Merlisa
@merlisa.com
Award-winning journalist, freelance writer and author of the book: Serena Williams: Tennis Champion, Sports Legend and Cultural Heroine.
Creator of Courtside Coffee Substack, highly-caffeinated tennis coverage.
https://courtsidecoffee.substack.com/
Creator of Courtside Coffee Substack, highly-caffeinated tennis coverage.
https://courtsidecoffee.substack.com/
Happy NFL Playoffs/Australian Open weekend.
Will be in my office all day. Got NFL Playoffs on big Mac and using a baby Mac (MacBook) to write Australian Open preview for Courtside Coffee and another Aussie Open story for Forbes.com.
Will be in my office all day. Got NFL Playoffs on big Mac and using a baby Mac (MacBook) to write Australian Open preview for Courtside Coffee and another Aussie Open story for Forbes.com.
January 11, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Happy NFL Playoffs/Australian Open weekend.
Will be in my office all day. Got NFL Playoffs on big Mac and using a baby Mac (MacBook) to write Australian Open preview for Courtside Coffee and another Aussie Open story for Forbes.com.
Will be in my office all day. Got NFL Playoffs on big Mac and using a baby Mac (MacBook) to write Australian Open preview for Courtside Coffee and another Aussie Open story for Forbes.com.
What has changed is furniture. But I also wrote about converting old computer armoires into coffee stations.
January 2, 2026 at 7:38 PM
What has changed is furniture. But I also wrote about converting old computer armoires into coffee stations.
Happy New Year, tennis fans! And to those who have yet to discover why they should be tennis fans. C'mon over to the fun side. Watch a real sport. 😀
January 1, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Happy New Year, tennis fans! And to those who have yet to discover why they should be tennis fans. C'mon over to the fun side. Watch a real sport. 😀
When an avocado looks like a drunk mouse, I ain't eating it.
December 30, 2025 at 6:06 PM
When an avocado looks like a drunk mouse, I ain't eating it.
Venus Williams got hitched and had more wedding dresses than David’s Bridal!
Per Vogue Wedding Instagram. www.instagram.com/vogueweddings
Per Vogue Wedding Instagram. www.instagram.com/vogueweddings
December 23, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Venus Williams got hitched and had more wedding dresses than David’s Bridal!
Per Vogue Wedding Instagram. www.instagram.com/vogueweddings
Per Vogue Wedding Instagram. www.instagram.com/vogueweddings
That kid was taking it all in, listening to Coco's instructions.
November 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
That kid was taking it all in, listening to Coco's instructions.
Coco Gauff, with the help of the USTA, matched her $3 million earnings for winning the 2023 U.S. Open to renovate tennis courts at Joe W. Brown Park in New Orleans.
Coco dropped in for a surprise visit. This one kid was serious about making his moment count. Look at the concentration!
Coco dropped in for a surprise visit. This one kid was serious about making his moment count. Look at the concentration!
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Coco Gauff, with the help of the USTA, matched her $3 million earnings for winning the 2023 U.S. Open to renovate tennis courts at Joe W. Brown Park in New Orleans.
Coco dropped in for a surprise visit. This one kid was serious about making his moment count. Look at the concentration!
Coco dropped in for a surprise visit. This one kid was serious about making his moment count. Look at the concentration!
Social media buzzing about Carlos Alcaraz's modest living room as he watches Davis Cub.
Dude has made more prize money than Venus Williams and it looks like he lives in a dorm. 😭
Dude has made more prize money than Venus Williams and it looks like he lives in a dorm. 😭
November 23, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Social media buzzing about Carlos Alcaraz's modest living room as he watches Davis Cub.
Dude has made more prize money than Venus Williams and it looks like he lives in a dorm. 😭
Dude has made more prize money than Venus Williams and it looks like he lives in a dorm. 😭
Good morning. Looking for holiday gift ideas? Pick up a copy of USA Today's holiday gift guide and check out my story on fitness finds.
November 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Good morning. Looking for holiday gift ideas? Pick up a copy of USA Today's holiday gift guide and check out my story on fitness finds.
Oh man, Lorenzo Musetti fought like hell, but Novak Djokovic prevails. Novak is exhausted. Felix Auger-Aliassime, pack your bags, dude, you're back in the ATP Finals.
Djokovic and FAA are scheduled to play. They aren't even in the group photo. Musetti has lost six finals in a row. Damn.
Djokovic and FAA are scheduled to play. They aren't even in the group photo. Musetti has lost six finals in a row. Damn.
November 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Oh man, Lorenzo Musetti fought like hell, but Novak Djokovic prevails. Novak is exhausted. Felix Auger-Aliassime, pack your bags, dude, you're back in the ATP Finals.
Djokovic and FAA are scheduled to play. They aren't even in the group photo. Musetti has lost six finals in a row. Damn.
Djokovic and FAA are scheduled to play. They aren't even in the group photo. Musetti has lost six finals in a row. Damn.
The last one features a man holding a tennis racket.
November 5, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The last one features a man holding a tennis racket.
Elena Rybakina remains undefeated in Group Play in the WTA Finals. And she's wearing a purple dress, similar to what Coco Gauff wore when she won the title last year. 🤔
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Elena Rybakina remains undefeated in Group Play in the WTA Finals. And she's wearing a purple dress, similar to what Coco Gauff wore when she won the title last year. 🤔
Amanda Anisimova turned this match around, defeating Madison Keys 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, and will face Iga on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the semis.
Amanda can get her Wimbledon revenge by knocking Swiatek out of the WTA Finals.
Keys is done.
Amanda can get her Wimbledon revenge by knocking Swiatek out of the WTA Finals.
Keys is done.
November 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Amanda Anisimova turned this match around, defeating Madison Keys 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, and will face Iga on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the semis.
Amanda can get her Wimbledon revenge by knocking Swiatek out of the WTA Finals.
Keys is done.
Amanda can get her Wimbledon revenge by knocking Swiatek out of the WTA Finals.
Keys is done.
Coco Gauff posted a Halloween photo of herself in a Freddy Krueger outfit on Instagram.
It's an old photo because she's kinda busy preparing for the WTA Finals.
It's an old photo because she's kinda busy preparing for the WTA Finals.
October 31, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Coco Gauff posted a Halloween photo of herself in a Freddy Krueger outfit on Instagram.
It's an old photo because she's kinda busy preparing for the WTA Finals.
It's an old photo because she's kinda busy preparing for the WTA Finals.
Loving the Steelers throwback uniforms.
October 26, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Loving the Steelers throwback uniforms.
I do Hario V60 and Chemex most mornings. Do Sowden softbrew and French Press sometimes. Also have espresso and Nespresso machines.
October 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I do Hario V60 and Chemex most mornings. Do Sowden softbrew and French Press sometimes. Also have espresso and Nespresso machines.
Started my birthday today on the beautiful Chain of Lakes.
October 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Started my birthday today on the beautiful Chain of Lakes.
Venus Williams and Grigor Dimitrov for Lacoste.
October 9, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Venus Williams and Grigor Dimitrov for Lacoste.
Leavitt recently turned 28. All that lying has her looking 40.
Meanwhile, the press was more aggressive with Karine Jean Pierre, 51.
Reminder, lying is bad for the skin.
Meanwhile, the press was more aggressive with Karine Jean Pierre, 51.
Reminder, lying is bad for the skin.
October 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Leavitt recently turned 28. All that lying has her looking 40.
Meanwhile, the press was more aggressive with Karine Jean Pierre, 51.
Reminder, lying is bad for the skin.
Meanwhile, the press was more aggressive with Karine Jean Pierre, 51.
Reminder, lying is bad for the skin.
Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame Jason Taylor's son Mason is a tight end for the Jets. Taylor's wife is the sister of Dolphins great Zach Thomas.
Imagine marrying your buddy's sister and your son looks more like your friend than you. 😆
Imagine marrying your buddy's sister and your son looks more like your friend than you. 😆
September 30, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame Jason Taylor's son Mason is a tight end for the Jets. Taylor's wife is the sister of Dolphins great Zach Thomas.
Imagine marrying your buddy's sister and your son looks more like your friend than you. 😆
Imagine marrying your buddy's sister and your son looks more like your friend than you. 😆
Good morning.
It’s National Coffee Day!
Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, and a host of other retailers are giving out free or discounted coffee products.
NBC’s Today Show provides a nice list.
www.today.com/food/drinks/...
It’s National Coffee Day!
Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, and a host of other retailers are giving out free or discounted coffee products.
NBC’s Today Show provides a nice list.
www.today.com/food/drinks/...
September 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Good morning.
It’s National Coffee Day!
Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, and a host of other retailers are giving out free or discounted coffee products.
NBC’s Today Show provides a nice list.
www.today.com/food/drinks/...
It’s National Coffee Day!
Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, and a host of other retailers are giving out free or discounted coffee products.
NBC’s Today Show provides a nice list.
www.today.com/food/drinks/...
With memes like this floating around, I can't believe this dude still has a job.
The Florida Gators have fallen from competing for National Championships to being the fourth or fifth-best team in the state.
😭
The Florida Gators have fallen from competing for National Championships to being the fourth or fifth-best team in the state.
😭
September 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM
With memes like this floating around, I can't believe this dude still has a job.
The Florida Gators have fallen from competing for National Championships to being the fourth or fifth-best team in the state.
😭
The Florida Gators have fallen from competing for National Championships to being the fourth or fifth-best team in the state.
😭
Canadian tennis star Félix Auger-Aliassime married his long-time girlfriend, Nina Ghaibi, in a lavish Moroccan ceremony.
Take a look at some of the pictures he posted on his Instagram account. I put a few together to create a Blue Sky wedding album. LOL.
Beautiful.
Take a look at some of the pictures he posted on his Instagram account. I put a few together to create a Blue Sky wedding album. LOL.
Beautiful.
September 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Canadian tennis star Félix Auger-Aliassime married his long-time girlfriend, Nina Ghaibi, in a lavish Moroccan ceremony.
Take a look at some of the pictures he posted on his Instagram account. I put a few together to create a Blue Sky wedding album. LOL.
Beautiful.
Take a look at some of the pictures he posted on his Instagram account. I put a few together to create a Blue Sky wedding album. LOL.
Beautiful.
Coco Gauff's kit against the blue Beijing court. Pretty.
September 26, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Coco Gauff's kit against the blue Beijing court. Pretty.