One Thing the Tennis Channel Plus Does Better than ESPN
ESPN has the broadcast rights for Wimbledon coverage in 2022. The rest of the year is dominated by the Tennis Channel. Each carrier has oneRead More
2 responsesOne Thing ESPN does Better than the Tennis Channel
As the 2022 Championships at Wimbledon hits the midpoint, it is the perfect opportunity for a quick “compare and contrast” between viewer experience between streamingRead More
3 responsesThe Gift of Subscribing to Tennis Content
Neuroplasticity is the medical term for how the human brain changes and adapts as a result of experience. You can positively influence your mental development byRead More
1 responseWimbledon Confidential
In case it isn’t obvious by now, I am fascinated with the organizational dynamics of the tennis industry. When I recently stumbled across a bookRead More
That Should Have Left a Mark
The ITF Rules of Tennis includes a detailed appendix that describes procedures for inspection of ball marks for line call verification when tennis matches are played on clay. Today we are examining what happens if the line umpire or chair umpire can’t find the mark. Additionally, this rule also covers the situation when the actual mark is not readable.
Clutch Points
A research group has defined a new metric that identifies “clutch points” in tennis. At first glance it is a new way to understand matches and appears to provide new insight. Tennis matches hinge on big moments and carrying those points are crucial to winning. Some players are clearly better at these pivotal points than others. This new metric provides a fascinating way to break down and examine match play.
Tennis News: June 27, 2022
Recapping the top political stories in tennis this year. The WTA tour receives overtures from the sponsor of the LIV golf tour. The news this week is also heavy on analysis with great stories about “clutch” points and economic disparities in tennis.
Strawberries and Cream: It’s Time
The strawberries and cream of Wimbledon is arguably the most iconic concession associated with any of the Grand Slam tournaments. Noshing on that dish is the perfect way to get into the tennis spirit as the fortnight gets underway tomorrow morning.
2 responsesVoluntary Consolation… If You Insist
One of the primary arguments that people make in support of voluntary consolation is that it prevents players from having to wait around a day (or more) before back draw play begins. That line of reasoning conveniently neglects to consider that a traditional voluntary consolation draw requires ALL the players to wait even longer than the worst case scenario from the traditional First Match Loser’s Consolation (FMLC) back draw. You cannot make a voluntary consolation draw without knowing the exact number of players that will elect to participate.
1 responseVoluntary Consolation and Mosquito Bites
Voluntary consolation is a variation of the First Match Loser’s Consolation (FMLC) draw. In that format, players that lose their first match have the option of signing up to participate in a back draw. Participation is not mandatory and the player has to explicitly opt-in. A significant number of players and organizers believe that voluntary consolation would be a good thing for tournament tennis. They’re wrong. Voluntary consolation is like scratching a mosquito bite. It feels like the right thing to do in the moment, but ultimately it only makes the problem worse.
1 response