Five stories. One serve at a time.

Happy Friday, everyone! Things are buzzing here at Served HQ. Stay tuned, our Wimbledon Draw Show is dropping soon.

 1️⃣ Holger Rune Turns ‘Rage’ Into Revenue

Racket Retailer: World No. 8 Holger Rune has found a bold, and slightly bizarre, way to monetize his on-court meltdowns. The Danish star just launched a personal merch store, and the centerpiece item? Smashed rackets. The same Babolats he’s broken in frustration during matches are now up for sale, each one signed, authenticated, and still visibly cracked. The price? More than $7,000.

Purposeful Partnership: This isn’t just a stunt. Rune is partnering with his sister Alma to run the store, and a portion of the proceeds will go to charity. He laid out his reasoning for the move:

“To everyone who follows my journey, watches my matches, sends messages, and supports me – this is for you. Your support means everything. Launching this shop is my way of sharing a bit more of my journey with you.”

Holger Rune said on social media

Signed & Sentimental: Beyond the busted frames, the shop features match-worn gear, books, and other personal collectibles straight from his bag. If you’ve got the money, and a good sense of humor, you can own a piece of it. Though, a lot of the merch is sold out.

2️⃣ PTPA Files Amended Antitrust Lawsuit

Renewed Legal Push: The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has filed an amended version of its antitrust lawsuit, furthering its legal challenge against the sport’s top governing bodies. First filed in March, the lawsuit accuses organizations like the ATP and WTA of acting as a "cartel", suppressing player wages, restricting competition, and limiting opportunities for rival events. The PTPA argues that this structure ultimately hurts not just the players, but the fans too. The tours have denied the accusations and previously moved to dismiss the case outright.

Andy, Jon Wertheim, and Chris Eubanks broke down the lawsuit when it was first announced.

New Focus: In the updated filing—submitted in New York, London, and Brussels—the PTPA has dropped two of the original defendants: the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), signaling a tightened legal focus. Alongside the new filing, the PTPA released a statement on social media saying it is engaged in “active discussions” with the four Grand Slams in hopes of resolving the matter out of court.

Talks and Timeline: One key slide from the PTPA's post asked: “What is the focus of the PTPA and Slams' discussions?” The answer: “Proposed solutions to reform tennis for the good of the players, fans, and all stakeholders.” Next up in court: motions to dismiss the case or shift it to arbitration. We’ll keep tracking this as it develops.

3️⃣ Wimbledon Withdrawals, Doubts and Losses

Men’s Field Thins: Wimbledon’s main draw begins on Monday, but several notable names have withdrawn. Casper Ruud, Arthur Fils, and Sebastian Korda are all out, and now they’re joined by Kei Nishikori (back issues) and Zhizhen Zhang, who hasn’t played since Indian Wells due to a lingering shoulder injury.

Champ in Question: On the women’s side, defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova withdrew from her quarterfinal match in Eastbourne due to a right thigh injury. She remains hopeful she’ll be healthy enough to defend her title.

No Wildcard, No Run: Loïs Boisson—fresh off a Cinderella run at Roland-Garros—wasn’t granted a wildcard into Wimbledon. Instead, she entered qualifying but lost her opening match. While her main-draw dreams are dashed, she’s ranked a career-high World No. 65.

4️⃣ OUT! with the Line Judges IN! with ‘Bots

Tech Takes Over: For the first time in its 148-year history, Wimbledon will not have line judges on court. The All England Club is going fully electronic, citing a desire for “accuracy and consistency” in all line calls.

Cultural Shift: Players have mostly welcomed the move: less room for controversy, more clarity in big moments. But the change marks the end of an era. Gone are the theatrical stare-downs, the standing ovations for gutsy human calls, and the subtle drama only a human element can bring.

New Soundtrack: Wimbledon remains Wimbledon, but it may sound just a little different this year, with robotic voices replacing human calls. For fans watching at home, it’s a shift. For first-timers on the grounds, like Producer Mike, they may not notice a thing.

5️⃣ Sir Murray to be Memorialized

Statue in the Works: One thing that’s staying put at the All England Club? Andy Murray. The two-time Wimbledon champion and British tennis icon is getting a statue as part of planned tributes for Wimbledon’s 150th anniversary in 2027. Murray is co-designing it himself, making sure the tribute reflects his legacy properly.

Off-Court Impact: Murray’s still shaping the future of the sport at home. He’s helping spearhead the Park Tennis Project, a major effort to revitalize public tennis courts across the UK—with a big focus on his native Scotland.

Lasting Inspiration: The initiative aims to restore thousands of community courts, opening the game to more young players. The hope is to spark a new generation of British talent and maybe even the next Wimbledon champion.

In The 5 Setter Podcast we asked: Which member of the British Royal Family played in Wimbledon?

The Answer: King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. He competed in the 1926 men’s doubles tournament when he was the Duke of York.

What To Watch For

Bad Homburg Open (WTA 500): Star power in Germany. Pegula, Paolini & Swiatek all advanced to Friday’s semifinals. Linda Noskova upset World No. 7 Mirra Andreeva to reach the final four.

Lexus Eastbourne Open (ATP 250): Top seed, and defending champ, Taylor Frtiz leads the draw into the weekend while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina looks for his first career title.

Lexus Eastbourne Open (WTA 250): No seeded players advanced to the semifinals after Barbora Krejcikova withdrew in the QF. Young guns Maya Joint and Alexandra Eala look to add to their breakout seasons.

Mallorca Championships (ATP 250) : Felix Auger-Aliassime reached his 7th ATP semifinal of 2025, tied for most on tour with Carlos Alcaraz. The winner of the Alex Michelsen and Corentin Moutet SF match will have the chance to claim their first ATP title in Saturday’s final.

Full international WTA & ATP broadcast list.

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