Merlisa
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merlisa.com
Merlisa
@merlisa.com
Award-winning journalist, freelance writer and author of the book: Serena Williams: Tennis Champion, Sports Legend and Cultural Heroine.

Creator of Courtside Coffee Substack, highly-caffeinated tennis coverage.

https://courtsidecoffee.substack.com/
Good morning. Looking for holiday gift ideas? Pick up a copy of USA Today's holiday gift guide and check out my story on fitness finds.
November 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Oh man, Lorenzo Musetti fought like hell, but Novak Djokovic prevails. Novak is exhausted. Felix Auger-Aliassime, pack your bags, dude, you're back in the ATP Finals.

Djokovic and FAA are scheduled to play. They aren't even in the group photo. Musetti has lost six finals in a row. Damn.
November 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The last one features a man holding a tennis racket.
November 5, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Elena Rybakina remains undefeated in Group Play in the WTA Finals. And she's wearing a purple dress, similar to what Coco Gauff wore when she won the title last year. 🤔
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Amanda Anisimova turned this match around, defeating Madison Keys 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, and will face Iga on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the semis.

Amanda can get her Wimbledon revenge by knocking Swiatek out of the WTA Finals.

Keys is done.
November 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Coco Gauff posted a Halloween photo of herself in a Freddy Krueger outfit on Instagram.

It's an old photo because she's kinda busy preparing for the WTA Finals.
October 31, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Loving the Steelers throwback uniforms.
October 26, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I do Hario V60 and Chemex most mornings. Do Sowden softbrew and French Press sometimes. Also have espresso and Nespresso machines.
October 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Started my birthday today on the beautiful Chain of Lakes.
October 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Venus Williams and Grigor Dimitrov for Lacoste.
October 9, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Leavitt recently turned 28. All that lying has her looking 40.

Meanwhile, the press was more aggressive with Karine Jean Pierre, 51.

Reminder, lying is bad for the skin.
October 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame Jason Taylor's son Mason is a tight end for the Jets. Taylor's wife is the sister of Dolphins great Zach Thomas.

Imagine marrying your buddy's sister and your son looks more like your friend than you. 😆
September 30, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Good morning.

It’s National Coffee Day!

Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, and a host of other retailers are giving out free or discounted coffee products.

NBC’s Today Show provides a nice list.

www.today.com/food/drinks/...
September 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
September 28, 2025 at 4:16 PM
With memes like this floating around, I can't believe this dude still has a job.

The Florida Gators have fallen from competing for National Championships to being the fourth or fifth-best team in the state.

😭
September 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Canadian tennis star Félix Auger-Aliassime married his long-time girlfriend, Nina Ghaibi, in a lavish Moroccan ceremony.

Take a look at some of the pictures he posted on his Instagram account. I put a few together to create a Blue Sky wedding album. LOL.

Beautiful.
September 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Coco Gauff's kit against the blue Beijing court. Pretty.
September 26, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Anora is on there, and most of the stuff you pay to see on Brit Box. You can also take courses and download and print books.

I was watching Patrick Stewart on stage in Macbeth. Some screenshots from today.
September 22, 2025 at 11:20 PM
September 22, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Canada's Victoria Mboko lands on the cover of Rollingstone Africa.

Check out these pics from Rollingstone Africa's Instagram page. www.instagram.com/p/DOyVDE0jbl...
September 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Congrats to Denis Shapovalov and WTA player Mirjam Bjorklund on their recent nuptials. He posted a beautiful picture on his Facebook page.
September 20, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I love my brother. Keeps it real and me laughing.
September 18, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Nike: Vanda Li is pictured in pieces from Susan Fang’s Nike Women’s Artist Collection.

Pretty. But these are "be cute" shoes. No way these things hit the gym, the bike, or the court.
September 16, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Same smile. Childhood Carlos Alcaraz (posted by the US Open).

Who would have thought this little kid would dominate tennis?
September 8, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I don't expect much. That's why I think a no comment is fine. If you're going to comment, consider what you're going to say, because it will be put on blast.
September 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM