Tennis champion finally quit hard work

Archive answer — July 27, 2026

15 Across

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“GRAFT” is the published 5-letter fill for 15 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

Guardian Cryptic Crossword

This clue’s Monday, July 27, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal or hide a letter.

Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

14 clues
  1. 1Extremely boring oldster is young after treatment
  2. 9Woman needs a large beer delivered
  3. 10Less smooth piece of sugar? That is right
  4. 11Warning sound from half grey bird
  5. 12Threatening little devil with termination
  6. 13Democrat, very eager, occasionally pure rabble-rouser
  7. 14PM, or less important office
  8. 15Tennis champion finally quit hard workGRAFT
  9. 17US state’s old university is covered in creeper
  10. 20Branch manager may put this up for children’s play
  11. 22What one can get from really rich poem
  12. 23Better prepared to fail in the end
  13. 24The last to leave doomed ship, a drama queen
  14. 25Financial claim as tense test drive crashed

Down

14 clues
  1. 1Anticlimactic account of oversexed pet?
  2. 2What to wear in college class
  3. 3Cabin shutter so easy to pick up?
  4. 4What you are doing is very caring, nothing omitted
  5. 5Sink back asleep, shattered after run
  6. 6The old folks land
  7. 7Inquisitively touring island, while playing loud music?
  8. 8Grim from the start, hearing cantor messing up old music
  9. 14Stole time for fixing Christmas decoration
  10. 16Declare period of history unexceptional
  11. 17Museum cooled at last, given openings for air
  12. 18Left you to tidy up
  13. 19Missing some gear, rang emporium to order
  14. 21Raise anchor: I contributed

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Extremely boring oldster is young after treatment

    Answer: SOULDESTROYING

  2. 9. Woman needs a large beer delivered

    Answer: ABIGAIL

  3. 10. Less smooth piece of sugar? That is right

    Answer: LUMPIER

  4. 11. Warning sound from half grey bird

    Answer: GROWL

  5. 12. Threatening little devil with termination

    Answer: IMPENDING

  6. 13. Democrat, very eager, occasionally pure rabble-rouser

    Answer: DEMAGOGUE

  7. 14. PM, or less important office

    Answer: MAYOR

  8. 15. Tennis champion finally quit hard work

    Answer: GRAFT

  9. 17. US state’s old university is covered in creeper

    Answer: LOUISIANA

  10. 20. Branch manager may put this up for children’s play

    Answer: TREEHOUSE

  11. 22. What one can get from really rich poem

    Answer: LYRIC

  12. 23. Better prepared to fail in the end

    Answer: READIER

  13. 24. The last to leave doomed ship, a drama queen

    Answer: TITANIA

  14. 25. Financial claim as tense test drive crashed

    Answer: VESTEDINTEREST

Down

  1. 1. Anticlimactic account of oversexed pet?

    Answer: SHAGGYDOGSTORY

  2. 2. What to wear in college class

    Answer: UNIFORM

  3. 3. Cabin shutter so easy to pick up?

    Answer: DEADLIGHT

  4. 4. What you are doing is very caring, nothing omitted

    Answer: SOLVING

  5. 5. Sink back asleep, shattered after run

    Answer: RELAPSE

  6. 6. The old folks land

    Answer: YEMEN

  7. 7. Inquisitively touring island, while playing loud music?

    Answer: NOISILY

  8. 8. Grim from the start, hearing cantor messing up old music

    Answer: GREGORIANCHANT

  9. 14. Stole time for fixing Christmas decoration

    Answer: MISTLETOE

  10. 16. Declare period of history unexceptional

    Answer: AVERAGE

  11. 17. Museum cooled at last, given openings for air

    Answer: LOUVRED

  12. 18. Left you to tidy up

    Answer: UNEATEN

  13. 19. Missing some gear, rang emporium to order

    Answer: ARRANGE

  14. 21. Raise anchor: I contributed

    Answer: HOIST

The answer to “Tennis champion finally quit hard work” in the Guardian Cryptic Crossword is GRAFT — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for July 27, 2026 at 15-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Tennis champion finally quit hard work” answer

GRAFT(5 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does GRAFT fit?

GRAFT is the published 5-letter answer at 15-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Tennis champion finally quit hard work” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Tennis champion finally quit hard work”?

The answer is GRAFT.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: GRAFT.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the Guardian Cryptic Crossword for July 27, 2026 at 15-Across.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the Guardian Cryptic answers page for July 27, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

Skip to main content