Match Point Lifestyle

From my Ultimate Tennis Guide
Yonex just made the softest, most arm friendly racket they have ever built, and I think this exact model, the 98, is going to trick a lot of rec players. Let me save you a demo.
This is the Yonex Muse 98. The Muse line is brand new for 2026, built around comfortable, stress free tennis, with 5 models from the 98 up to the 107, all made to be easy on your arm.
For a rec player, here is what matters: a 98 square inch head, 305 grams unstrung, and a fairly open 16 by 18 pattern. That makes the 98 a real control frame, a smaller head and a full player's weight, not a light do everything racket.
It is about 8 points head light at 315 mm, so it feels fast and very maneuverable. And here is what people will love, it is genuinely soft. The flex is under 60, so the ball sinks into the string bed. It is one of the most comfortable frames I have picked up.
New tech: the Synchro Frame, headlined by a world first grommet design in all 4 corners that lets the strings move more, so off center hits feel almost as clean as the middle, plus the classic Isometric head for a bigger sweet spot.
Here is the catch. Yonex actually built the 98 for intermediate to advanced players who bring their own power. It is soft, but it will not hand you free depth the way the rest of the line does. If you have real strokes and a sore arm, the 98 is a gift. If you want the easy, free power the Muse is known for, get the Muse 100 or 100L instead.
On strings, stay in the Yonex family and keep it soft. Yonex Rexis multifilament around 52 pounds stays plush, or a soft Yonex Poly Tour Rev around 48 pounds for more bite from that open pattern.
DM me GUIDE and I will send you my Ultimate Tennis Guide.
What are you playing right now? Let me know in the comments 👇🏾

Some of these matches went on for days. Literally.
This is what a changeover chat sounds like at our Match Point Social watch party, just tennis people talking tennis the way you do when you actually love it. We captured this one mid-conversation and it is exactly the kind of footage we love: you feel like you are in the room.
Here is what the group was getting at, and it is a great piece of tennis history to know:
The fifth set at the Grand Slams used to have no tiebreak. If you reached 6-6 in the deciding set, you just kept playing until someone won by two games. That is how you got the famous first-round match in 2010 that ran 70-68 in the fifth and lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes across three days. After that, the rules started changing. Since 2022 all four Grand Slams use the same deciding-set format: a 10-point tiebreak at 6-6, first to 10, win by two.
If you play here in Miami, quick note. Your weekend league and USTA matches almost never use that 10-point deciding-set tiebreak. Most local formats use a standard 7-point tiebreak at 6-6 in every set, and a lot of rec and league play uses a 10-point match tiebreak in place of a third set to save time and courts. Worth knowing before you show up at Flamingo or your home club and argue about the score.
Match Point Lifestyle was built on a simple idea: tennis is better shared, over good food, good company, and a real love of the sport, and we're so excited that our community is growing. We're building such an amazing and passionate group who share the same love for the sport, and we're thrilled that so many tennis-curious friends joined in the fun. We're so glad to have all of you here.
Share this with the friend you want to bring to our next event.

From my Ultimate Tennis Guide
This yellow Dunlop will hand you the easiest topspin of your life, and I think that is exactly why the wrong player should leave it on the rack. Let me save you a demo.
This is the Dunlop SX 300 LS. SX is Dunlop's spin line, built to chase the Babolat Pure Aero, and the LS is the lighter, faster swinging model in it. The family runs from the heavier SX 300 Tour, to the standard SX 300, to this LS, down to the SX 300 Lite.
What matters for a rec player: a 100 square inch head, 285 grams unstrung (an easy to handle intermediate weight), a 16 by 19 pattern, and Dunlop's spin grommets that let the strings snap back and grab the ball.
Balance is 6 points head light, so the weight sits in the handle and the frame feels fast and whippy, which is what makes the topspin so easy. I have found it swings quick, stays stable for how light it is, and kick serves and heavy topspin jump off the string bed.
New for 2025, Dunlop widened the beam at 3 and 9 for stability, updated the Spin Boost grommets for more snapback, and added Vibroshield in the shaft and head to soak up shock. That last one matters, because at a 68 stiffness this is a firm frame.
So who is it for? Dunlop says intermediates who want easy power and spin, and I agree, with one honest note. It rewards swinging up and fast. If you already play heavy topspin, you will love it. If you hit a flatter, drive through ball, I think it will feel launchy and you will fight it, and you might be happier in Dunlop's CX line.
On strings, stay in the Dunlop family. Dunlop Explosive Spin around 50 pounds leans into the spin, or go softer with Dunlop Explosive Tour if you want more comfort off that stiff frame.
DM me GUIDE and I will send you my Ultimate Tennis Guide.
What are you playing right now? Let me know in the comments 👇🏾

The 2026 Wimbledon men's final is set, and honestly, this is the one you want to see.

Jannik Sinner vs. Alexander Zverev. Sunday, July 12, on Centre Court at the All England Club.

Here is the piece most people skip right past. Sinner has beaten Zverev 9 times in a row, and he has taken the last 14 sets between them. That is not a rivalry at the moment, that is a wall, and on Sunday Zverev has to find a way through it.

Both of them walk in with a lot of confidence. Sinner is the defending champion and World No. 1, and he just took apart Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the semifinals. Zverev is the newest Grand Slam champion after winning the French Open last month, he is up to World No. 2, and this is his first ever Wimbledon final. No German man has reached this final since Boris Becker in 1995.

So who wins Wimbledon 2026? I think Sinner is the favorite until someone proves the streak can break, and I have found that the moment a player stops respecting a streak is usually the moment it ends. Zverev has nothing to lose and a serve that can carry him on grass.

There is going to be a lot of excitement and a lot of drama, and more importantly, I think there is going to be great tennis.

Want to actually understand what you are watching on Sunday? DM me GUIDE and I will send over my Ultimate Tennis Guide.

Who is your pick, Sinner or Zverev? Let me know in the comments 👇🏾

Are you sure you want to miss this?
Sunday, July 12, Match Point Lifestyle is taking over Ziggurat x Chèvre in Coconut Grove for Caviar, Bubbles & Tennis, a premium grass court final watch party. British summer tradition meets Miami luxury, and I promise you it is not a sports bar afternoon.
Picture this. The historic men's grass court final live on the big screen. A welcome glass of premium bubbles the moment you walk in. Golden Goat Ossetra caviar, which I have tasted more than once and think is some of the most rich, buttery, beautiful caviar I've ever had. Chèvre, one of Miami's finest culinary destinations, handling the match-day lunch with their famous artisanal sandwiches.
Here is what your ticket includes 👇🏾
The men's grass court final, live on the big screen
And more to enjoy throughout the afternoon.
Golden Goat Ossetra caviar tasting windows plus Chèvre's artisanal sandwiches
An exclusive gift bag with on-court lifestyle essentials and a Design District wellness class
Downtime trivia with real prizes
Me on hand all day to break down the match, analyze player strategy, and answer your tennis questions
Every guest entered to win a private tennis session with me in Miami, drawn live during the event
Dress code is elevated summer linens. Tickets are intentionally limited to keep the room intimate, and we only have a few spots left.
Link in bio to grab yours before they are gone.
📍 Ziggurat x Chèvre, Coconut Grove
🗓️ Sunday, July 12, 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM ET

You told me you didn't know where to watch the Grass Court Gentlemen's Final here in Miami. And I told you to come watch it with me. And you still haven't grabbed your tickets? Really?
It's this Sunday, and space is extremely limited, so don't miss out.
I'll be calling the match live all afternoon.
Caviar, Bubbles & Tennis Social Celebration
📍 Miami
📅 Sunday, July 12, 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM ET
👔 Dress code: elevated summer linens
Your ticket includes a welcome glass of bubbles, featured Golden Goat Ossetra caviar tasting windows, artisanal match-day sandwiches, premium bubbles and crisp rosé, a curated gift bag with complimentary elite wellness class access in Miami, tennis related trivia and games with prizes. I'll be on hand all afternoon breaking down the live match, reading player strategy, and answering your technical questions.
Every guest in the room is entered to win a private tennis session with me in Miami, drawn live during the event.
We kept the room intentionally small, so it stays an exceptional, intimate afternoon for everyone in it. Get yours before they're gone.
Grab your seat now. Link in bio 👇🏾
No purchase necessary to enter the drawing. Full alternative entry details are in our official event terms.

From my Ultimate Tennis Guide
Wilson just brought back the Pro Staff, and I think a lot of players are about to buy the Pro Staff 97 Classic for the wrong reason. Let me save you a demo.
It is the same spec and feel as the Pro Staff 97 version 14, wrapped in a throwback black cosmetic that nods to the original 85 Pete Sampras made famous. You get a 97 square inch head, 315 grams unstrung (about 11.1 ounces), a 16 by 19 string pattern, and roughly 10 points head light balance.
Here is what most rec players skip over. That 97 head is smaller than the 100 or 104 you probably swing, and 315 grams is on the heavier side. So the sweet spot is tighter and it asks for a full, committed swing. The payoff is a planted, stable feel and that classic Pro Staff pocketing where the ball sits on the string bed for a beat.
Wilson also updated it with Paradigm Bending, which shifts flex into the shaft for an old school feel, plus a 45 degree braid that adds dwell time and stability. I think it plays a touch softer than the Pro Staffs before it.
So who is it for? Wilson says advanced players who dictate play, and I would say that is mostly right. I would just widen it to an intermediate with clean technique and a full swing who values feel and control over free power. If you are still finding your strokes, I think it will fight you.
On strings, stay in the Wilson family and keep it soft. A full bed of Wilson NXT around 52 pounds, or hybrid a little Luxilon ALU Power in the mains for more bite.
DM me GUIDE and I will send you my Ultimate Tennis Guide.
Which racket are you playing right now? Let me know in the comments 👇🏾

A few weeks ago I asked if anyone wanted to watch London's historic grass court final with me in Miami. You answered. So we are actually doing this.🥂
Here is the thing I keep coming back to. For me, this was never really about just the tennis on the screen. I think the best part of any historic match I have ever watched was who I was sitting next to. So this one is for you.
Whether you have followed every Slam for twenty years or you just think the whole thing looks beautiful and you want in, there is a seat for you. Die-hard fan or tennis curious, you will fit right in.
Picture an early brunch. Premium champagne in the morning, the way a championship final is meant to be enjoyed. Fine caviar, because why not. And a room full of people who are happy to be there and easy to talk to. You walk in not knowing anyone and you leave with a few new friends. That is the whole idea.
✨

You bought the Muse 98 because you wanted comfort and feel. And then you strung it with a stiff poly cranked up high. And now you cannot figure out why the softest racket Yonex makes still leaves your arm sore.
Here is what is happening underneath.
The Yonex Muse 98 is a comfort frame. A 98 square inch head, a 16x18 pattern, around 305 grams, and a thin, flexible shaft that tapers down to 18 millimeters. Yonex built the whole thing around comfort: the Synchro Frame, the Servo Filter material, the vibration dampening. It is the most forgiving, arm-friendly frame Yonex makes. You bought it so the racket would be easy on your arm.
Here is the part nobody tells you. All of that comfort is built into the frame, but the string sits on top of it, and the string can undo it. A stiff polyester cranked up high is the harshest setup you can put in any racket. Put it on the softest frame Yonex makes and you have paid for comfort technology and then bolted the harshest possible string right on top of it. The frame is trying to protect your arm and the string is fighting it.
And there is a second cost. The Muse 98 is a low-power frame on purpose. A stiff poly at high tension deadens what little pop it has, so now it is harsh and gutless, the opposite of the soft, connected feel you bought.
I think this is the same mistake as reaching for a full stiff poly just because a racket is control oriented. The Muse gets its control through feel and a big forgiving sweet spot, not a punishing string bed. You are fighting the frame instead of feeding it. Your racket and your strings are one system. Not two purchases.
The MPL Verdict:
1. String it to protect the comfort, not to cancel it
2. If comfort is the whole reason you bought it, a multifilament like Yonex Rexis Comfort keeps it soft and arm friendly
3. Want spin and stay kind to your arm? Yonex Polytour Rev, a soft co-poly that snaps back
4. Want a touch more control? Polytour Pro, but keep it in the lower half of the range, around 48 to 52, so you do not deaden the frame
Strings are the only part of your equipment that actually touches the ball. They are not the cheap part of your setup. They are the most important part. Choose them with care.
My Ultimate Tennis Guide is on pre-sale now. Click the link in my bio to secure your copy today.
Save this for your next restring 👇🏾

You bought the Pro Staff because you wanted that famous feel. And then you strung it with a full bed of stiff poly cranked up high. And now you cannot figure out why it plays dead and beats up your arm.
Here is what is happening underneath.
The Wilson Pro Staff 97 Classic is a control frame. A 97 square inch head, a 16x19 string pattern, 315 grams, and that braided graphite feel Wilson has been building since 1983. It is Roger Federer's frame. You bought it to feel connected to the ball.
But here is the part nobody tells you. It is also a stiff frame. It reads around 64 to 66 on the stiffness scale. That firmness is part of where the precision comes from, and it is also why the frame has almost no give of its own.
So when you take a stiff frame and add a full bed of stiff polyester at high tension, you are stacking stiffness on stiffness. There is nothing left in the setup to absorb the shock. The feel you paid for goes flat, the ball comes off dead, and every off-center hit runs straight into your wrist and your elbow. You did not soften anything. You doubled down on the one thing this frame already gives you plenty of.
I think this is the same mistake as the spin player who strings an open 16x19 too tight, or the control player who strings a dense 18x20 too loose. It is one player fighting the frame instead of feeding it. Your racket and your strings are one system. Not two purchases.
The MPL Verdict:
1. Let your strings do the softening the stiff frame will not
2. Roger's own setup on this exact frame is a hybrid: Wilson Natural Gut in the mains, Luxilon ALU Power in the crosses, strung low in the high 40s. Gut for feel and comfort, poly for control and spin
3. Want it simpler than a hybrid? A soft multifilament like Wilson NXT is plush and kind to your arm
4. Have to play a full poly? Use a softer one and keep it in the lower half of the range, around 48 to 50, not 58
Strings are the only part of your equipment that actually touches the ball. They are not the cheap part of your setup. They are the most important part. Choose them with care.
My Ultimate Tennis Guide is on pre-sale now. Click the link in my bio to secure your copy today.
Save this for your next restring 👇🏾