October 16, 2020
Five Point Friday
Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week.
1.) Multifilament Strings [VIDEO]
Are you looking for a bit more comfort or power from your tennis strings? Multifilaments might be the answer. In my latest video, I explore the topic of these popular strings as a follow-on to my article I shared recently on the topic.
2.) Rafa Matches Fed for 20
Racking up his 13th French Open title in a convincing straight-sets win over Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal has secured his 20th Grand Slam win, tying Roger Federer’s record. He didn’t drop a single set the entire tournament, became the first player in the Open era to win a tour-level event 13 times, gained his 100th Roland Garros victory in the finals, and became the first man in the Open era to win 4 major titles without dropping a set.
3.) Iga Świątek Makes History
At 19 years old, Iga Świątek became the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam and the youngest women to win the title since Monica Seles at 16 years old in 1992. The title marks her first on the WTA Tour and ushers her into the top 20 as world #17. It’s also worth noting that she was a doubles semifinalist at the French Open too.
4.) 2021 Changes for ATP Tennis
The Tennis Channel inked a deal this month to make them the home of nearly all men’s and women’s professional tennis events outside of the Grand Slams. The move is specific to the United States and shifts ATP tennis matches away from ESPN, roughly matching a similar rights package the Tennis Channel has with the WTA. With ESPN’s popularity, some worry it will limit the sport’s exposure, while others believe it’s a good move that brings it all under one roof.
5.) Querrey Flees Russia
After testing positive for COVID at the St Petersburg Open in Russia, Sam Querrey, his wife, and newborn son fled the country to a nearby European country, which didn’t require a negative test for entry. Sam’s unusual actions came after his family found out that they would be assessed by a doctor and possibly forced to be hospitalized if symptoms were visible, which they feared might separate them from their son. His actions caused the ATP to launch an investigation calling it a “serious breach of protocol” that could “jeopardize an event’s ability to operate and have repercussions for the rest of the tour.”
OK, so here is the story of Sam Querrey fleeing Russia after testing positive for coronavirus:
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— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) October 14, 2020
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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