Intro
Tennis slams’ refusal to discuss money is slap in face for players. They are right to threaten boycott: Wealthy players asking for more money may feel wrong but the big four tournaments are not sharing the revenue fairly. Full Story: The Guardian
Players do not feel respected, Sinner says amid French Open boycott call: “It’s more about respect, you know? Because I think we give much more than what we are getting back. It’s not only for the top players, it’s for all of us players,” Jannick Sinner told reporters ahead of the Italian Open in Rome. “Of course, we talk about money. The most important is respect, and we just don’t feel it.” Full Story: Reuters
Arkansas Reinstates Tennis Programs: The reinstatement of the programs comes after the announced discontinuation of the programs on April 24. “We are thankful for our generous donors who have stepped forward in recent days with commitments to provide short-term funding for both programs. While this support does not represent a permanent solution, it offers a viable path forward. ” Full Story: Arkansas Athletics
Jelena Ostapenko accuses Anna Kalinskaya of ‘all kinds of simulations’ after skipped handshake: The pair did not shake hands at the end after Ostapenko won 6-1, 6-2 to move into the quarterfinals. After missing a forehand drive volley into the net to end the match, Kalinskaya did not wait there for Ostapenko, as is conventional. The Russian instead went straight to shake the umpire’s hand, and then went to her chair. Full Story: The Athletic
Tennis handshakes, controversy, and the spectacle of elite sport: ‘Notice the frost on the fingers’: The sport feels designed to cause irritation and aggravation like few others, and the handshake at the end of a match is its apex. Two elite athletes, who have spent the previous few hours on a small rectangular battlefield with tensions gradually ratcheting up, are then provided with the perfect incubator for all of those simmering resentments, in the name of politely saying “well done.” Full Story: The Athletic
‘We live in a fake world’: Alexander Bublik on honesty, insults and why doubles isn’t real tennis: Over the years, Bublik has become notorious among Russian-speaking fans for his scathing rants about his rivals. There have been times when he has loudly wondered, to nobody in particular, how on earth his opponent could be ranked so high and others when he has focused on viciously skewering their games. He has also reserved plenty of scorn for himself and the sport as a whole. Full Story: The Guardian
How to Dress for the Upcoming Tennis Grand Slams: A style guide to having home-court advantage, whether you’re in Paris, London, or New York. Full Story: WSJ
US Open Unveils 2026 Theme: ‘Celebrating Our New York Story’: Brought to life with vibrant theme artwork created by award-winning, Brooklyn-based artist Eugenia Mello, the theme represents and amplifies the undeniable connection between the US Open and the city it’s called home for more than 100 years. With a number of activations surrounding and during the 2026 event, the USTA will celebrate the history, the people, the energy and the heart that have built both the US Open and New York City into global cultural phenomena. Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
45-year-old Venus Williams to play in French Open women’s doubles with Hailey Baptiste: Venus Williams will play in the women’s doubles at the French Open this month, together with Hailey Baptiste, who is 21 years her junior. Williams will not play in the women’s singles. Full Story: AP News
Andy Murray to join Jack Draper’s coaching team for Wimbledon: Andy Murray will join Jack Draper’s coaching team for the upcoming grass-court season, including Wimbledon. Draper, a U.S. Open semifinalist in 2024, was ranked as high as No. 4 last year, but he has struggled with injuries and is now down to No. 50. Draper recently announced he was parting ways with coach Jamie Delgado. Full Story: AP News
The Five Best-Dressed Athletes at the 2026 Met Gala, Ranked: Naomi Osaka was ranked first, and is probably one of the top-five best-dressed celebrities at the event. Venus Williams was one of the co-chairs of the event for 2026. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 5/17-23 | Internationaux de Strasbourg | WTA 500 | France |
| 5/18-23 | Grand Prix Sar La Princesse Lalla Meryem | WTA 250 | Morocco |
| 5/17-23 | Bitpanda Hamburg Open | ATP 500 | Germany |
| 5/17-23 | Gonet Geneva Open | ATP 250 | Switzerland |
