Clay Courts and Clutch Moments 🎾
Today we’re heading to Paris to unravel the red clay and the stars shaping the French Open. 🎾
Let’s serve it up… then finish with 3 things to know from the broader sports world! ⏬
🎾 Clay, Grit, and Greatness: The Magic of the French Open
A few days ago, Kat and Evelyn asked for more tennis. And not just any tennis… they wanted the French Open.
We think it’s pretty clear at this point… ask and you shall receive!
So, today we’ve got a crash course on the sport, the stars, and the showdowns shaping one of the most iconic tournaments in the world.
Whether you’re a lifelong tennis fan or just learning what “love” means on the court (hint: it’s not romance), we’ve got you covered. 💖
🗼 The Stage Is Set
Held every spring at Roland Garros in Paris, the French Open is one of the biggest tournaments in the sport.
Tennis fans call them “majors.” And only four happen each year: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
Over the next few days, the French Open reaches its crescendo: the semifinals and finals across men’s and women’s singles... and doubles, too.
So before the champions lift their trophies, let’s break down how tennis really works… and why those funny-looking lines on the court actually make perfect sense.
🧵 Tennis, Unraveled
Okay, time out… what’s really going on out there? You’ve got one player. Or two. You’ve got lines all over the court. And a score that sounds like someone shouting random numbers.
Let’s break it down.
🎾 What Happens on the Court?
Every point starts with a serve… one player tosses the ball into the air and swings, aiming to land it diagonally into a special box on the opponent’s side. Miss the box twice in a row? That’s called a double fault, and your opponent gets the point.
Once the ball is in play, players trade shots (that’s called a rally) until someone hits it out of bounds, into the net, lets it bounce twice on their side, or misses hitting it altogether.
Here are a few of the basic building blocks:
Forehand: A shot hit with your dominant hand on the same side of your body (like a right-hander swinging from the right). It’s usually a player’s most powerful weapon.
Backhand: A shot hit on the opposite side of your body… sometimes with one hand, sometimes with two. It takes more precision, but can still be strong.
Volley: A shot hit before the ball bounces, usually near the net. It’s fast, aggressive, and used to finish points quickly.
Lob: A high, looping shot meant to sail over a player who’s up at the net.
Drop shot: A soft, delicate shot that barely clears the net and lands just inside the front of the court… perfect if your opponent’s stuck too far back.
Tennis players combine these shots like tools in a toolbox… picking the right one for each situation.
And when it all comes together? That’s when the magic happens.
🧮 What’s With the Scoring?
Tennis doesn’t count like anything else.
0 points? That’s called love. (Because zero looks like a little round hug?)
Then comes 15, 30, and 40. Why not 45? Great question. Most historians think the numbers trace back to an even older French game called jeu de paume (say it with us: zhuh duh pohm) where players advanced those specific distances toward a winning point.
If both players hit 40? That’s called deuce. To win the game after deuce, you’ve got to win two points in a row: one to gain the edge (called advantage), and one more to close it out.
🏆 How Do You Win?
You don’t have to be a math genius, but there are a lot of numbers. It goes like this:
Win four points, and you win a game.
Win six games, and you take the set.
Most matches are best of three sets… first to two wins.
But in men’s singles at the French Open? It’s best of five. Five! Bring snacks.
🎤 What’s harder: learning tennis scoring… or teaching your grown-up how to play your favorite video game? (And what is your favorite video game?)
🧑🤝🧑 What About Singles vs. Doubles?
In singles, it’s one-on-one: long rallies, big serves, and lots of ground to cover.
In doubles, it’s two-on-two: quicker points, smart teamwork, and angled shots that can zip past you before you blink.
Ever notice all those lines on the court? The outermost ones… that’s the doubles alley. In doubles, the court is wider. More space. More chaos. More fun.
So if you’re thinking all of that feels like a lot… you’re not wrong. But it’s also beautiful: strategy, stamina, and sneaky brilliance, all packed into a match where one bounce can change everything.
🌟 The Stars of the Show
What separates the best players from the rest? In tennis rankings, it’s all about the points.
There’s a complicated system that tracks every match across the season. But here’s the gist: players earn points based on how far they advance in big tournaments, especially the majors.
The more consistent you are, the higher you climb. And right now? These are the names at the very top of the tennis world.
Women’s Top 5:
Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) (top left): A powerhouse with a thunderous serve and the confidence to match… when she’s locked in, it’s lights out.
Coco Gauff (USA) (top middle): Still just 21, she blends blazing speed, a great backhand, and leadership beyond her years.
Jessica Pegula (USA) (top right): Steady, smart, and scrappy… Pegula’s game is built on consistency and court IQ. Coco and Jessica used to be doubles partners!
Jasmine Paolini (Italy) (bottom left): A star with footspeed and fight… a rising star with major grit.
Iga Swiatek (Poland) (bottom right): A clay court artist with precision, patience, and the mindset of a champion… especially in Paris.
Men’s Top 5:
Jannik Sinner (Italy) (top left): A player with big power and even bigger poise… he’s quietly turned into the most complete player on tour.
Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) (top middle): An electric mix of speed, spin, and swagger… think highlight reels with heart.
Alexander Zverev (Germany) (top right): One of the tallest players in pro tennis, his great serve and all-around game have made him a top contender.
Taylor Fritz (USA) (bottom left): A big-serving Californian with a fearless forehand and a flair for clutch points.
Jack Draper (Great Britain) (bottom right): The youngest of the bunch… a rising lefty with smooth movement and sneaky power.
There’s a whole different set of rankings for doubles. And not every top singles player takes on doubles… the schedule is grueling, and the styles are different.
But some do both.
Serena Williams, who we met on Mother's Day as she taught us about mental toughness, famously played doubles with her sister Venus Williams before she retired. Together, they won 14 Majors and 3 Olympic gold medals.
🏆 Who’s Still Standing?
As the semifinals come into focus, we’re narrowing our Smallball coverage to singles play… where some of the biggest stars are making their move toward tennis glory.
The women’s semifinals are Thursday, the final four is nearly set, and it’s already a powerhouse lineup:
#1 Aryna Sabalenka and #5 Iga Swiatek have both clinched their spots and will face off in a must-watch match.
#2 Coco Gauff could still join them… if she wins her quarterfinal match, we’ll have three of the world’s top five battling for the title.
On the men’s side, Friday’s semifinals are shaping up to be just as thrilling!
#2 Carlos Alcaraz has punched his ticket.
#1 Jannik Sinner and #3 Alexander Zverev are both still alive… but they’ll need quarterfinal wins to join the mix.
It hasn’t all gone to script… a few surprises have already shaken things up. And with a few rounds to go, there’s still time for another plot twist.
More soon from Roland Garros... 🎾⏳
Whew!!! Did you get all that??? We better move on to our daily 3 things… because the French Open isn’t the only bracket bursting at the seams right now…
1️⃣ Lone Star Softball Showdown 🥎
The college softball playoffs start with 64 teams, just like college basketball’s March Madness tournament. Here's how it works:
Regionals: 16 groups of 4 teams each play a mini-tournament. Lose twice and you’re out. Only one team from each group moves on.
Super Regionals: The 16 regional winners play head-to-head series. Best-of-three games. The 8 winners advance.
Women's College World Series (WCWS): The final 8 teams play in Oklahoma City. It's double-elimination again until only 2 teams remain.
Championship Series: The last 2 teams play a best-of-three series to crown the national champion.
In college softball, games are 7 innings long, not 9 like in baseball. A great pitcher can steal the spotlight… and with only 7 innings to work with, every pitch and every run feels bigger.
Enough warmup… who’s in the championship?!?!
The Texas Longhorns secured their spot after a 2–0 win over Tennessee. This is their third championship appearance in four years. The Longhorns face the Texas Tech Red Raiders, a team that just defeated four-time defending champs Oklahoma. This marks Texas Tech’s first-ever trip to the finals… and they’re riding the arm of star pitcher NiJaree Canady, who leads the nation in wins.
🎯 Experts say: 70% chance the Longhorns win the series.
We’ll check back in after Game 1 tonight!
2️⃣ Rematch on the Ice 🏒
The 2025 Stanley Cup Final also begins tonight… and it’s a rematch!
Last year, the Florida Panthers lifted the Stanley Cup for the first time ever. Now… they’re trying to do it again. They’re led by their captain, Aleksander Barkov, who’s a defensive star.
The Edmonton Oilers are back too, hoping to flip the script behind superstar Connor McDavid and his high-flying teammate Leon Draisaitl. These two combine for goals like peanut butter and jelly… smooth, fast, and impossible to stop.
Game 1 is tonight in Edmonton!
🎯 Experts say: 57% chance Oilers win Game 1.
🎤 It’s Game 1. You’re on the ice. Would you rather score the game-winner as time runs out… or be the goalie who stops it?
3️⃣ Game Won Before Game 1 🐺
Today brings the two Game 1s we just covered.
But last night?
It was another game WON in the WNBA for the Minnesota Lynx.
With an 88–65 victory over Phoenix, the Lynx moved to 8–0 on the season, including 2–0 in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. Napheesa Collier (aka Phee) racked up 18 points and 11 rebounds, continuing her stellar performance this season!
Tennis, softball, hockey, hoops! No matter the sport, we’ve got you covered.
Catch you tomorrow, Smallball-ers!
Just read your tennis info....phew! When you first start playing you don't have to worry about the details....You just get a racket and a few tennis balls and start hitting them over the next on a court with markings.... You can even practice in the driveway with a temporary net....
Thanks for covering the Softball College World Series! Go Longhorns!