Matt Bell

Love child of Henry James and James Baldwin. Tennis. Broadway. Movies. Provincetown. Against fascism. he/him.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

So if you care to find me

[Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg]

Not planning on watching today’s match, obviously.

I continue to confidently stand by my reporting and the work of my great editors and fact-checkers on those stories.

Thinking of everyone who remains affected by the issue of domestic violence and who also can’t watch today.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

@edgeAIapp @lawanda50 is JUDY GARLAND playing??????

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

HOWLING

[Jonah @jonahtennis]

Before this tournament, this was the only memory I had of Maja Chwalinska 👀

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

today's a good day to re-tweet this

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

I've seen enough tweets from the nakedly Republican tennis commentator who works for Bari Weiss. Unfollowed.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

@RomanPBone1 Another way of saying this: she's an exceptional performer in motion pictures, a quality that a still photograph cannot capture.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

Great to see a tennis journalist refuse to take part in the systemic silence that has protected Zverev (and his corporate enablers) from scrutiny. Well done, Ben.

[Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg]

Because it was time to address the dark clouds overhead at #RolandGarros:

I wrote about how Alexander Zverev is almost certainly going to win the French Open, and how people around the sport are feeling about that likelihood.

Read here:

https://t.co/aZZNSCpVwn

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

Ruud so much better at the net

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

@BenRothenberg Great to learn more about him, Ben. Thanks for posting.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

@BenjBrantley oh, Villette! excellent company

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

17-year-old Spaniard on his way to winning Roland Garros

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

@BenRothenberg Following this young man. Exciting future.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

attempts to harass, intimidate, or dox get a block 😘

[The Tennis Letter @TheTennisLetter]

Oleksandra Oliynykova gave an emotional speech before her press conference after her loss to Shnaider, ‘When children are dying, when violence is justified or celebrated, we cannot look away… We cannot protect those who support such actions… Being a role model isn’t about the size of your bank account. A real role model has the courage to stand against evil’

“I know that some people disagree with my actions. I know that some people would prefer that I stay silent. What I do is not about politics. It’s about humanity. When people are being killed, when children are dying, when violence is justified or celebrated, we cannot pretend nothing is happening. We cannot look away. We cannot protect those who support or excuse such actions. Our organization was not built by pioneers like Billie Jean King so that money and luxury could become the only values in women’s tennis. They wanted something bigger than that. They wanted us to have a voice. To inspire others. To make the world better. To be role models for young athletes. And being a role model is not about the size of your bank account. It’s not about expensive watches, private jets, or luxury brands. A real role model has the courage to stand against evil. A real role model speaks when it’s easier to stay silent. A real role model has the determination to act when action is needed. We as players have responsibility that goes beyond tennis. Because sports should always stand with humanity, and humanity should never be optional. Thank you.”

(via Roland Garros Press)

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

Russian bots and propagandists are hard at work today!

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

TNT’s fawning coverage of Shnaider, eating ice cream on a bike to cool down from her match, is an embarrassment of avoidance. Haber and Navratilova should at a minimum mention the subtext.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

@UniversTennis A shame for Oliynykova, who nonetheless won many new fans at this tournament for her courage and poise in that press conference.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

@drchrisisfree The stream here (on HBO Max) is slow and glitchy, but I was able to watch most of the match. Oliynykova now smiling and posing in selfies with fans.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

Shnaider looks out of sorts against Oliykykova early on. Down 1-4 in the first set.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

Big ovation for Oliynykova, defeated, who nonetheless walks to the middle of the court to wave to fans. She has won a lot of hearts in this tournament.

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

@drchrisisfree Shnaider playing much more relaxed and confident now. Up 7-5, 4-1

[Matt Bell @ProfMattBell]

@drchrisisfree Seems like they’re both uncomfortable.