Photo: Annie Leibowitz
Hi {{first name |there}},
Wimbledon delivered exciting news this week: Serena and Venus Williams will play doubles together this year, on a wild card, for the first time in a decade. Even with a combined age of 90, the sisters will make a formidable team — they've won the doubles championship six times on the storied grass of the All England Club!
In this issue, we're sharing fascinating new data that every doubles team can use: read on for insights into exactly where to place your first and second serves.
If fashion were a competition, the dress would be a perennial trophy winner for its ease and elegance. Last week's most popular link was this genius quick-drying, sweat-wicking tennis dress with removable sleeves, and we've rounded up another 19 dresses perfect for returning a volley—or a clever bon mot at a party!
🧐 Finally, here’s a trivia question for your next cocktail party or post-match catch-up: which world leader plays tennis twice a week? Scroll to the end of the email for the answer…
Welcome to the club, we’re so glad you’re here!
Team Tennisette
P.S.: serve this email to your doubles partner!🎾
Where Should You Serve in Doubles?
Conventional wisdom has long maintained that placing your serve down the T is most effective in doubles. There are several good reasons for this: a serve to the middle typically takes away your opponent’s angles, makes a down-the-line return more difficult, and sets up your net player for an easy poach.
But recent data from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), drawn from doubles matches during the 2024-2026 seasons, provides new insight—and nuance—into where it’s most effective to aim first and second serves. Will Boucek, founder of Tennis Tribe, and a doubles strategy analyst for pro tour players, analyzed thousands of WTA doubles points from the 2024-2026 seasons.
First serve placement: wide and middle
While professional women players send first serves to the T far more often, the data shows that most first-serve points were won with wide serves, on both the deuce side (68.6% of the time) and the ad side (64.6% of the time). The down-the-middle first serve was still effective on both sides, particularly on the deuce side, where T serves won 65.7% of the time.
Second serve placement: wide wins again
On the deuce side, professional women won more second-serve points when placing the serve wide or to the body. The T-serve was almost 6% less effective than a wide serve. On the ad side, the wide serve was again the most effective, with both middle and body serves essentially delivering the same results.
Where should a recreational player serve in doubles?
Based on his analysis, Boucek recommends the following for women club and USTA players:
Don't assume the T serve is best. If WTA serves are more effective out wide, that trend likely continues at the recreational level, where serves and returns are generally weaker.
Test both sides early. In the first few games, try serving wide and down the T to see which side produces weaker returns from each opponent. What you find should guide your strategy for the rest of the match.
On second serves, go for depth above all else. At the club level, most players can't reliably control the placement of their second serve, but a short second serve is far more damaging than a slow one. If you can place your second serve, aim wide or to the body on both sides.
The net player's job doesn't change. Regardless of serve placement, she should be watching and reading the returner's body language and tendencies and moving accordingly.
Variety wins. The most consistent finding across all data: predictable serves are easier to return. Mixing up your serve placement and primarily using wide and T serves — even if neither is perfect — will keep the returner off balance and help you win points.
Chris Evert, US Open 1975
Tennis Dresses, Anyone?
A dress is always a winning strategy for ease and elegance. Here are 10 tournament-ready dresses (bras, shorts, and hair ties, too!), plus 9 chic options for a pulled-together look during every summer activity, from running errands to leisurely dinners.
ON COURT
Scoop neck color block dress: $178. In navy or white.
Floral racerback with built-in bra $128. Comes in 5 other colors (does not include shorts).
Classic pleated-skirt dress $118.99 (on sale!) With a ¾ zip, bomber collar, and 2-pocket shorts. Navy or white.
Hot pink! $83.40 to $109.99. Built-in shorts and shelf bra, plus 3 other colors.
Recycled fabric performance tennis dress: $145. With removable bra cups and mesh inner tights with ball pocket:
Drop-waist V-neck performance jersey with pleated skirt: $270. 2 colors.
Romper with pleated shorts $138. Navy or white. Adjustable waist, cross-neck back detail, plus lined inner shorts with ball pocket.
Short-sleeved with classic pleated skirt: $178. With detachable inner short.
Lightweight fabric yellow dress: $178. Built-in shorts, racerback, and flattering side stripes. 3 colors.
Sweat-wicking 2-ball-pocket shorts: $55. 4 colors. We like to size up for comfort.
Stay-put strap sports bra in many colors: $49. For A-C cups. Plus Wirecutter’s pick for C/D cups: $22.50.
Gentle silk scrunchies: $38 for a set of 4. 8 colors to match your hair!
OFF COURT
Blue striped cotton, boatneck, midi: $168. Summer in a dress!
Cotton poplin tiered maxi: $70. Flattering on everybody with 15 color options, including stripes.
Eyelet cotton boatneck relaxed mini dress: $178. Also comes in adorable check and floral patterns.
Flattering flutter-sleeved midi for day or night: $450. Cotton, with pockets, in two unique patterns.
Scoop neck tank cotton maxi: $98. Perfect for over swimsuits on boat or beach days (also comes in 2 stripe colorways).
Voile floral mini dress: $398. With ¾ sleeves and a comfortable smocked waist, this dress can go from lunch to cocktails to dinner!
Polka-dot silk slip dress: $89.90. Washable silk and incredibly versatile: wear it under a t-shirt or with a cashmere sweater draped over your shoulders. Many colors!
Cotton denim. $190. With a loose fit, stand color, and patch pockets, she’s perfect for running errands!
Vacation-ready, patterned long sleeve: $248. Flowy and feminine, and a wow at cocktail parties.
Tortoise headband: $32 for set of 2. (One size, 3 colors)
Classic espadrilles: $180. Made in Spain. 5 colors.
Drop flower earrings: $220. Adorable for day and night. Tortoise and mint green.
Raffia clutch with black woven leather strap: $88. Never goes out of style!
Shop the Story
Yellow racerback
Striped boatneck midi
Short-sleeved classic
Hot pink!
All day errands
Flattering maxi
Spanish espadrilles
Drop flower earrings
Raffia bag
via @joyonthecourt
In Case You Missed It…
📚 READ: Forty Love: A Novel. This rom-com sounds right up our alley: Jules has lived next door to the local tennis club for years without picking up a racket. Facing the anxiety of an empty nest, she decides to stop playing it safe and joins the local team, leading to passion—both on court and off!
📺 WATCH: Rafa. This 4-part Netflix series is a revealing and poignant review of the tennis legend’s experiences with injury, pain, and mental health struggles.
Why are so many athletes so blinged out? “In tennis there are no regulations about jewelry—not even at Wimbledon, which famously has a very specific dress code.”
Never stop playing! Age is irrelevant!
21-year-old American, Robin Montgomery, wins the 2026 Libema Open
Tournament Calendar
The grass court season is in full swing! Here’s where the pros play next…
15 June to 21 June: Terra Wortmann Open, ATP 500, Halle, Germany
15 June to 21 June: HSBC Championships, ATP 500, London, Great Britain
21 June to 27 June: Vanda Pharmaceuticals, ATP 250, Mallorca, Spain
22 June to 27 June: Lexus Eastbourne Open, ATP 250, Eastbourne, Great Britain
29 June to 17 July: Wimbledon, Great Britain
TRIVIA ANSWER: Pope Leo XIV plays tennis twice a week. "In life, as in the game, no one is saved alone. We ask that sport may always be a school of fraternity, not of empty rivalry, a space of encounter, not exclusion."