Former coach of Venus Williams highlights problem in tennis that is finally being addressed
Former coach of Venus Williams highlights ongoing tennis court speed issues.

The Cincinnati Reds are showcasing increased home run power this spring, particularly with Elly De La Cruz improving his performance against left-handed pitching. De La Cruz has already matched his total home runs from 2025 against lefties.
During spring training, whenever the Cincinnati Reds had a split squad game, shortstop Elly De La Cruz made it clear that he wanted to play in whatever game he could get the most at-bats against left-handed pitching.
De La Cruz has always been stronger from the left side of the plate, and the switch hitter knew that he could make another leap in his career by producing much better against left-handed pitchers as a right-handed hitter.
This season, he now already has as many homers against left-handed pitching as he had in all of 2025. His power from the right side of the plate has improved significantly.
âWe want to get better in everything,â De La Cruz said. âNot only hitting from the right side. Everything.â
Itâs another reason why the Reds should hit more homers as a team this year than they did last year.
One of the defining traits of the 2025 Reds was the limited power production. So far, the Redsâ lineup is showing a lot more punch.
Itâs started with De La Cruzâs growth from the right side of the plate.
âItâs a matter of the frequency of the at-bats,â hitting coach Valaika said. âHe has had significantly more left-handed at-bats. Itâs just getting the reps. Control the zone, swing at the right pitches, donât try to do more right-handed because it hadnât as productive.â
Having Sal Stewart in the lineup for a full season will make a huge impact. So far, the rookie has been about as productive as any hitter in all of baseball. His ability to hit for power even with two strikes is a rare skill for such a young player, and heâs looking like a cornerstone on the roster.
âHeâll take maybe a bad swing, but he regroups,â Reds manager Terry Francona said. âHe doesnât just give an at-bat away.â
Having Stewartâs presence in the lineup is forcing pitchers to throw more strikes to De La Cruz. They help each other and are becoming a very formidable duo in the middle of the lineup.
Stewart says that he doesnât sell out for power. He prioritizes polished at-bats, competing and hitting line drives. His talent shines through as he turns those line drives into homers. Itâs an old-school approach thatâs working very well for him.
Similar to how Stewartâs presence in the lineup is helping De La Cruz, having Eugenio SuĂĄrez behind Stewart is helping the rookie. SuĂĄrez, the most prolific slugger on the team, has made a significant impact even though he hasnât truly gotten scorching hot yet.
Elly De La Cruz has hit as many home runs against left-handed pitching this spring as he did in all of 2025.
De La Cruz has significantly improved his power from the right side of the plate, aiming to enhance his overall hitting skills.
The Reds are expected to hit more home runs this year due to players like De La Cruz improving their performance, particularly against left-handed pitchers.
During spring training, De La Cruz aims to play in games where he can get the most at-bats against left-handed pitching to enhance his skills.
Former coach of Venus Williams highlights ongoing tennis court speed issues.
Arizona Cardinals fans are hyped about first-round pick Jeremiyah Love!
Eagles release video of Howie Roseman calling Makai Lemon during the draft
Brentford has identified a new player to replace Igor Thiago.
Kevin Durant is questionable for Game 3 against the Lakers after an ankle sprain.
Morez Johnson Jr. declares for NBA draft but may return to Michigan
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
âEverything that everybody said about him is true,â Francona said. âPeople gravitate toward him. Itâs hard not to. I havenât heard him say anything remotely not positive. He brings a ton of energy.â
The Reds can also generate power from the bottom-half of their lineup and from their depth.
Rece Hinds recently became an every day player. Heâs developing his ability to work better and better at-bats as he gains more experience. While thatâs been his focus, he can also hit the ball a mile when he gets his pitch to hit.
Spencer Steer consistently produces at a 20-plus homer pace when heâs healthy.
And bench bat Nathaniel Lowe looks like someone who could provide the Reds 20-plus homers if he received regular at-bats. In his role, Lowe gives the Reds an intriguing piece to mix and match with. The former Silver Slugger Award winner has been a nice addition.