts in the top 5 after the tournament, making him the youngest player to achieve the feat since Rafa in 2005.
2.) Evert Win’s Enspire Award
Hall of Famer, Chris Evert, received the Stuart Scott Enspire Award at the annual ESPYS for her work to inspire and mentor the next generation of tennis players. Along with the award, the ESPYS published a short video showcasing some of her work, which I thought was enlightening for anyone curious about her efforts.
“It’s not only about the tennis, its also about the education … We are just trying to help their dreams come true.”
Hall of Famer Chris Evert is a recipient of the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award for her work to inspire & mentor the next generation of tennis players.
(๐@bmsnews) pic.twitter.com/Ia4KB6eMBT
โ ESPYS (@ESPYS) July 19, 2022
3.) Pro Strings & Tensions
Players and fans often enjoy learning about the different racquets, strings, and tensions players use on tour. At the Atlanta Open, a whiteboard showcased what all of the players were using for the tournament, which I thought you might find interesting.
4.) Coco’s Signature Shoe
Partnering with New Balance, Coco Gauff is launching her debut signature tennis shoe, the Coco CG1. Basketball silhouettes and flashy ’90s aesthetics strongly influence the shoe’s design, which fits her style well. If interested, you can pick up a pair starting 8/26, right before the US Open kicks off.
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5.) Zverev’s Return to Tennis
World no. 2, Alexander Zverev, who tore several ankle ligements while playing Nadal during the French Open semifinals, is making good progress after surgery. On Tuesday, the Rakuten Open in Tokyo confirmed his participation, which starts on October 3, and he hasn’t closed the door on the US Open, which kicks off on August 29.
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If you have a moment, Iโd 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: July 22, 2022
/July 22, 2022
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) US Open Djokovic Petition
On Wednesday, the US Openย released a statement confirming they’ll respect the US government’s position regarding travel into the country for unvaccinated non-US citizens,” which means Djokovic won’t be able to the country. Despite that, fans have started a Change.org petition to encourage the US government and USTA to work together and allow him to play.
2.) Serena & Venus Plans
After her Wimbledon appearance, it was unclear if or when Serena would play again, while Venus hasn’t played a singles event since August of last year. However, tournament organizers at the Toronto Open confirmed Serena’s participation, followed by an announcement that Venus accepted wildcards for the Citi Open (8/1 – 8/7) and the Toronto Open (8/8 – 8/14).
The secret is out: @serenawilliams is coming to Toronto for the #NBO22!
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has a really good record in Canada. Will she add to her legacy this year? Read more about her history at the National Bank Open: ๐https://t.co/0wPnqfQdbn
โ National Bank Open (@NBOtoronto) July 18, 2022
Seven Grand Slam singles titles. Olympic champion. Former world No.1. @WashKastles legend ๐๐ฅ๐พ@Venuseswilliams begins her return to the tour in DC ๐
You donโt want to miss the chance to see this sports icon LIVE at #CitiOpen ๐ https://t.co/6pSNoJQuHi pic.twitter.com/8CI34vwHw4
โ Citi Open (@CitiOpen) July 21, 2022
3.) Ball Crew Director Q&A
Tiahnne Noble, US Open Ball Crew Director, took part in a Q&A, answering a flurry of questions fans have about her role, experiences as a ball person, and everything in between. You’ll have to do some scrolling, but I thought she did a great job picking up as many questions as she could this week.
4.) Daria Kasatkina Comes Out
Russian tennis player and world No. 12, Daria Kasatkina, came out in aย YouTube videoย and addressed the rising homophobic attitudes in her country while also speaking out against the war. The ILGA-Europe ranks Russia as one of the worst countries in Europe for LGBTQ people, and a 2013 “gay propaganda” law targets the LGBTQ community, so there is a strong concern of backlash that could prevent her from returning home anytime soon.
5.) Mardy Fish PGA Tour Event
Former American tennis player, Mardy Fish, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 7 in 2011, became theย first ATP playerย to cross over and play a PGA Tour event at the 3M Open in Minnesota this week. Mardy is guaranteed two rounds, with the goal of earning a tee time on the weekend.
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If you have a moment, Iโd 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: July 15, 2022
/July 15, 2022
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Djokovic & Rybakina
At this point, it’s no surprise that Novak Djokovic and Elena Rybakina are this year’s Wimbledon champs, but their achievements are worth revisiting. After his wild year, Novak’s win and 21st Grand Slam title were thoroughly impressive, and seeing 23-year-old Elena come back from a set down to claim her first major was fantastic.
2.) Centre Court Centenary
Wimbledon celebrated Centre Court’s centenary with a fun celebration that featured some of the sport’s biggest champions. If you missed it, you could check out the replay here.
3.) Thiem’s 1st Win in 14 Months
Playing at the Swedish Open, Dominic Thiem logged his first tour-level win in 14 months defeating Emil Ruusuvuori 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5). He followed it up with another three-set victory over Roberto Bautista Agut yesterday to reach the quarterfinals. Dominic has been fighting to come back from persistent wrist issues that have plagued his game.
4.) Episode 1: The Real Me
In a new video series presented by Modern Health, the WTA showcases Sloane Stephens, who discusses the importance of well-being. I always enjoy the videos that give fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it’s like to be a pro and some of the pressures they face.
5.) Vuori’s New Tennis Line
Vuori, one of my favorite athletic clothing companies, is launching a new three-piece tennis line for women featuring a dress and two skirts. I wear their clothes playing tennis all the time, so I’m hoping this is a sign they’ll dive into a men’s line at some point. They hinted at the July 14th drop on Instagram, but it’s not yet live, so hopefully, you can find it on their website by the time you read this note.
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If you have a moment, Iโd 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.