Hi {{first name |there}},

This weekend all eyes will turn to the action on the legendary grass courts of Wimbledon: tomorrow’s all-Czech women’s final promises a close match between Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova, and today’s blockbuster semi-final matches between Arthur Fery and Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner will determine who will do battle on Center Court on Sunday—and whether Fery will be the first British man in the running for the title since Andy Murray’s win in 2016.

Attending Wimbledon is a tennis fan’s dream: the oldest tournament in the world, it’s played on pristine, precision-cut grass, while impeccably dressed spectators, including Royals, eat fresh strawberries and cream and sip Pimm’s cups. Matches are occasionally interrupted by the civilized pop of Champagne corks. Another quirk: the tournament employs a hawk as official security: his name is Rufus, he has his own ID badge, and he’s been scaring off pigeons since 2000!

Nail-biting tiebreaks have featured in this year’s tournament; the longest so far reached 18-16 to decide the second set of Stan Wawrinka and Matteo Berrettini’s first-round match. These high-pressure moments are game-changing, and this week, we have research-backed strategies that every player can use to remain focused and emerge victorious.

Also in this issue: Wimbledon-inspired fashion, from feminine on-court whites to the polished stripes, polka dots, and pastels that adorn spectators in the stands, plus strawberry-themed accessories! Last week’s most popular link was this stunning blue-and-white maxi dress with an embroidered starfish bodice and playful open back.

🏆Finally, this week’s trivia is Wimbledon-inspired: What's the most unexpected thing ever to interrupt a Wimbledon final? Scroll to the link list for the answer…

Welcome to the club, we’re so glad you’re here!
Team Tennisette
P.S.: serve this email to your tennis team!🎾

How to Win Tiebreaks: 7 Strategies That Actually Work

You've battled through six games, and the set is level. You’ve reached a tiebreak, but, suddenly, because the scoring system has changed, everything feels different.

Tiebreaks are the moment when many recreational players start trying to do something different, something special, something that will carry them through the pressure. That instinct, it turns out, is exactly wrong. Here's what the research shows, and coaches recommend…

1. Stick with what got you there. Jack Edward, LTA-qualified coach, is direct about this: a tiebreak is a microcosm of the match. The percentage plays that got you to 6-6 are the same ones that will win the tiebreak. The temptation to suddenly go for bigger shots, more ambitious tactics, or something you haven't tried yet is real — and almost always a mistake.

Former world number 4, Brad Gilbert, is an evangelist for high-percentage tennis: sticking with tried-and-tested strategies under pressure. In Winning Ugly, he recounts his experience facing Jimmy Connors in a tiebreak: with a hostile crowd and third set looming, Gilbert's entire game plan was: "Keep some balls in play. No pace. Make him try to hit winners. Nothing fancy." He won 7-5 — and Connors, trying to force the issue as the pressure mounted, made the errors that decided it. Gilbert’s rule for these moments: if you're winning, don't change anything, and he means this literally, down to not changing your sweaty shirt mid-match!

2. Make your first shot — every time. Whether you're serving or returning, your first ball must go in. Edward is emphatic: do not give your opponent a free point. If there's any doubt about your second serve, take some pace off your first rather than risk a double fault. On return, play with margin and height. A ball that clears the net comfortably and lands deep is worth far more than an attempted winner that clips the tape.

3. The opening points matter more than you think. Winning the first two or three points creates immediate pressure on your opponent while building your own confidence. A 2024 study in the Journal of Sports Sciences, analyzing 535 tiebreaks from the US Open, found that being ahead in a tiebreak measurably shifts the odds of winning the next point — which is exactly why the opening exchanges carry so much weight. And if you find yourself up 5-2? Don't relax. Two service points from your opponent and one break of your own serve, and it's suddenly 5-5! Exert your full focus on every point, from start to finish.

The Wimbledon Edit: Whites, Stripes and Strawberries on the Side!

Dresses with sweetly feminine details have stolen the show on court this year: Coco Gauff in drop-waist New Balance x Miu Miu, Marta Kostyuk in a lacy Wilson dress inspired by her wedding, and Naomi Osaka in her scene-stealing kimono and flower-adorned Nike dress.

Off-court, the classics remain in play: crisp stripes and playful polka dots in pastels, royal purple, blue, and green, in summery seersucker, voile, poplin, and linen.

Here are our picks inspired by the tournament’s timeless, elegant style (every image is clickable!).

ON COURT

OFF COURT

In Case You Missed It…

Tournament Calendar

Wimbledon ends on Sunday. Here’s the scoop on what comes next…

In 1957, Althea Gibson was the first-ever Black Wimbledon champion, and the first champion to receive the trophy personally from Queen Elizabeth II. “Shaking hands with the Queen of England,” she said, “was a long way from being forced to sit in the colored section of the bus.” That year, she won the doubles championship as well, for the second year running.