A supportive tennis crowd in Asheville, N.C., watched the Ukrainians nearly pull off an upset of the United States in a Billie Jean King Cup qualifier.
Readers urge stronger intervention and steep penalties for any war crimes. Also: Politicians, act for us; balloons’ peril; tenant evictions; smashing rackets.
After struggling for more than a year, the former world No. 1 has advanced to her first women’s singles final since she won the Australian Open in 2021.
Long accepted as an entertaining idiosyncrasy of the sport, the act of hurling one’s racket has led to some close calls, as ball people and chair umpires dodge injury.