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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.

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Defector

Buy a Defector Gift Subscription, Get A (Different) Gift Subscription

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2025 gift subs

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Tom Ley

Piers Morgan, Nick Kyrgios, Aryna Sabalenka

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Tennis

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

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Giri Nathan

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

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

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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 ball

Tennis Deserves Better Than These Worthless Metrics

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and co-founded the website <a href="http://popcorntennis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://popcorntennis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0PFWw6PL-FUqaCMME5TLqP">popcorntennis.com</a>. He wrote 63,000 words about the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal rivalry that can be accessed for free at <a href="https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thegoldenrivalry.substack.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726234676777000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OjAHpo4PVIhkx8Xd21lRJ">thegoldenrivalry.substack.com</a>.</p>


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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.

Rolex Paris Masters 2025 – Day 2

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)

2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters – Day 7

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

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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)

2025 US Open – Day 14

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.

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Transit

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