Tag: lobandsmash.com

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: If Serena Williams reaches the semifinals at Wimbledon in her return to the major, she will certainly have earned it. Her first-round match is winnable, but probably not easy. She will take on Maya Joint, who has been successful on grass courts before. She won Eastbourne in 2025. –> If Serena Williams…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Ugo Humbert has always been an idiosyncratic player. He is capable of greatness (he even has a solid record of 14-18 when playing players ranked in the top 10 on the ATP at the time of the match), but he has an issue sustaining that. If he is in form, for instance,…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: One might wonder why, in Naomi Osaka's past greatness, she has never been elite on grass courts. She has the serve to be great on any surface, but especially on a faster one. Maybe her volley skills were lacking, but she's always moved around the court well. –> One might wonder why,…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Chris Evert has been battling ovarian cancer since December 2021. She has been in remission twice, but, unfortunately, she announced on Thursday that the cancer has returned. Because of this, she will be skipping being a commentator for Wimbledon 2026. –> Chris Evert has been battling ovarian cancer since December 2021. She…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: It just wasn't meant to be for Grigor Dimitrov at the Mallorca Championships. The Bulgarian had battled through two matches, hoping his form would be perfected before Wimbledon begins next week, but Alejandro Davidovich Fokina had other ideas. –> It just wasn’t meant to be for Grigor Dimitrov at the Mallorca Championships.…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: The heat wave currently oppressing Europe is likely to play a part at the Bad Homburg Open. Players, such as Naomi Osaka and Ekaterina Alexandrova, not only have to beat each other, but also have to have the stamina needed to get through the hot temperatures, too. –> The heat wave currently…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Only the cream of the crop rises to the top at Wimbledon. –> Only the cream of the crop rises to the top at Wimbledon. <!–qv q:id=6t q:key=vcaa: If you look through the list of men’s champions at the All-England Club, you don’t point at any names and wonder, “How did this…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: So far in the Eastbourne Open, Jack Draper, former ATP No. 4, hasn't faced the best the ATP tour has to offer. He has had to battle himself a bit, however. He should be a bit rusty after having to miss events in 2025 and 2026 with various injuries. –> So far…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Good people deserve good things to happen to them, which is why the career of Grigor Dimitrov, one of the nicest players in tennis, is that he has been marred by so many injuries that he hasn't been able to reach his immense potential. He still has time to do something great,…

<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Emma Navarro has had quite the year in tennis so far, and that isn't to imply everything has been good. She missed two months of the season with an injury, including her home tournament at the Charleston Open. Yet, she has also managed to win a title and get into the final…