Inside scoop behind the scenes of the US Open is the dominant theme this week. Isner announces his retirement from the sport. The tennis pop culture machine is in full swing.
In Tennis, It’s the Haves and the Have-Nots: Higher-ranked players tend to get the perks, like the better practice courts. The lower-ranked must make do. Full Story: The New York Times
Not All Tennis Balls Are Equal: In tournaments, the old balls are swapped for new ones after several games. Those livelier new ones can change a player’s strategy. Full Story: The New York Times
Best Food and Drinks at the 2023 US Open: Visitors can also sample all the excellent foods and drinks offered during the two-week event. From bars serving exclusive cocktails to celebrity chef-run pop-ups to gourmet food stalls, there’s something to satisfy just about every taste. Full Story: People
John Isner says he’ll retire from tennis after US Open: John Isner will retire from professional tennis after playing at the US Open, he announced Wednesday, bringing an end to a career that included one Grand Slam semifinal appearance and a victory in the longest match in the sport’s history. Full Story: ESPN
ATP Unveils ‘Baseline’, A Pioneering Financial Security Program For Players: The ATP has announced Baseline, a transformative financial security program for ATP players set to launch in 2024 as part of a three-year trial. It guarantees minimum income levels for the Top 250-ranked singles players each season. Full Story: ATP
Ball People Will Change The Way You Watch Tennis: The ball people—tournament employees who retrieve and supply the balls for players and officials between points, running all over the court in technical, mesmerizing patterns—might not drive attendance in Queens. But they’ve got fascinating stories all their own—a few of which come to life in Ball People, a new short documentary presented by GQ Sports. Full Story: GQ Sports
Vivek Ramaswamy’s Tennis Skills Ridiculed by Martina Navratilova: Posting to X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, the 66-year-old former tennis pro called the entrepreneur’s forehand “ugly.” Navratilova was responding to a clip of the 38-year-old playing the sport shirtless, which has received over 7 million views on his own account. Full Story: Newsweek
Jessica Pegula—America’s Top-Ranked Tennis Player—Looks to the US Open: Jessica Pegula was featured in Vogue as she heads into the US Open. Full Story: Vogue
Althea Gibson’s legend deserves to be one of our biggest: Two new biographies capture the athletic greatness and the funny, exuberant personality of the undersung pioneering tennis champion. Full Story: Washington Post Editorial Note: I have previously reviewed both “Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson” and “Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson.“
Zendaya felt “terrified” filming tennis scenes in ‘Challengers’: Based on initial reviews, her fears might have been better placed elsewhere. Also, she wasn’t even using a real tennis ball. Full Story: People
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 8/28-9/10 | The US Open | Grand Slam | New York |
