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Sports

Giri Nathan

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 19: Daniil Medvedev plays a forehand against Jesper de Jong of the Netherlands in the Men's Singles First Round during day two of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Tennis Ball’s Biggest Critic Thinks “They’re Getting Better”

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is seen in the pitlane after the sprint race ahead of the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail on November 29, 2025.

Novak Djokovic Washes His Hands Of The Quasi-Player Union He Co-Founded

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses with his trophy next to his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

Carlos Alcaraz Splits With His Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero

Tom Ley

Piers Morgan, Nick Kyrgios, Aryna Sabalenka

An Extended Conversation Between Piers Morgan, Nick Kyrgios, And Aryna Sabalenka Was Always Going To Turn Transphobic

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan celebrates with the Billie Jean King Trophy after defeating Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals.

Elena Rybakina Reigned Over A Tour That Suspended Her Coach For Abuse

Kathryn Xu

A genreal view of the ball as Filip Misolic of Austria serves against Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina (not picture) in their first round match during day four of the Erste Bank Open 2025 at Wiener Stadthalle on October 21, 2025 in Vienna, Austria.

Tennis Deserves Better Than These Worthless Metrics

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada celebrates his win over Francisco Comesana of Argentina during day two of the Rolex Paris Masters 2025 on October 28, 2025 in Nanterre, France.

Felix Auger-Aliassime Is Once Again Threatening To Turn The Corner

Jannik Sinner of Italy withdraws due to injury during the match against Tallon Griekspoor of Netherlands in the Men's Singles 3rd round match on day 7 of the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 05, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Hu Chengwei/Getty Images)

The Pro Tennis Calendar Is Built For Burnout

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses with his trophy after winning the men's singles final tennis match against Italy's Jannik Sinner

The Tour Is Theirs

Aryna Sabalenka poses with her trophy after defeating Amanda Anisimova of the United States during their Women's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Susan Mullane/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Aryna Sabalenka Is The Final Boss Of The Hard Court

US Open, Ride Share pick up and drop off location with NY Pavilion and Queens theater in background, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, New York.

Transit

An Elegant Solution For Anyone Stuck Waiting On An Uber At The U.S. Open

Aaron Timms

A view of the park from behind police barriers

The U.S. Open Could Be More Than A Fortress For Capital

Amanda Anisimova celebrates after winning the women's singles quarterfinal match between Amanda Anisimova of the United States and Iga Swiatek of Poland at the 2025 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 3, 2025. (Photo by Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Amanda Anisimova Gets Revenge For Her Wimbledon Bagels

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates after defeating Coco Gauff of the United States during their Men's Singles Fourth Round match on Day Nine of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Naomi Osaka Is On To Her Second Act

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia (R) argues with Taylor Townsend of the United States (L) following their Women's Singles Second Round match on Day Four of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Jelena Ostapenko Remains A Sore Loser

Lauren Theisen

Tennis Player Acts Normal

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 24: Daniil Medvedev breaks his racket after losing in five sets to Benjamin Bonzi of France during their Men's Singles First Round match on Day One of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 24, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Wayward U.S. Open Photographer Triggers Daniil Medvedev’s Two-Part Meltdown

David Roth

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates a point against Jannik Sinner of Italy during the Men’s Singles Final match on Day Fifteen of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on June 08, 2025 in Paris, France.

Podcasts

A Forehand That Sounds Like Construction Equipment, With Giri Nathan

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Interviews

Giri Nathan DISHES On Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz In This EXCLUSIVE Interview

Victoria Mboko of Canada reacts against Naomi Osaka of Japan during the Women's Singles Final match on day twelve of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on August 7, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Victoria Mboko Is Here To Break Brains

Bill Ackman, Founder and CEO, Pershing Square Capital Management speaks about higher education and Harvard University during at the 28th annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on May 6, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

Bills Week

Bill Ackman Says He’ll Give Tennis Hall Of Fame $10 Million After His Weird, Sad Match

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 13: Winner Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain embrace at the net after the Gentlemen's Singles Final on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 13th, 2025, in London, England. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner Recalibrated And Got Back Into His Rivalry With Carlos Alcaraz

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates winning Championship point against Amanda Anisimova of United States in the Ladies' Singles Final on day thirteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England.

Iga Swiatek Mastered All Terrain

Bill Ackman, Founder and CEO, Pershing Square Capital Management, attends the 28th annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on May 6, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Capital

Bill Ackman Gets To Play Pretend In Sanctioned Tennis Farce

Aryna Sabalenka reacts to a break of serve during her victory against Laura Siegemund of Germany in the Quarter-Finals of the Ladies' Singles Competition on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 8th, 2025, in London, England. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)