Tennis gets ready for a potential Big Three Era, this time on the Women’s side of the sport. Other stories focus on Ben Shelton’s unique path to stardom, a $9M blow to the USTA, and why Djokovic showed up wearing a helmet in Rome.
Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Rybakina push each other to women’s tennis dominance: In great tennis rivalries, wonky measurables like who hits the more powerful forehand or finishes a higher percentage of points at the net don’t determine who wins and who loses as much as intangibles. It becomes a question of who can execute the best shots on the biggest points. In 2024, the top of women’s tennis is tighter than ever. Full Story: The Athletic
Ben Shelton interview: The American tennis star who wants to be different: Ben Shelton talks about his budding tennis career, which is different from the normal path to tennis stardom. Full Story: The Athletic
USTA ordered to pay $9M to player sexually abused by coach A jury has awarded $9 million in damages to a tennis player after a court ruled that the United States Tennis Association (USTA) failed to protect her from being sexually assaulted by a coach. Full Story: ESPN
Dominic Thiem confirms tennis retirement: Dominic Thiem has confirmed he will retire from tennis at the end of the 2024 season. The Austrian released a video statement last week explaining that his persistent wrist injury and a general belief that the time is right led him to end his career at the end of this season. Full Story: The Athletic
Camila Giorgi silently walks away after name appears on ITIA’s retired players list: The 32-year-old last competed at the Miami Open and did not enter Roland Garros. Full Story: Tennis
Wimbledon offers up more public land as the club seeks to get expansion over the line: Britain’s All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) is offering up extra parkland for public use in a bid to get massive expansion plans over the line, which it says will protect the Wimbledon Championships for years to come. The offer of an extra four acres of parkland, announced by Greater London Authority (GLA) planners on Thursday, means the host of the grasscourt Grand Slam event now plans to make some 27 acres of parkland accessible to the public. Full Story: Reuters
Wheaties Celebrates Sports & Equality Champion Billie Jean King on Iconic Box: Wheaties announced its latest limited edition box featuring icon and activist athlete Billie Jean King, a true Wheaties Champion. This is King’s first Wheaties appearance. Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
Andy Roddick Talks Skin Cancer Surgeries and Urges Sunscreen Use: During a recent episode of his Served podcast, Roddick opened up about his battles with skin cancer, which he said he’s suffered from since he retired from tennis in 2012. Full Story: The Bleacher Report
The Best Hotels With Tennis Courts: The most fabulous hotels in the US with tennis courts. From sleepy waterfront cottages with one block of green tucked amidst the trees to oceanfront resorts with veritable campuses of courts, all you have to do is grab a racquet, lace up your sneakers, and hit the courts. Full Story: Condé Nast Traveler
What I Think About When I Think About Tennis: Josh Skinner has photographed abandoned tennis courts throughout the South in a project he calls 76inthethird. Decaying courts in small towns, in city parks and middle schools, behind post offices and churches, near city halls, and on campgrounds. Green courts, blue courts, bright red and orange clay courts. Courts with rotting nets, fading lines, rusting fences, and warped backboards. Photograph after photograph, providing revelation in the geometry of service boxes and sidelines. Full Story: The Bitter Southerner Editorial Note: You can follow 76inthethird on Instagram and the official site at 7-6inthethird.com
Djokovic Responds After Being Struck in the Head by a Water Bottle in Rome:
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 5/8-19 | Internazionali BNL d’Italia | ATP 1000 WTA 1000 | Rome |
| 5/13-18 | Parma Ladies Open presented by Iren | WTA 125 | Parma, Italy |
| 5/13-19 | Trophée Clarins | WTA 125 | Paris, France |
