Tennis

The new Laver Cup competition is a blast, writes Tom Perrotta—but will it last beyond Roger Federer’s reign?

Hosted by Charlie Sykes.

Serena Williams isn't a victim of anything except for being Serena Williams.

Tom Perrotta on how family and hard work have made Frances Tiafoe a rising tennis star to watch.

Tom Perrotta on the Serbian star’s Wimbledon comeback.

Roger Federer has staked his claim as the best ever, while Serena Williams is still making her bid in the women's game at age 36. But since they've done it after their careers seemed over, maybe it's wise to wait before making such declarations.

Joseph Epstein on the scandal that ended the tennis great’s career—and the challenge it creates for biographers.

Only tennis die-hards pay attention to “Next Gen” tournaments—ATP events specifically for under-21 players—but if you had been at the Next Gen finals in Milan last November, you might have noticed something unusual: There was no one making line calls during points; the only official on court was…

Roger Federer has a wonderful serve and all the strokes. He’s the right height, 6-foot-1, and the right weight, 187 pounds. He’s fast and light on his feet. On the court, he no longer has a weakness, now that he slugs one-handed backhands rather than slicing most of them. There’s one more essential…

In this latest micro episode, the Substandard discusses the Australian Open and the greatness of Roger Federer. Plus JVL professes his love for the Williams sisters, more Battle of the Sexes, and the time Agassi's wig almost came off.

Roger Federer, 36 years old, looked worried. After having a big lead—just three games away from winning the Australian Open—he slipped, and slipped badly. First he was tied up. Then he fell behind. Then, improbably, Marin Cilic won the fourth set.

Simona Halep, the #1 player in women’s tennis, sat on her Australian Open bench late in her semifinal match against Angelique Kerber and smiled. It wasn’t a good smile. It was a look of irony and extreme frustration. Halep’s serve had just been broken and she now trailed 6-5 in the third set, one…

Last fall, the most talented young men in tennis gathered for a competition in Milan. There were no ranking points at stake—just money. It was a way to relax and show off your skills, and not worry about being upset. Turns out this was the perfect stage for Hyeon Chung, a 21-year-old from South…

In last year’s U.S. Open final, Madison Keys couldn’t sprint, or bend properly, or swing her racket without feeling pain. Her upper leg injury slowed her and frustrated her, and eventually left her in tears after a 6-3, 6-0 defeat against Sloane Stephens. Keys says the sadness lasted a while, for…

Speaking last year to Louisa Thomas, a writer for the New Yorker, Nick Kyrgios summed up his complicated life as a tennis pro: “I like going out on the practice court and training with my mates,” he said. “But I don’t know about fully engaging and giving everything to it. It’s just a game. It’s…

After nearly six months and lots of frustration, Novak Djokovic has returned to tennis. For now. For the best he can do. And what that is? No one knows—not even him.

The Australian Open, like the rest of the Slams, has its own character. The temperatures often transition rapidly from hot days to cool nights. The fans are festive and loud, and cheer from close seats in tight stadiums that are even noisier if the roof closes. And then there’s the attitude of the…

The Australian Open starts on Monday and we’ll have coverage of the tournament throughout the fortnight from my favorite tennis writer, Tom Perrotta.

Mary Carillo is, hands down, my favorite professional athlete of all time. She was born and raised in New York City and came of age in the 1970s when American tennis was at its apex. She was a top-30 player and she won the 1977 French Open mixed doubles titles with John McEnroe but what I love…

The 1973 tennis match between the 29-year-old female champ Billie Jean King and the 55-year-old former champ Bobby Riggs was many things. It was one of the great “pseudo-events” of all time, fitting perfectly Daniel Boorstin’s definition in his 1962 book The Image as “dramatic performances in which…

On September 9, at the beginning of the women’s final of the U.S. Open, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys walked onto the court carrying flowers. The rest isn’t worth overanalyzing: Stephens won the match in a rout as Keys struggled with her nerves and her mobility. It’s that they were both there…

On September 9, at the beginning of the women’s final of the U.S. Open, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys walked onto the court carrying flowers. The rest isn’t worth overanalyzing: Stephens won the match in a rout as Keys struggled with her nerves and her mobility. It’s that they were both there…

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will always have London and Sydney and yes, even Paris. But in 2017, and likely forever, they won’t have their long-awaited clash in Queens.

I’ve accepted it—it’s not going to happen at the U.S. Open. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will never meet in the final there. I had hoped there would be a chance this season, but now that the draw is out, the best they can do is the semifinals.

Okay, maybe I’m soft. Maybe I (stupidly) believe that some drugs are not the same as others, and shouldn’t be treated with as much contempt in sports. And yes, I feel it’s unfair when an athlete pays the full price for a mistake she made because she wasn’t paying attention, rather than trying to…

It’s a fallacy that young professional tennis talents struggle with pressure and nerves more than experienced players. Most of the gifted teens have mental advantages. They have skills and power, and know that they no one expects them to beat high-ranked players in top tournaments. Rather than…

Montreal

In July 2016, Roger Federer looked like he might be calling time on his illustrious career. He was 34, old for an athlete and especially so for tennis, a game in which Federer was at his best in his mid- to late 20s. His knee gave out on him in the semifinals of Wimbledon, and he announced that he…

In July 2016, Roger Federer looked like he might be calling time on his illustrious career. He was 34, old for an athlete and especially so for tennis, a game in which Federer was at his best in his mid- to late 20s. His knee gave out on him in the semifinals of Wimbledon, and he announced that he…

Wimbledon, England

Victoria Azarenka shouldn’t be at Wimbledon. She shouldn't have won a tricky first round match and then suddenly pummeled Elena Vesnina, one of last year's semifinalists, in the second round. Azarenka has a 6-month-old son and hasn't played Grand Slam tennis since last year's French Open. Before…

Novak Djokovic is not playing terrible tennis. He’s not thinking about retirement, or wondering, “Why bother? I never win!” He’s not about to collapse, or quit, or become a television host about cooking in Serbia, where he grew up and now owns a restaurant chain. Yes, Djokovic has lost far more…

After a few months off and a shaky start, Roger Federer looks ready to swing and glide on the grass courts of Wimbledon. He’ll need every talent he can muster to win a title that almost always makes a veteran fail.

So John McEnroe has gotten himself into all kinds of trouble this week.

On Sunday afternoon Rafa Nadal won his 10th French Open. It is difficult to overstate how impressive this achievement is.

Roland Garros is open for business!

In the pre-dawn hours (stateside) on Sunday January 29, arguably the two greatest players in tennis history will take the court in the Australian Open final. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the only two men to have claimed at least 14 grand slam singles titles while winning each of the four slams,…

Jonathan Last presciently writes this morning of the tennis calendar's first major tournament, the Australian Open:

We're into Day 4 of the Australian Open!

Roger Federer is one of the most gracious and likable athletes to have performed before mass audiences. He is a paragon of sportsmanship: polite toward his opponents, respectful of officials, joyous but self-effacing in victory, disappointed but complimentary in rare defeat. We come to root for…

The first week of the U.S. Open was reasonably entertaining, but I want to focus on two players, one current (Nick Kyrgios) and one recently retired (Andy Roddick) because I think they represent the opposite poles of why some of us love tennis.

Wimbledon started on Monday, which gave me—finally!—something to cheer about.

It was all about the pants. Explosive colors, as if his legs were on fire. And patterns that looked like they were sewn together by a blind seamstress. That was the Bud Collins I remember—the longtime tennis broadcaster who died on Friday at the age of 86.