- The Draw
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- Week 16, 2025
Week 16, 2025
Gill Gross & Ben Ornstein
April 23, 2025
Madrid Open Week 1
TennisAbstract Tackles The Question Of The Week
Golden Nugget: Golden Nugget: Swiatek has won 52% of her 1st serve points across the six meetings, all losses, with Ostapenko. “That’s atrocious,” Sackmann explains, “no top-50 player stands below 57%.”
ITIA Defends Uncomfortable Shower Rule
Gill’s Explanation: See here.
Other Reactions: Jon Wertheim calls it “extraordinary”
PlayYourCourt’s FREE “15 MPH in 5 Days Serve Challenge”
Why It’s Interesting: Learn the exact techniques thousands of players are using to transform their serve in just a few days. Claim Your Free Spot Here*
Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko Files Lawsuit Against WTA Tour
More: Tsurenko is suing the WTA and chairman Steve Simon, alleging emotional distress and breach of contract over their handling of Russian and Belarusian players amid the war in Ukraine. She claims Simon failed to follow through on promises to ban players who supported the war and made comments that triggered a panic attack.
Streaming on Netflix, Starting Today
Why It’s Interesting: This trailer came out two weeks ago, but we want to remind readers that today is the release date. Hopefully Alcaraz: My Way enjoys more cultural relevance than the short-lived Break Point docuseries. We’ll be looking out for reviews and related content for next week’s newsletter.
Zverev Back To Old Reliable Frame In Munich Resurgence
After changing his racket in Shanghai 2024, Alexander Zverev is switching back to his previous racket model for the clay court season (he has been using it since the tournament in Monte Carlo). He tested the new racket at the tournaments in South America and during practice in
— ilyza1002 (@ilyza1002)
11:22 AM • Apr 17, 2025
Andre Agassi Resuming Pro Athlete Career (Seriously)
Why It’s Interesting: Agassi’s infatuation with the upstart sport has been well documented. Andy Roddick described him as a “Pickle Wizard” on the Served Podcast. He will have the best possible chance to get good results, considering Anna Leigh Waters is by far the best mixed partner in the world.
Meanwhile: The Agassi’s seem to be playing every sport other than tennis these days. Jenna Fink, also known as Gill’s girlfriend in these parts, did a feature on Steffi and Andre’s son Jaden’s burgeoning baseball career. See here.
The News Every Federer Fan Has Been Waiting For
Golden Nugget: “I would like to resume training a little, two to three times a week. And I hope to redo exhibitions, fill stadiums around the world. Nothing planned yet, but I miss it. I almost haven't played since my retirement, my body and mind needed to breathe. I played a little with my children, but I would like to take it more seriously again. During my travels, I will get back to it. And maybe you'll see me again on a court soon!”
On Monday Match Analysis, Gill speaks on Holger Rune's best week in over two years, which culminated in his straight-set win over Carlos Alcaraz in the 2025 Barcelona Final. He also covers how Alexander Zverev was back to his best self in a dominant Munich performance against Ben Shelton.
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Hey everyone, Gill Gross here. While I’m grateful for any amount of success I’ve had talking tennis on the internet for the past half decade, I believe we should all be doing better in this sport as creators and as fans. The tennis content economy is far behind other sports by metrics of engagement and popularity. This newsletter is our effort to DRAW the great things we find in tennis every week- we search for content that teaches us, makes us think, makes us laugh and ultimately makes loving this sport the best possible experience. Our vision is to speed up the growth of a robust content economy in tennis, for the benefit of fans, players and creators alike.