James Hansen
@jameskhansen.bsky.social
Senior Editor, 🎾 @theathletic.bsky.social
Reposted by James Hansen
Joining the crew on The Call!
If you love my Tennis breakdowns on @groundpass.bsky.social
I am going to be talking more about the culture, media and news around tennis with @courttheory.bsky.social and Friends on The Call. First episode is Live now.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
If you love my Tennis breakdowns on @groundpass.bsky.social
I am going to be talking more about the culture, media and news around tennis with @courttheory.bsky.social and Friends on The Call. First episode is Live now.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
A Long Warm-Up
Podcast Episode · The Call with Court Theory & Friends · 11/09/2025 · 1h 8m
podcasts.apple.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Joining the crew on The Call!
If you love my Tennis breakdowns on @groundpass.bsky.social
I am going to be talking more about the culture, media and news around tennis with @courttheory.bsky.social and Friends on The Call. First episode is Live now.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
If you love my Tennis breakdowns on @groundpass.bsky.social
I am going to be talking more about the culture, media and news around tennis with @courttheory.bsky.social and Friends on The Call. First episode is Live now.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Incredible match by Taylor Fritz, the great maximizer of his era in men's tennis. Sometimes maximizing is not enough — but maybe that should be OK, given how many others in the top 20 don't even manage that
November 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Incredible match by Taylor Fritz, the great maximizer of his era in men's tennis. Sometimes maximizing is not enough — but maybe that should be OK, given how many others in the top 20 don't even manage that
And never more so than the two forehand misses on two set points in this tiebreak
Ben Shelton trying to force the issue far too much against a player who is never going to make him do too much from neutral
November 9, 2025 at 9:16 PM
And never more so than the two forehand misses on two set points in this tiebreak
Ben Shelton trying to force the issue far too much against a player who is never going to make him do too much from neutral
November 9, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Ben Shelton trying to force the issue far too much against a player who is never going to make him do too much from neutral
So clear that Iga Swiatek, a player who uses the word "intuition" about tennis more than anyone, is getting caught between the instincts she is trying to unlearn and the ones she is trying to reintegrate in tight moments. And yet still will likely finish world No. 2 with a GS title and a ton of wins
November 6, 2025 at 8:47 AM
So clear that Iga Swiatek, a player who uses the word "intuition" about tennis more than anyone, is getting caught between the instincts she is trying to unlearn and the ones she is trying to reintegrate in tight moments. And yet still will likely finish world No. 2 with a GS title and a ton of wins
The Battle of the Sexes has a significant place in tennis history.
In Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios' version, it's unclear what is at stake, beyond the commoditisation of the name — and an invitation to criticize women's tennis after either result
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
In Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios' version, it's unclear what is at stake, beyond the commoditisation of the name — and an invitation to criticize women's tennis after either result
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios will play ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match organized by agency
The WTA world No. 1 will take on the ATP No. 652 in December in Dubai.
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:27 PM
The Battle of the Sexes has a significant place in tennis history.
In Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios' version, it's unclear what is at stake, beyond the commoditisation of the name — and an invitation to criticize women's tennis after either result
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
In Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios' version, it's unclear what is at stake, beyond the commoditisation of the name — and an invitation to criticize women's tennis after either result
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
Wouldn't be fair to Iga Swiatek or Elena Rybakina to class that as a Swiatek fall-off. Rybakina would have beaten anyone in the world 6-1 6-0 playing the way she did. Swiatek concern should be that serve speed / potency has come at the cost of stability (which she knows based on news confs here)
November 3, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Wouldn't be fair to Iga Swiatek or Elena Rybakina to class that as a Swiatek fall-off. Rybakina would have beaten anyone in the world 6-1 6-0 playing the way she did. Swiatek concern should be that serve speed / potency has come at the cost of stability (which she knows based on news confs here)
Banner week for the World Tennis Tour destroyers. Victoria Mboko and Janice Tjen win titles; Lilli Tagger reaches her first WTA Tour final. All three (and Tereza Valentová, another very serious player) got their way up the rankings by blitzing all-comers on the third tier of the sport
November 2, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Banner week for the World Tennis Tour destroyers. Victoria Mboko and Janice Tjen win titles; Lilli Tagger reaches her first WTA Tour final. All three (and Tereza Valentová, another very serious player) got their way up the rankings by blitzing all-comers on the third tier of the sport
What was taken from us
Possibility of Daniil Medvedev playing Learner Tien at a 250 in Metz for his ATP Tour Finals life ... Absolute cinema
November 1, 2025 at 9:34 PM
What was taken from us
Possibility of Daniil Medvedev playing Learner Tien at a 250 in Metz for his ATP Tour Finals life ... Absolute cinema
October 31, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Possibility of Daniil Medvedev playing Learner Tien at a 250 in Metz for his ATP Tour Finals life ... Absolute cinema
Auger-Aliassime has been very good tactically against Vacherot. The blueprint to beating him has looked clear, if not obvious since he started his run in Shanghai so it is something of a surprise that no one did it sooner
October 31, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Auger-Aliassime has been very good tactically against Vacherot. The blueprint to beating him has looked clear, if not obvious since he started his run in Shanghai so it is something of a surprise that no one did it sooner
Delighted for what Vacherot's run means for his career. The context collapse around it is indicative of a men's tour starved of narrative
October 30, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Delighted for what Vacherot's run means for his career. The context collapse around it is indicative of a men's tour starved of narrative
Reposted by James Hansen
I think Learner Tien is going to have a lot of 1-0 records against top-10 players.
I also think they may not be as illustrative of his future as some people believe
I also think they may not be as illustrative of his future as some people believe
July 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I think Learner Tien is going to have a lot of 1-0 records against top-10 players.
I also think they may not be as illustrative of his future as some people believe
I also think they may not be as illustrative of his future as some people believe
Relatedly, the camera angle must be a factor here, but everyone I have watched, even the winners, has looked glitchy and janky. Like the ball isn't really doing what they expect as often as they expect it to
Cameron Norrie is an awful person to play if out of rhythm. Court speed or not, the massive variance in trajectory and pace between his forehand and backhand is nightmare fuel for an Alcaraz who isn't feeling the ball
October 28, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Relatedly, the camera angle must be a factor here, but everyone I have watched, even the winners, has looked glitchy and janky. Like the ball isn't really doing what they expect as often as they expect it to
Cameron Norrie is an awful person to play if out of rhythm. Court speed or not, the massive variance in trajectory and pace between his forehand and backhand is nightmare fuel for an Alcaraz who isn't feeling the ball
October 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Cameron Norrie is an awful person to play if out of rhythm. Court speed or not, the massive variance in trajectory and pace between his forehand and backhand is nightmare fuel for an Alcaraz who isn't feeling the ball
All the info on the new Saudi Masters 1000, its size, why there is no date and what it means for the future of tennis as a calendar and as a global sport
theathletic.com/6512718/?sou...
theathletic.com/6512718/?sou...
Saudi Arabia gets tennis ATP Masters 1000 tournament it craved, as early as 2028
The kingdom will host a 56-player men's event, one rung below the Grand Slams, but its place in the tennis calendar is to be confirmed.
theathletic.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
All the info on the new Saudi Masters 1000, its size, why there is no date and what it means for the future of tennis as a calendar and as a global sport
theathletic.com/6512718/?sou...
theathletic.com/6512718/?sou...
Reposted by James Hansen
Saudi Arabia will host an ATP Masters 1000 tournament as early as 2028.
It's the latest move in nearly three years of power battles, negotiation and inertia that have come to dominate the top of tennis.
Story from @mattfutterman.bsky.social and @cdeccleshare.bsky.social ⤵️
It's the latest move in nearly three years of power battles, negotiation and inertia that have come to dominate the top of tennis.
Story from @mattfutterman.bsky.social and @cdeccleshare.bsky.social ⤵️
Saudi Arabia gets tennis ATP Masters 1000 tournament it craved, as early as 2028
The kingdom will host a 56-player men's event, one rung below the Grand Slams, but its place in the tennis calendar is to be confirmed.
theathletic.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Saudi Arabia will host an ATP Masters 1000 tournament as early as 2028.
It's the latest move in nearly three years of power battles, negotiation and inertia that have come to dominate the top of tennis.
Story from @mattfutterman.bsky.social and @cdeccleshare.bsky.social ⤵️
It's the latest move in nearly three years of power battles, negotiation and inertia that have come to dominate the top of tennis.
Story from @mattfutterman.bsky.social and @cdeccleshare.bsky.social ⤵️
Important win for João Fonseca given patchy recent form and the concentration on one's own serve and return that beating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard requires
October 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Important win for João Fonseca given patchy recent form and the concentration on one's own serve and return that beating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard requires
Reposted by James Hansen
A few years ago, Sebastian Korda was tipped to lead American men's tennis.
His talent has never been in question. But injuries have left him facing an uphill battle to fulfil his potential.
“You just kind of have to restart. You’ve got to climb that mountain again."
✍️ @mattfutterman.bsky.social
His talent has never been in question. But injuries have left him facing an uphill battle to fulfil his potential.
“You just kind of have to restart. You’ve got to climb that mountain again."
✍️ @mattfutterman.bsky.social
Sebastian Korda’s tennis talent is in no doubt. His body and brain have met plenty of them
After a series of chastening injuries and frustrated comebacks, Korda is hoping to get his body to where it can let his talent speak freely.
theathletic.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:22 AM
A few years ago, Sebastian Korda was tipped to lead American men's tennis.
His talent has never been in question. But injuries have left him facing an uphill battle to fulfil his potential.
“You just kind of have to restart. You’ve got to climb that mountain again."
✍️ @mattfutterman.bsky.social
His talent has never been in question. But injuries have left him facing an uphill battle to fulfil his potential.
“You just kind of have to restart. You’ve got to climb that mountain again."
✍️ @mattfutterman.bsky.social
Corentin Moutet vs. Bernard Tomic in Almaty? Well of course it is a scene
October 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Corentin Moutet vs. Bernard Tomic in Almaty? Well of course it is a scene
Tactically inspired performance from Coco Gauff to essentially junk-ball (complimentary) Jessica Pegula into oblivion. The mini-battles leading up to ball changes were fascinating, Pegula got frustrated by her shots not penetrating down the stretch.
October 12, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Tactically inspired performance from Coco Gauff to essentially junk-ball (complimentary) Jessica Pegula into oblivion. The mini-battles leading up to ball changes were fascinating, Pegula got frustrated by her shots not penetrating down the stretch.
Arthur Rinderknech cramping up from spending too long on his haunches during his cousin's speech about sums up this Shanghai Masters
October 12, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Arthur Rinderknech cramping up from spending too long on his haunches during his cousin's speech about sums up this Shanghai Masters
Not even the cousins final is immune to the prevailing Shanghai Masters dynamic of "one player is just out of gas"
October 12, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Not even the cousins final is immune to the prevailing Shanghai Masters dynamic of "one player is just out of gas"
Such a huge mental win for Jessica Pegula. Not just recovering from four double faults — her only four of the match! — when serving for it, but snapping Sabalenka's indomitable tiebreak streak after losing to her four times in a row, in one GS final, one GS semifinal and two 1000 finals
October 11, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Such a huge mental win for Jessica Pegula. Not just recovering from four double faults — her only four of the match! — when serving for it, but snapping Sabalenka's indomitable tiebreak streak after losing to her four times in a row, in one GS final, one GS semifinal and two 1000 finals
Daniil Medvedev saying Learner Tien is "everywhere" while he is barely breaking the sidelines. This has nothing to do with physicality. He has convinced himself Tien is better than he actually is
October 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Daniil Medvedev saying Learner Tien is "everywhere" while he is barely breaking the sidelines. This has nothing to do with physicality. He has convinced himself Tien is better than he actually is