@teresamerklin.bsky.social
Discipline in tennis is not motivation but structure. This post explores how reliable systems sustain purpose and prevent burnout.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-glow-up-discipline-versus-motivation/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-glow-up-discipline-versus-motivation/
February 6, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Discipline in tennis is not motivation but structure. This post explores how reliable systems sustain purpose and prevent burnout.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-glow-up-discipline-versus-motivation/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-glow-up-discipline-versus-motivation/
A review of A People’s History of Tennis and how access, technology, and culture shaped the sport we know today.
https://fiendatcourt.com/a-peoples-history-of-tennis/
https://fiendatcourt.com/a-peoples-history-of-tennis/
February 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
A review of A People’s History of Tennis and how access, technology, and culture shaped the sport we know today.
https://fiendatcourt.com/a-peoples-history-of-tennis/
https://fiendatcourt.com/a-peoples-history-of-tennis/
Principle 6 of The Code explains how doubt works in self-officiated tennis, and why uncertainty is more common than players admit.
https://fiendatcourt.com/what-benefit-of-the-doubt-really-means/
https://fiendatcourt.com/what-benefit-of-the-doubt-really-means/
February 4, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Principle 6 of The Code explains how doubt works in self-officiated tennis, and why uncertainty is more common than players admit.
https://fiendatcourt.com/what-benefit-of-the-doubt-really-means/
https://fiendatcourt.com/what-benefit-of-the-doubt-really-means/
The Whoop band may be banned at the Australian Open, but it is legal for recreational tennis players and offers useful training and recovery insights.
https://fiendatcourt.com/whats-the-big-whoop/
https://fiendatcourt.com/whats-the-big-whoop/
February 3, 2026 at 11:05 AM
The Whoop band may be banned at the Australian Open, but it is legal for recreational tennis players and offers useful training and recovery insights.
https://fiendatcourt.com/whats-the-big-whoop/
https://fiendatcourt.com/whats-the-big-whoop/
Australian Open off-court highlights, extreme heat impacts, player privacy concerns, and a new round of Serena Williams speculation.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-february-2-2026/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-february-2-2026/
February 2, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Australian Open off-court highlights, extreme heat impacts, player privacy concerns, and a new round of Serena Williams speculation.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-february-2-2026/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-february-2-2026/
How playoff lockdown rules affect low-participation USTA leagues, and why participation and cooperation must come before enforcement.
https://fiendatcourt.com/punishing-cooperation-in-low-participation-leagues/
https://fiendatcourt.com/punishing-cooperation-in-low-participation-leagues/
February 1, 2026 at 11:05 AM
How playoff lockdown rules affect low-participation USTA leagues, and why participation and cooperation must come before enforcement.
https://fiendatcourt.com/punishing-cooperation-in-low-participation-leagues/
https://fiendatcourt.com/punishing-cooperation-in-low-participation-leagues/
How strategy shapes USTA League rules in Dallas and Fort Worth, and what conflicting design principles reveal about participation, priorities, and enforcement.
https://fiendatcourt.com/design-principles-matter-how-usta-league-rules-reveal-strategic-intent/
https://fiendatcourt.com/design-principles-matter-how-usta-league-rules-reveal-strategic-intent/
January 31, 2026 at 11:06 AM
How strategy shapes USTA League rules in Dallas and Fort Worth, and what conflicting design principles reveal about participation, priorities, and enforcement.
https://fiendatcourt.com/design-principles-matter-how-usta-league-rules-reveal-strategic-intent/
https://fiendatcourt.com/design-principles-matter-how-usta-league-rules-reveal-strategic-intent/
Two-team USTA leagues are fragile. Why thoughtful stewardship, systems thinking, and local focus matter more than advancement.
https://fiendatcourt.com/with-two-team-leagues-comes-great-responsibility/
https://fiendatcourt.com/with-two-team-leagues-comes-great-responsibility/
January 30, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Two-team USTA leagues are fragile. Why thoughtful stewardship, systems thinking, and local focus matter more than advancement.
https://fiendatcourt.com/with-two-team-leagues-comes-great-responsibility/
https://fiendatcourt.com/with-two-team-leagues-comes-great-responsibility/
A reflective review of Goolagong, the ABC dramatization of Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and what it reveals about tennis history and memory.
https://fiendatcourt.com/goolagong-a-dramatization-that-sent-me-back-to-the-sources/
https://fiendatcourt.com/goolagong-a-dramatization-that-sent-me-back-to-the-sources/
January 29, 2026 at 11:07 AM
A reflective review of Goolagong, the ABC dramatization of Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and what it reveals about tennis history and memory.
https://fiendatcourt.com/goolagong-a-dramatization-that-sent-me-back-to-the-sources/
https://fiendatcourt.com/goolagong-a-dramatization-that-sent-me-back-to-the-sources/
Principle 6 draws a critical distinction between player judgment and officiating, establishing why doubt in self-officiated tennis must always favor the opponent.
https://fiendatcourt.com/the-code-principle-6-what-benefit-of-the-doubt-really-means/
https://fiendatcourt.com/the-code-principle-6-what-benefit-of-the-doubt-really-means/
January 28, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Principle 6 draws a critical distinction between player judgment and officiating, establishing why doubt in self-officiated tennis must always favor the opponent.
https://fiendatcourt.com/the-code-principle-6-what-benefit-of-the-doubt-really-means/
https://fiendatcourt.com/the-code-principle-6-what-benefit-of-the-doubt-really-means/
A vintage Bag Check featuring Petra Martić highlights sunscreen as essential tennis gear for health, longevity, and injury prevention.
https://fiendatcourt.com/why-sunscreen-is-the-smartest-item-in-a-tennis-bag-best-of-bag-check/
https://fiendatcourt.com/why-sunscreen-is-the-smartest-item-in-a-tennis-bag-best-of-bag-check/
January 27, 2026 at 11:07 AM
A vintage Bag Check featuring Petra Martić highlights sunscreen as essential tennis gear for health, longevity, and injury prevention.
https://fiendatcourt.com/why-sunscreen-is-the-smartest-item-in-a-tennis-bag-best-of-bag-check/
https://fiendatcourt.com/why-sunscreen-is-the-smartest-item-in-a-tennis-bag-best-of-bag-check/
A tennis news roundup covering breakaway tour plans, Australian Open controversies, player welfare, college tennis pipelines, and the sport’s evolving future.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-january-26-2026/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-january-26-2026/
January 26, 2026 at 11:07 AM
A tennis news roundup covering breakaway tour plans, Australian Open controversies, player welfare, college tennis pipelines, and the sport’s evolving future.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-january-26-2026/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-january-26-2026/
Configuration management gives players a fair chance to understand the rules. Without clear communication, even well-intended governance breaks down.
https://fiendatcourt.com/configuration-management-communication-and-clarity/
https://fiendatcourt.com/configuration-management-communication-and-clarity/
January 25, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Configuration management gives players a fair chance to understand the rules. Without clear communication, even well-intended governance breaks down.
https://fiendatcourt.com/configuration-management-communication-and-clarity/
https://fiendatcourt.com/configuration-management-communication-and-clarity/
Why configuration management matters in tennis governance, and how silent rule changes undermine fairness, accountability, and trust.
https://fiendatcourt.com/configuration-management-and-why-reading-the-rules-isnt-enough/
https://fiendatcourt.com/configuration-management-and-why-reading-the-rules-isnt-enough/
January 24, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Why configuration management matters in tennis governance, and how silent rule changes undermine fairness, accountability, and trust.
https://fiendatcourt.com/configuration-management-and-why-reading-the-rules-isnt-enough/
https://fiendatcourt.com/configuration-management-and-why-reading-the-rules-isnt-enough/
Accepting an invitation to engage on league rules and why early collaboration matters more than skepticism.
https://fiendatcourt.com/taking-the-invitation-seriously-improving-fort-worth-league-rules/
https://fiendatcourt.com/taking-the-invitation-seriously-improving-fort-worth-league-rules/
January 23, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Accepting an invitation to engage on league rules and why early collaboration matters more than skepticism.
https://fiendatcourt.com/taking-the-invitation-seriously-improving-fort-worth-league-rules/
https://fiendatcourt.com/taking-the-invitation-seriously-improving-fort-worth-league-rules/
A review of My Game by Lew Hoad, an out-of-print memoir offering rare insight into Australian tennis, amateur life, and pre-Open Era training.
https://fiendatcourt.com/my-game-by-lew-hoad/
https://fiendatcourt.com/my-game-by-lew-hoad/
January 22, 2026 at 11:06 AM
A review of My Game by Lew Hoad, an out-of-print memoir offering rare insight into Australian tennis, amateur life, and pre-Open Era training.
https://fiendatcourt.com/my-game-by-lew-hoad/
https://fiendatcourt.com/my-game-by-lew-hoad/
Principle 5 of The Code sets the baseline rule for line calls, establishing responsibility before the more contentious principles that follow.
https://fiendatcourt.com/line-calls-principle-5-of-the-code/
https://fiendatcourt.com/line-calls-principle-5-of-the-code/
January 21, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Principle 5 of The Code sets the baseline rule for line calls, establishing responsibility before the more contentious principles that follow.
https://fiendatcourt.com/line-calls-principle-5-of-the-code/
https://fiendatcourt.com/line-calls-principle-5-of-the-code/
An engineer overthinks why tennis balls occasionally rattle. Internal debris is likely more common than most players realize.
https://fiendatcourt.com/why-do-tennis-balls-rattle/
https://fiendatcourt.com/why-do-tennis-balls-rattle/
January 20, 2026 at 11:06 AM
An engineer overthinks why tennis balls occasionally rattle. Internal debris is likely more common than most players realize.
https://fiendatcourt.com/why-do-tennis-balls-rattle/
https://fiendatcourt.com/why-do-tennis-balls-rattle/
The Australian Open is underway! The inside workings of the AO, player transitions, sponsorship shifts, and growing tensions between tennis and pickleball.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-january-19-2027/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-january-19-2027/
January 19, 2026 at 11:06 AM
The Australian Open is underway! The inside workings of the AO, player transitions, sponsorship shifts, and growing tensions between tennis and pickleball.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-january-19-2027/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-beyond-the-headlines-january-19-2027/
When frustration rises, playing elsewhere becomes the easy alternative. Quiet disengagement, not complaints, does the most damage to local tennis.
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-stepping-away-is-the-most-dangerous-outcome/
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-stepping-away-is-the-most-dangerous-outcome/
January 18, 2026 at 11:05 AM
When frustration rises, playing elsewhere becomes the easy alternative. Quiet disengagement, not complaints, does the most damage to local tennis.
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-stepping-away-is-the-most-dangerous-outcome/
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-stepping-away-is-the-most-dangerous-outcome/
Mid-season playoff changes in Fort Worth USTA leagues unintentionally altered eligibility and excluded players through structural constraints.
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-a-schedule-change-becomes-an-eligibility-barrier/
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-a-schedule-change-becomes-an-eligibility-barrier/
January 17, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Mid-season playoff changes in Fort Worth USTA leagues unintentionally altered eligibility and excluded players through structural constraints.
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-a-schedule-change-becomes-an-eligibility-barrier/
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-a-schedule-change-becomes-an-eligibility-barrier/
A detailed update on Fort Worth USTA League governance, mid-season playoff changes, and what happens when reconsideration is removed from the process.
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-reconsideration-is-not-part-of-the-process-a-fort-worth-usta-league-update/
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-reconsideration-is-not-part-of-the-process-a-fort-worth-usta-league-update/
January 16, 2026 at 11:05 AM
A detailed update on Fort Worth USTA League governance, mid-season playoff changes, and what happens when reconsideration is removed from the process.
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-reconsideration-is-not-part-of-the-process-a-fort-worth-usta-league-update/
https://fiendatcourt.com/when-reconsideration-is-not-part-of-the-process-a-fort-worth-usta-league-update/
A look at the new tennis books scheduled for release in 2026, including memoirs and reporting that explore the sport’s past, present, and future.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-books-coming-in-2026/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-books-coming-in-2026/
January 15, 2026 at 11:06 AM
A look at the new tennis books scheduled for release in 2026, including memoirs and reporting that explore the sport’s past, present, and future.
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-books-coming-in-2026/
https://fiendatcourt.com/tennis-books-coming-in-2026/
Why Principle 4 of The Code leaves room for disagreement, and how updated wording can create tension between old-school and modern players.
https://fiendatcourt.com/the-fully-cordial-service-warm-up/
https://fiendatcourt.com/the-fully-cordial-service-warm-up/
January 14, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Why Principle 4 of The Code leaves room for disagreement, and how updated wording can create tension between old-school and modern players.
https://fiendatcourt.com/the-fully-cordial-service-warm-up/
https://fiendatcourt.com/the-fully-cordial-service-warm-up/
Grigor Dimitrov uses a simple visual occlusion drill in warm-up. Here’s what it trains, why it matters, and how to try it yourself.
https://fiendatcourt.com/could-an-ophthalmic-eye-occluder-help-your-tennis/
https://fiendatcourt.com/could-an-ophthalmic-eye-occluder-help-your-tennis/
January 13, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Grigor Dimitrov uses a simple visual occlusion drill in warm-up. Here’s what it trains, why it matters, and how to try it yourself.
https://fiendatcourt.com/could-an-ophthalmic-eye-occluder-help-your-tennis/
https://fiendatcourt.com/could-an-ophthalmic-eye-occluder-help-your-tennis/