Mailbag
Let me see. Novak is, for whatever reason, barred from playing or unable to play. Meddy is threatened with a ban unless he denounces Putin, which of course will imperil his and his family’s lives in Russia if he obliges. Nadal took advantage in Australia but is sidelined for a few weeks. Zverev is still playing but many wonder why he is not being given a lengthier ban. Roger is retired for all practical purposes. Tsitsi hasn’t stepped up and is tainted by bathroom break allegations. The new-new generation is taking forever to step up to slams and Masters wins. Barty, the one player universally liked, retired ala Borg at 25, Serena, like Roger, is more or less retired, Osaka is still way down in the ranks and Emma, the newly minted slam wonder, can’t even win a first round match these days. Can’t a time in the last two decades that tennis was this terrible.
—VK
• Let’s see….Rafael Nadal—shortlist among the world’s most revered sportsmen— is 35 and favored to win his 22nd Major at the same tournament where he broke in 2005. Djokovic is back and ready to defend his title, which would mean tying Nadal and moving past Federer. That’s right, three active players with 20 or more Majors. (And there’s one on the women’s side, too!) Naomi Osaka—the world’s highest paid female athlete—has become a crusader for mental health, for decades a taboo in sports. The WTA showed immense courage in taking a stand against authoritarian China, and now has a title sponsor. There are nine countries represented in the WTA’s top 10, including Tunisia. The new No. 1 is a worthy, cool, all-surface star who even—get this—reads books. The Madrid event sold for somewhere between $400-500 million. Cincinnati is next. If the Williams sisters haven’t played in months, Lord knows they’re not only still public figures, but their “daughters and sons,” the players…