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Defector

Giri Nathan

BERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 16: Serena Williams of the United States competes during the women's doubles match alongside Karolina Muchova against Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe at the WTA 500 Berlin Ladies Open tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany on June 16, 2026. (Photo by Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Tennis

Serena Williams Is Coming Back As A  Wild Card At Wimbledon

Alexander Zverev with the winners' trophy after his victory against Flavio Cobolli

It’s Hard To Find The Feel-Good Angle Of Alexander Zverev

David Roth

OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks reacts during the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City.

Podcasts

Guttural Fan Noises And Exceptional Risottos, With Giri Nathan

Mirra Andreeva celebrates with the winner's trophy after winning her match against Maja Chwalinska of Poland during the Women's Final on Day Fourteen of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on June 6, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Mirra Andreeva Did The Inevitable

<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

Marta Kostyuk Will Not Break

Aryna Sabalenka reacts as she is on the way to being defeated by Diana Shnaider

Aryna Sabalenka Turns In A Textbook Meltdown At The French Open

Joao Fonseca of Brazil celebrates a point against Casper Ruud of Norway during the Men's Singles Fourth Round match on Day Eight of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on May 31, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images)

Joao Fonseca Has Created More Chaos At The French Open

Jannik Sinner bent over in pain during his French Open match

Jannik Sinner Gets Too Close To The Sun, Falls Early In French Open

Kathryn Xu

Italy's Jannik Sinner holds the trophy after winning the men's final of the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament.

Who Will Beat Jannik Sinner?

Qinwen Zheng of China returns a shot to Ekaterina Alexandrova during the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 04, 2025 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

How Much Good Can A Green Clay Tennis Court Do?

Patrick Redford

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 19: Arthur Fils of France jumps into a swimming pool with members of the Ball Team following victory against Andrey Rublev (not pictured) in the Men's Singles final match on day seven of the Barcelona Open of the Barcelona Open at Real Club De Tenis Barcelona on April 19, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Allow Arthur Fils To Reintroduce Himself

Winner Jannik Sinner of Italy and finalist Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the trophy ceremony of the Men's Final on day 8 of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2026, an ATP Masters 1000 at Monte-Carlo Country Club on April 12, 2026 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France near Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner And Carlos Alcaraz Swap Places On The Mountaintop

A radar board at a tennis tournament showing a 149 mph serve

Men’s Tennis Is, Once Again, Too Fast

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia reacts to Paula Badosa of Spain during practice prior to The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Ons Jabeur Is Making It Harder For The Tennis World To Ignore Palestine

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns a shot against Sebastian Korda of the United States during their match on Day 6 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Mauricio Paiz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Is Getting Tired Of Facing So Many Roger Federers

Moise Koumane falls to his back in celebration

It’s Child Week

Aryna Sabalenka, left, hugs Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan after winning their Women's Singles Finals match

I Can’t Get Enough Of The Kaiju Battle Between Aryna Sabalenka And Elena Rybakina

Joao Fonseca of Brazil serves against Jannik Sinner of Italy in their fourth round match of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 10, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Joao Fonseca Takes Jannik Sinner To The Limit, And Justifies The Hype

A view of the court at the Australian Open

How I Became A Target For Right-Wing Freaks At The Australian Open

Daniil Medvedev poses with the trophy after his victory in the Men's Singles Final against Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands on day fourteen of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images)

Daniil Medvedev’s Tennis Plans Interrupted By Unrelated Global Crisis

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates on the court after winning the Australian Open.

A Pure Tennis Boy

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain acknowledges fans with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after the presentation ceremony following the Men's Singles Final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day 15 of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 01, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Has Conquered All Terrain

Fans line up to enter Melbourne Park ahead of day four matches at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 21, 2026.

The Australian Open Is Too Much Of A Good Thing

Amanda Anisimova in action against Xinyu Wang.

Amanda Anisimova Defeats Wang Xinyu, Narrowly Escapes Amanda Anisimova

USA's Learner Tien serves to Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko during their men's singles match on day four of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --