Serena adorns New York Times Mag, Sports Illustrated covers

Fourhand is the Daily Spin's occasional roundup of various hits and misses on tour.

DANGEROUS FLOATER  In the latest round proving that the tennis news cycle moves on Serena Time, the No. 1 Williams' visage adorns the coming week's cover of The New York Times Magazine.

It's the publication's U.S. Open issue, and writer Claudia Rankine sizes up Serena's opportunity to display "black excellence" yet again. "The word 'win' finds its roots in both joy and grace. Serena’s grace comes because she won’t be forced into stillness; she won’t accept those racist projections onto her body without speaking back; she won’t go gently into the white light of victory."

Elsewhere in the piece, Williams says of Maria Sharapova, "her nonrival rival ... 'I'm happy for her, because she worked hard, too. There is enough at the table for everyone.'" She speaks about this as it relates to their respective positions among Forbes' top-earning female athletes.

Related: Serena has also landed the latest *Sports Illustrated* cover, no doubt hoping to not fall prey to that pub's infamous "curse" on cover models.  Serena previously appeared on SI's cover in July 2010,  May 2003,  and September 1999.

It's worth noting, perhaps sadly, that SI's wire story about Serena's cover comes with this caveat: "All subscribers and newsstands in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Eastern Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North and South Dakota will receive a regional cover featuring the Chicago Cubs, while all other locations will receive the Serena Williams cover."

CAREFUL WHISPERS  At the Connecticut Open in New Haven, Daily Spin friend Nick McCarvel is conducting some quirky little games with the likes of Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova, and Lucie Safarova. Here are their performances in a wacky "triathlon"-styled event:

Before that, the trio of WTA stars did their best in a "whisper challenge." In Safarova's own words, "Well, I tried."

ICYMI  Simon Cambers wrote a piece for *ESPN* that should not be forgotten even as the U.S. Open's frenetic pace picks up soon. He addresses the psychological and emotional struggles of Mardy Fish, Petra Kvitova, erstwhile WTA up-and-comer Rebecca Marino, and more in the important story about active and past players coming clean about doubts, depression, and other mental challenges outside the mere lines of tennis courts.

FLYING HIGH  Sure, Nike has revived Pete Sampras' classic Air Oscillate kicks, but it has done so with a flashy "safari" colorway in tow, a fun alternative to the pre-vintage shoe.

BONUSES  You can only be pulled into reading a *Vanity Fair* piece that begins with Sampras asking, "You're gonna bring that shit up?"  Meanwhile, from GQ in the UK, "Andre Agassi's guide to life."  It's worth noting that Agassi recently launched his Bilt by Agassi & Reyes fitness brand alongside longtime trainer Gil Reyes.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9. News tips gladly accepted. Serving tips kindly refused.