Iga Swiatek provided one of the most thought-provoking quotes during the Wimbledon fortnight. After 32-year-old Alize Cornet, a versatile, clever French veteran ranked No. 37, ended Iga's terrific 37-match winning streak, by upsetting error-plagued Iga 6-4, 6-2, the 21-year-old Pole said, “Usually when I’m coming back, I have some kind of a plan, and I know what to change. Here I didn’t know. I was confused. On grass courts, everything happens so quickly. I didn’t tank it, but I just didn’t know what to do.”

In her May 8 FiendatCourt.com, Teresa Merklin tackled a thought-provoking topic that was encapsulated in the shirt message, “I’m just too creative to be limited by Smart Shot Selection.”

What exactly is the connection between creativity and smart shot selection?

This burning question is the title of a lengthy essay I just wrote. For this blog, I would like to start by quoting a great ancient statesman and general and a modern athlete and humanitarian. Both believed citizens have a moral responsibility to tackle political issues. Pericles said, “Just because you don’t take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”

During Amanda Anisimova’s first-round loss to Shelby Rogers at the Miami Open, a Tennis Channel analyst informed viewers that this year she has hit 54% of her groundstrokes crosscourt. The tall, 20-year-old American was touted as a potential future star when, as a 17-year-old, she beat 15-year-old phenom Coco Gauff in the US Open girls’ final. Unfortunately, the untimely death of Amanda’s father and assorted injuries derailed her. Though she peaked at No. 21 in 2019, she currently ranks No. 47.