CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Australian Football

Better Hate An Owner

Bowling

Chess

Climbing

Cricket

Curling

Cycling

Darts

Death To The NCAA

Disc Sports

Gaelic Football

Gambling

Golf

High School Sports

Horse Racing

Hurling

Infinite Replay

Jamboroo

Lacrosse

Olympics

Parasports

Pro Softball

Pro Wrestling

Racing

Rugby

Running

Skateboarding

Soccer

Sports Highlight Of The Day

Tennis

The Fights

The Great Outdoors

Volleyball

Why Your Team Sucks

Wings Week

Sports

Patrick Redford

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Emma Raducanu of United Kingdom reacts in the Women's Singles Second Round match against Elise Mertens of Belgium during day three of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 03, 2024 in London, England.shi (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)

Emma Raducanu, Wimbledon Protagonist, Takes Shape

<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

Andy Murray Is Sitting Out His Last Dance

Giri Nathan

France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard serves the ball to USA's Sebastian Korda during their men's singles tennis match on the second day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 2, 2024.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s Aces Are A New Nightmare

Marketa Vondrousova Is The Forgotten Champion

In ‘Twelve Final Days,’ Roger Federer Still Has The Magic

Official Tennis Highlight Reels Could Be So Much Better

Josh O'Connor feeds a churro to Mike Faist in a scene from Challengers

Who Wins The Match In ‘Challengers’?

Hell Is Playing Against A Peaking Servebot

Defector Blogger Calls Aggregator Tweets “Pathetic” In Furious Takedown. Do You Agree?

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 2: Corentin Moutet of France in action during Day 8 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

The Defector Tennis Desk Bids Adieu To The French Open

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates winning match point against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the Men's Singles Final match on Day 15 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Is Diamonds Under Pressure

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 07: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain serves against Jannik Sinner of Italy during the Men's Singles Semi-Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 07, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz Conquers Jannik Sinner In Choppy Ninth Installment Of The Best Rivalry In Men’s Tennis

Tenacity Isn’t Enough Against Iga Swiatek

Suffering Pigeons All Over At Roland-Garros

Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka are competing during Roland Garros 2024 in Paris, France, on May 29, 2024. (Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto)

Let Us Consider The French Open’s Thrilling, Waterlogged First Week

Lorenzo Musetti stretches to play a backhand

Don’t Cry For Lorenzo Musetti

Rafael Nadal is playing against Alexander Zverev in the first round of the men's singles at the Roland Garros French Open tennis tournament in Paris, France, on May 27, 2024.

There Are No Tidy Endings In Rafael Nadal’s Clay Temple

‘Challengers’ Captures The Dirty Little Bits Of Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Iga Swiatek of Poland meet at the net prior to the Women's Singles Final match on Day Twelve of Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 04, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Iga Swiatek And Aryna Sabalenka Bring Out The Best In Each Other

Danielle Collins holds the Miami Open trophy

Danielle Collins Conquers The Miami Open For The First And Last Time

Iga Swiatek of Poland plays a forehand against Maria Sakkari of Greece in the Women's Final during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 17, 2024 in Indian Wells, California

Defector Tennis Bureau Indian Wells Closing Dispatch: Out Of The Desert

Carlos Alcaraz smiles with Indian Wells trophy in front of mountains

Carlos Alcaraz Found Revenge And Happiness In The Desert

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Maria Sakkari of Greece in action against Diane Parry of France in the fourth round on Day 11 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 13, 2024 in Indian Wells, California (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Defector Tennis Bureau Indian Wells Dispatch Day 4: The Desert Dads Are On The Loose

A beekeper works to clear bees from Centre Court which led to the temporary suspension of the match between Germany's Alexander Zverev and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in their ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters men's quarterfinal tennis match at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California, on March 14, 2024.

An Interview With The Bee Hero Who Humanely Vacuumed Thousands Of Bees Out Of A Tennis Stadium

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Holger Rune of Denmark celebrates to his team bench after his three set victory against Taylor Fritz of the United States in their fourth round match during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 13, 2024 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Tennis Baby Shows His Mettle