May 12, 2023

Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week in tennis.

1.) Sabalenka & Alcaraz ????

Aryna Sabalenka got her revenge, defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in a hard-fought three sets at the Madrid Open, having lost to her in the Stuttgart final a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, Carlos keeps rolling with impeccable form, taking down Jan-Lennard Struff. On a separate note, if you missed Carlos’ quick hello with Messi at the Laureus, it’s pretty endearing.

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2.) Madrid Open Apology

After the women’s doubles final in Madrid, organizers didn’t let the winners (Beatriz Haddad Maia and Victoria Azarenka) or losers (Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff) speak, sparking widespread criticism, having let the men talk after the doubles final the day before. It took them a while, but they finally issued a public apology for the incident yesterday.

“Pedimos sinceras disculpas a todas las jugadoras, jugadores y aficionados que esperaban más del Mutua Madrid Open. No dar a nuestras finalistas de dobles femenino la oportunidad de dirigirse a los aficionados al final del partido fue inaceptable y nos hemos disculpado… (1/3)

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 11, 2023

????????????????‍♀️ https://t.co/GDVc9eqyj6

— Jessie Pegula (@JLPegula) May 7, 2023

Hard to explain to Leo that mommy isn’t able to say hello to him at the trophy ceremony

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) May 7, 2023

3.) Rafael Nadal’s Gear Guide

In one of my recent pieces, I shared everything there is to know about Rafa’s gear, from his racquet to strings and everything in between. If you’ve ever been curious about the nuances of his equipment, check it out.

Read Nadal’s Gear Guide

4.) Cinncinati Masters Moving?

Last year, South Carolina’s Beemok Capital bought the Western & Open from the USTA, which has been hosted in Mason, Ohio, outside Cincinnati since 1899. Reports have surfaced suggesting the new owners are exploring options to move it to Charlotte with plans to build a $400 million tennis complex. As of now, it’s far from a done deal, but it’s an interesting development.

Read the Full Story

5.) Anisimova Takes a Break

On Friday, 21-year-old Amanda Anisimova announced she’d be taking an indefinite break from tennis as she’s struggled with her mental health and burnout since last year. Amanda reached a career-high ranking of No. 21 in 2019 and is currently ranked No. 61.

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A post shared by Amanda Kay Victoria (@amandaanisimova)

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.