Tag: lobandsmash.com

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Serena Williams returned to singles at Wimbledon on Tuesday, and she struggled through a brutal three-set loss to Maya Joint. She wasn't the only legend to make an impact on the grass-court Grand Slam in the first round, though. Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka did too. –> Serena Williams returned to singles…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: There are many great things to remember about the heyday of Serena Williams. At her height, she was the best player ever on the WTA tour. That was a decade ago, though. –> There are many great things to remember about the heyday of Serena Williams. At her height, she was the…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: The match didn't go as hoped for Alexander Zverev. He faced the reality that other top-seeded players have seen at Wimbledon 2026 in the first round. Nothing will come easily. –> The match didn’t go as hoped for Alexander Zverev. He faced the reality that other top-seeded players have seen at Wimbledon…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: The match was seemingly going to be easy. Elena Rybakina knew how to win at Wimbledon after winning the event in 2022, and her serve on grass courts was too much for most players. Her first -round opponent, Lois Boisson, had never even made the main draw of the major until 2026.…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Otto Virtanen has had an interesting career so far. The Finnish 25-year-old moves around the court well, has a good serve, and solid groundstrokes. Yet, he's never been able to carve out high-end success. He hoped that it would change against Ben Shelton in the first round of Wimbledon 2026. –> Otto…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Serena Williams was already playing doubles ahead of Wimbledon, and that was fun. But nothing beats watching the all-time queen of the WTA perform in singles. How many major doubles titles has she won, for instance? While everyone knows she has won 23 singles Grand Slam titles. –> Serena Williams was already…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Nothing about the first-round match of Wimbledon 2026 between Novak Djokovic and Wu Yibing was easy for either player. Wu was a great juniors player who has dealt with injuries that have thwarted any real positivity to his career. Djokovic is, of course, arguably the best player ever. –> Nothing about the…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Jannik Sinner had to go five sets to win his opening match at Wimbledon 2026. Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud were not as lucky and were knocked out of the tournament. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, however, was in no mood to challenge fate. –> Jannik Sinner had to go five sets to…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Jannik Sinner opened what he hoped would be a repeat title at Wimbledon against Miomir Kecmanovic. The Serbian isn't a bad player, mind you, but few thought he would push the Italian much. That view likely changed in the first set. –> Jannik Sinner opened what he hoped would be a repeat…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Wimbledon 2026 will not belong to Casper Ruud or Andrey Rublev. Ruud likely didn't expect much success at the grass-court major. Rublev, however, suffered a brutal loss. –> Wimbledon 2026 will not belong to Casper Ruud or Andrey Rublev. Ruud likely didn’t expect much success at the grass-court major. Rublev, however, suffered…