Tom Jones 🏳️‍🌈

Social media has destroyed the fabric of civilization buts it’s also helped me a lot personally

One of the very best performances I've ever seen from Mussetti. That drop shot was on fire all match- insane how effective it was almost EVERY single time he used it. Punished Zverev's comically deep positioning so well. Obviously was super clutch but it felt comfortable in set 2

Iga winning Madrid/Rome B2B in this new 2-week Masters format will increasingly be looked back on as one of the most impressive achievements on tour I think. The physical grind and toll of clay court tennis is so tough, and even if you're playing well you can still hit the wall.

Decided to go out on a beautiful, scenic walk this evening instead of watching Sabalenka-Zheng under the assumption Sabalenka would win comfortably...what happened there???

Feel like Alcaraz aiming a backhand down the middle of the court and missing it five feet long anyway is this generation's version of Federer shanking a forehand.

I think at least half of the career highlights I've seen from Fedal matches are Federer coming to the net off a decent approach shot and Nadal hitting a great passing shot every time. Like surely at some point you just think maybe stop doing the thing he keeps punishing me for.

Win 1/23 for Iga Swiatek's clay season 🫡

Watching Alcaraz this week has felt quite like seeing him in the latter stages of Roland Garros last year. Not always playing particularly clean or "good" tennis, but doing enough to get over the line. The exact thing he needed coming off a difficult Sunshine Double frankly.

Fabulous win for Mussetti, but got to be said that was a very winnable match for Tsitsipas. Should have broken in the third set when he had 4 break points in one game. Felt like he had control until too many cheap errors let Mussetti build momentum.

Just tuned in to Dimitrov vs AdM...is Grigor injured? I assume Grigor is injured.

I'm always reminded of a tweet from 2022 about him and Sinner and how both needed to improve their serves to really improve as players, which would in turn make them less interesting to watch. Feel like that's definitely happened to Sinner for me in some regard, kinda hope Carlos stays as fun 😆

That wasn't the highest quality or most consistent match you'll ever see, but what fun Fils-Alcaraz was. The highlights will make for a great watch if nothing else. Mighty impressed with how Alcaraz calmed his frustrations and found his best stuff in the biggest moments. Good win

I think regardless of how he develops it'll always be there to some extent. You can try quelling those instincts but in the big moments that will always be what he wants to do- go after the ball. It's very frustrating sometimes but its also beautiful.

Brilliant racket break by Fils btw. The throw breaks it, but that creativity to step on it to really get that snap? You can't teach that.

Carlos Alcaraz, man. He can be so frustrating at times and be a rough watch, but within him is that ability to produce truly incredible things in the biggest moments. I might not win as efficiently or easily as, say, Sinner, but win he still does. Incredible way to take set 2.

I don't think we talk enough about the effect of art on us. I can see one drawing I really really like and I'll be happy for the rest of the day I'm not exaggerating. Your art makes someone feel that way. Your art makes someone happy. Your art helps someone get through the day.

Anatomy of a Loss Reflecting on Swiatek vs Andreeva and how we analyse a tennis match

open.substack.com/pub/welcomet...

Occasionally I remember I'm a tennis writer (and that i can post on here). Wrote about Swiatek vs Andreeva match at Indian Wells, tying it to some wider feelings about how we analyse tennis (mental vs tactical approach). Please enjoy!!

Sabalenka is probably the best all court player right now, but on a fast hard court she really is pretty much unstoppable. Probably should have won even more comfortably today! Brilliant watch.

Really fun to watch Sabalenka paint the lines and then still look really annoyed after winning the point.

Only the 4th woman to complete the sunshine double in that run too! Insane to find form in February and keep it up to win a slam. The longevity is still mind-blowing to me

Ostapenko and Anisimova losing Round 1 of Dubai shows just how hard it is to go again after a deep run in a tournament the week after.

Rly makes you appreciate when players can do well in B2B weeks at any level, and especially appreciate top players doing this all year long!

The one benefit of being a true teen prodigy is you can have big injuries and a lot of shit derail you but still be relatively young on the other side with plenty of years ahead of you. Shapovalov in a somewhat similar situation in that regard.

Considering what a shit ride of it Anisimova has had in the past 5 or 6 years, it is nice to see her get a big title. Could see more coming her way in the future too, such a great ball striker

Going to bookmark that one for the WTA match of the week @nickcartertennis.bsky.social 😉

Hard to know what to say here but beyond anything else I just hope that Elena is OK and can cut ties with him.

The USTA's choice to turn the U.S. Open mixed doubles draw into an exhibition sideshow the week before the main draw begins is absolutely infuriating and demeaning to tennis players and fans alike. 🎾

This is the first time the world number 1 has ever lost their first match in Doha! Great match from Alexandrova. Probably could have won it earlier, pretty consistently had her chances on Sabalenka's serve all match. Great ball striking from both.

Do have some slight concerns that the indoor conditions have helped a lot this week, but he's had success on clay and grass too so no reason he can't continue decent form imo

Its the weekends like this that are why I love this stretch of the season. Finals and semifinals everywhere but all at different times. Went from watching Rotterdam to Doha to Dallas all in one stretch of afternoon and evening. Beauty of tennis.

Extremely impressive from start to finish from Shapovalov today. Every time he was under pressure on serve he came in clutch with a big winner, a huge serve or some magic like that volley in the last game. Pretty hard to beat when he plays that cleanly. Wonderful match, lovely to see him winning!