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@booksandbackhands.bsky.social
Mostly books and tennis
Reposted
King Félix
November 14, 2025 at 9:53 PM
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The ATP Finals is a hard, hard tournament to care about. Everyone's exhausted, some are hurt, the serve dominates matches, even ostensibly good matchups have rarely been close in the past few editions. It always looks great on paper beforehand and then ends up as wet pulp.
November 10, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Ons 💚
November 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
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A close look at the 8 singles players who competed at the WTA Finals and where they're at heading into the offseason.

www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
WTA Finals: Another miss for Aryna Sabalenka while Elena Rybakina emerges as major contender in 2026 | The National
Coco Gauff coming to terms with changes to serve and Iga Swiatek looks good to complete career slam in Australia
www.thenationalnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Always enjoy these lists
well, the 2025 WTA season has come to an end so I am putting out my main wants for 2026 (in no particular order of importance):

-Rybakina vs Gauff
-Mboko vs Andreeva
-return of Iga’s 🧱 aura
-my western grip sisters to get a handle on their serves & forehands, so they can have a full A game season
November 8, 2025 at 6:32 PM
There’s an interesting narrative thread for many of these top WTA players, in that they’ve struggled with specific goals but achieved others — and how do they feel about the trade-off?
November 8, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Rybakina continuing a tradition of a last minute WTA qualification leading to the trophy.
November 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Aryna losing a tiebreak 0-7 is just a wild final set/match/tournament for the season.
November 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Wow. The mental stress is visible on the court when these two play.
Championship point.
November 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Whoa.
November 8, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Well, this set does deserve a tiebreak
November 8, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This match kinda deserves a third set
But let’s see
November 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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Learner Tien wins 6-3, 3-6, 7⁸-6⁶ against Cam Norrie

Comes from 1-5 down in the match tiebreak to take a 1st ever ATP Tour Title. Led that final set 4-1 and it got real interesting

📸 Vincent Thian/AP Photo
November 8, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Aryna channeling her own imperious mode
November 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Imperious Elena mode
November 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM
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Ahhh that was a MATCH. My goodness what a season for Anisimova. Truly incredible.
November 7, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I think maybe all my favorite matches this year have been Anisimova versus whoever she’s playing.
November 7, 2025 at 6:22 PM
This is the kind of match WTA Finals dream matchups are made of
November 5, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Watching back Sabalenka/Pegula.
Aryna and Elena are looking pretty dominant.
November 5, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Ons!
Ons Jabeur: I was scared & thinking, What if I never find joy on the tennis court ever again? But I don't think that'll be the case. I'm not retiring like most ppl think, I'll be coming back someday. When my mind & body tell me you're ready, I will come back.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
'I am not retiring': Ons Jabeur on breathing, healing and returning to tennis | The National
Tunisian star hopes to recapture form that made her a three-time grand slam finalist after two years of health problems left her 'sad and broken' and in need of a break
www.thenationalnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:05 PM
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Amanda Anisimova: It’s really important to let girls and boys know to make the right decisions for yourself and listen to yourself and not try and say yes to everything and feel like you have to do certain things. I think that’s a big killer in certain ways..."
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
From burnout to brilliance: Amanda Anisimova on how honesty sparked her remarkable revival
The American stepped away from the tour in 2023 to address her mental health. This year has been spectacular as she has reached two grand slam finals
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Well, that outcome wasn’t unexpected
Next match should be more competitive
November 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Think this is the first time Iga/Madi have played since AO SF?
November 1, 2025 at 3:12 PM
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No. 1 seeds Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini come out of the gates strong with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 8 Demi Schuurs & Asia Muhammad.

Their impressive 2025 haul includes a Roland Garros trophy, 3 masters 1000 titles, and BJK Cup win for Team Italy 🇮🇹
November 1, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Psyched to watch the WTA Finals starting today. Saturday start and time zone ideal. 🙌
November 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM