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<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, n+1, Texas Monthly, Air Mail, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Interviews

‘The Cruelest Game’ Examines Tennis As Torture

Giri Nathan

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 01: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates after winning a women's singles match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on day six of the Mubadala DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on August 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Alex Eala Is Catching The WTA’s Best Off Guard

All Hail Lilli Tagger And The One-Hander

Tennis.com Lived And Died With The Internet

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Jannik Sinner of Italy with his Gentlemen's Singles Trophy over the Royal Box balcony after his victory in the Gentlemen's Singles final match against Alexander Zverev of Germany on day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner Reinstates The Regime

Karolina Muchova of Czechia and Coco Gauff of United States interact at the net following their Ladies' Singles semifinal match on day eleven of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Karolina Muchova And Coco Gauff Played A Tiebreak Neither Will Forget

Coco Gauff of the Untied States returns a shot in the Ladies Singles Quarter Finals match against Jessica Pegula of the United States on day nine of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 07, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)

You Don’t Have To Love Grass To Win On It

1978 Ladies Singles Final, Wimbledon, Chris Evert v Martina Navratilova, Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Friday 7th July 1978. Martina Navratilova wins in three sets (2?6, 6?4, 7?5), Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, together on Centre Court.

‘The Final Set’ Tells The Story Of Tennis’ Greatest Rivalry Becoming A Friendship

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)

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

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