Served 5 Setter: Williams and Wimbledon
While the sisters return to the Championships, a major tennis website goes MIA
Welcome to your weekly 5 Setter, an express roundup of all things racquet sports with Producer Mike. In this episode:
The Williams sisters return to Wimbledon
Wimbledon wild cards announced
Andy Murray grades Jack Draper
Saudi Arabia’s $40 billion tennis stadium
Tennis.com’s makeunder
Tiebreak Trivia
Click below to watch today’s 5 Setter on YouTube, and come back here for this week’s bonus stories.
The latest stories that matter right now
College Tennis Pioneer Wins US Open Wild Card
Reese Brantmeier, the University of North Carolina player who led a seminal lawsuit over prize money against the NCAA, will play the US Open main draw for the first time this year. The reigning NCAA singles champion won the American Collegiate Wildcard Playoff tournament yesterday to book her spot in New York.
The Athletic called Brantmeier “arguably the most famous player in college tennis” for the lawsuit’s high profile and reach, affecting all Division I athletes and prospective players. Brantmeier sued when she had to forfeit $42,000, her prize money from playing US Open qualifying in 2021, to retain her NCAA eligibility. Now she stands to take home at least $110,000, last year’s prize money for first-round losers. This year’s prize money has not been announced.
Other wild-card winners
Men’s main draw: Sebastian Gorzny, University of Texas
Men’s qualifying: Trevor Svajda, Southern Methodist University
Women’s qualifying: Katrina Scott, University of Tennessee
Men’s doubles: Nikita Filin and Brandon Carpico, Ohio State University
Women’s doubles: DJ Bennett and Ava Esposito, Auburn University
Men’s doubles qualifying: Matteo Antonescu and Michael Andre, Indiana University
Women’s doubles qualifying: Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton, University of North Carolina
Rhode Warrior
College tennis has given us a lot to stress about lately, so we could use an extra heartwarming story to make up for it. It doesn’t get better than this: 58-year-old Lucy Hsiu Hou just wrapped up playing four years for Div. III Rhode Island College, even clinching the Little East Conference championship for the team! Read the full story.
Alcaraz Back on Court
Carlos Alcaraz is hitting tennis balls again. Left-handed, but we’ll take it.
The 23-year-old’s latest Instagram photo dump included a video from his home court in Murica, Spain, where he has been rehabbing the right-wrist injury that sidelined him in April, taking him out of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
The hitting session was a change from the running videos Alcaraz has posted lately, and fans wasted no time interpreting it as an encouraging sign. Everyone wants to see the most dynamic player in tennis back on the court—healthy.
Eala Calls Parents From Court
We’re a week away from the Wimbledon Live Draw, when Andy and JW will fill out their Bracket Challenge entries. Our eyes are scanning the last couple of weeks of results looking for a dark horse, and Alex Eala is jumping out.
The 21-year-old got her best win in over a year when she beat world No. 2 Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-4 in the Round of 16 at Berlin yesterday. Eala pulled out her phone and called her parents.
🎤 Alex Eala
“I just said, ‘Oh my god!’ We were just screaming, and my mom was there, too. I’m just really happy.”
The scene recalled Maria Sharapova calling her mother on court before the trophy ceremony when she won Wimbledon in 2004.
Eala has now won eight matches on grass this month, more than any other player. She opened the grass swing by winning the WTA 125 in Nottingham, then won a match at Queen’s and two matches in Berlin. Before Rybakina, she took out Queen’s champion Donna Vekic.
Grass rewards Eala’s movement and aggressive return of serve. She could get another boost when she hits the lawns at Wimbledon—a seeding. She was 31 in the live rankings before playing her Berlin quarterfinal today. It would be her first Slam seeding.
Quick Hits
Wimbledon qualifying starts Monday, June 22.
Wimbledon’s shop launched a Strawberry Capsule this year. Hat or socks—tough decision.
Ben Shelton is the only player to win a title on three surfaces so far this season. (h/t Gambrelle Snyder)
Maja Chwalinka will be the second female wild card to be seeded at Wimbledon, after Patty Schnyder in 2004.
Stella Artois has released a Strawberries & Cream lager for Wimbledon. It will be sold only around London. Have one for us.
Q&Andy Recap
Taxes, shoes, movement, London press—Andy answers all of your Wimbledon questions in this week’s episode.
📮Submit a question by emailing askandy@servedmediagroup.com or send it through our website or social media.
Love All Recap
Kim and Blair get to know new WTA Tour champion Robin Montgomery and debate whether Serena Williams is planning to play singles at Wimbledon.
The Weekend Draw
HSBC Championships (Queen’s Club)
ATP 500, grass
London, U.K.
Friday, June 19: Quarterfinals, singles and doubles
Saturday, June 20: Semifinals, singles and doubles
Sunday, June 21: Finals, singles and doubles
Terra Wortman Open
ATP 500
Halle, Germany
Friday, June 19: Quarterfinals, singles and doubles
Saturday, June 20: Semifinals, singles and doubles
Sunday, June 21: Finals, singles and doubles
Berlin Tennis Open
WTA 500
Berlin, Germany
Friday, June 19: Quarterfinals, singles and doubles
Saturday, June 20: Semifinals, singles and doubles
Sunday, June 21: Finals, singles and doubles
Nottingham Open
ATP Challenger/WTA 250
Nottingham, U.K.
Friday, June 19: Men’s semifinals (singles and doubles), women’s quarterfinals (singles and doubles)
Saturday, June 20: Men’s finals (singles and doubles), women’s semifinals (singles and doubles)
Sunday, June 21: Women’s finals (singles and doubles)
Tiebreak Trivia
In Set 5, Producer Mike talked about the changes to Tennis.com we noticed this week and asked: Who was the first person—or people—on Tennis magazine’s cover?
The answer: Marty Riessen and Clark Graebner, two amateur players. The magazine was launched in Chicago in May 1965 and focused on local and regional coverage. Read about the history here.
📝 We’ll be back Tuesday with a new episode. In the meantime, join us on Substack during the weekend’s matches.
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