As we head into the July 4th weekend, I’m getting ready for long days by the lake, BBQs with a Koozie drink in hand, and, of course, plenty of yapping with friends. No topic will be off-limits — no matter how random. Like the Patriots’ Stefon Diggs renting a castle to do… football drills? Or, the fact that AI robots are now playing soccer (let’s just say, pro athletes have job security). Since it’s the Midwest, of course we’ll chat about the Bucks’ big gamble (including Giannis’s very confused reaction) and the Indiana Fever’s new championship title — not to mention the Caitlin Clark rankings drama. One thing I can’t leave out: this roundup of the most-stylish people (yes, Timothée’s sideline looks made the cut). Now, let’s get to some other sports highlights…
— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI
Let's Discuss
What to look out for in our latest episode.
Game, Set, Burnout? Tennis Stars Sound the Alarm
What's going on: Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the year, is officially in full swing (in record heat, no less). While fans may be focused on the tournament’s changes — goodbye to the famously dapper line judges — and shocking upsets, there’s more at play. Ahead of her Wimbledon match, the women’s No. 4, Iga Świątek called out what many see as an unsustainable grind in tennis: its “superintense” schedule. “There’s no point for us to play over 20 tournaments in a year,” Świątek told reporters. Her comments echo a broader push — including a lawsuit from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) — to hold the sport’s governing bodies accountable for player burnout. (Tennis organizations have denied the allegations.)
Our take: Świątek highlighted the toll of this packed calendar on athletes’ mental and physical health — and on the nature of the game itself. As she put it: With fewer tournaments, “the quality would be better.” Świątek’s not alone. No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka pushed back on the pressure, shutting down the idea of playing best-of-five-set matches at Grand Slams, like the men. “It’s too much on the woman’s body,” Sabalenka said. “I think it would increase the amount of injuries.” We love tennis as much as the next fan — just not at the expense of the players who make it worth watching.
