68 Across

NYT Daily • July 31, 2025

Tennis champ Mandlikova

Answer:

HANA

Hint:

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue \"Tennis champ Mandlikova\":\n\n*\"First name of a Czech tennis legend who won Wimbledon twice in the '80s.\"*\n\nThis hint provides context about the player's nationality and achievements without directly giving away the answer. It also narrows the focus to her first name, which is the key to solving the clue."]

Explanation:

The clue **"Tennis champ Mandlikova"** leads to the answer **"HANA"** through the following reasoning: - **Direct Reference**: Hana Mandlíková is a well-known former professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) who won four Grand Slam singles titles in the 1980s. - **First Name**: The clue specifies "Tennis champ Mandlikova," and the answer is her first name, **Hana**, which is a common crossword entry due to its brevity and familiarity in sports history. No complex wordplay or puns are involved here—it’s a straightforward reference to a notable figure in tennis. The solver simply needs to recognize the name of the tennis champion being referenced.

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