👋 Welcome back to The Daily Theory, our morning rundown to help you stay on top of your favorite sport. I’m Allen McDuffee, your guide to all things tennis.

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On tap today: Carlos Alcaraz confesses that he didn’t call Jannik Sinner, the U.S. Open puts in $800 million to transform Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gael Monfils takes on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, plus more in today’s tennis news.

Let’s tennis!

Three Points

🎾 No call, no problem: Much was made of Jannik Sinner’s first press conference back when he said he was surprised to hear from some players he did during his suspension — and a bit disappointed to not hear from some others. After their final in Rome, Alcaraz fessed up that he was one of the players who didn’t reach out, underscoring the complexities of how he felt versus what he did or didn’t do — and the complexities of a rivalry.

  • What he said: I mean, I can understand that he was surprised about some players who call him. I didn’t call him. I didn’t talk to him in (those) three months,” Alcaraz said during the press conference following his 7-6 (5), 6-1 win. “But it wasn’t about if I was agreed or not...Honestly, I can understand him that he was surprised about some other players who didn’t call him. It is in his rights to say it.”
  • What he also said: “I have to congratulate you because it’s amazing what you have done with your team. I’m not gonna get tired of saying how amazing a person, an athlete you are. Working really hard every day to make this possible, making your people proud,” Alcaraz said to Sinner during the trophy presentation.

🎾 Big money: On Monday, the USTA unveiled a new plan to overhaul Arthur Ashe Stadium for fans and players alike. The $800 million “reimagining” is the largest single investment in the U.S. Open’s history and will take place over the course of three years without interrupting play. It was well beyond time for the 30-year-old stadium to receive a revamp — especially as the Australian Open has made massive improvements to its facilities year after year over the last decade.

Per the U.S. Open, the improvements include:

  • A brand-new, visually striking Grand Entrance befitting the grandest stage in all of tennis.
  • A 40-percent increase to the promenade-level concourse, adding significantly more open space for fans at the promenade and loge levels.
  • Completely modernized concourses, with all-newly designed retail experiences and food and beverage spaces.
  • Significantly increased access to restrooms on all concourses, and more escalators and elevators to all levels.
  • An upward extension of the courtside-level bowl with 2,000 new seats, expanding the courtside experience from 3,000 to 5,000 seats.
  • All-new club and restaurant areas, with enhanced dining options and premium hospitality spaces.
  • Two new dedicated luxury suite levels.

🎾 Upping the game: Top British tennis players — including Katie Boulter and Jack Draper — signed a letter to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling on the British government to invest more money in tennis and sports facilities, The Athletic reports. They noted that Germany and France respectively operate three and five times more facilities, and the U.K. risks falling further behind.

  • What they said: “A new national network of community accessible covered tennis, padel and multi-sport hubs would support year-round play, and grow participation, particularly among underserved communities and disabled people. Delivering this network in partnership with the LTA would bring the benefits of sport to so many more people across the country.”

And, that’s game.

Watch This!

🔥 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Gael Monfils (1st round ATP 500 - Hamburg): Watch this one for pure entertainment value. This one will be pure power versus the artist. Expect Davidovich Fokina to go for his shots as usual, while Monfils hangs in points long enough until he can make his highlight reel shot. This match will likely come down to how healthy Monfils is and how well he serves.

  • The record: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina leads the head-to-head record over Gael Monfils, 1-0. That one match was a tough three-setter on the clay of Estoril, but it was back in 2019.
  • On the line: Monfils wants to appear in Paris next week with the comfort of having at least a couple of matches under his belt after withdrawing from Madrid. A win here would go a long way. Meanwhile, Davidovich Fokina is looking to regain the confidence he had when he made the semifinals of Monte Carlo. Bowing out in the first round would be detrimental.
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On The Radar

More tennis matches we’re monitoring today:

Strasbourg - WTA 500 (Clay)

  • Paula Badosa vs. Marie Bouzkova (2nd round)
  • Xinyu Wang vs. Elena Rybakina (2nd round)
  • Magda Linette vs. Rebecca Sramkova (2nd round)

Rabat - WTA 250 (Clay)

  • Anastasija Sevastova vs. Yasmine Kabbaj (1st round)
  • Maria Mateas vs. Elizabeth Mandlik (1st round)

Hamburg - ATP 500 (Clay)

  • Daniel Almaier vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (1st round)
  • Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs. Francisco Comesana (1st round)
  • Sebastian Baez vs. Camilo Ugo Carabelli (1st round)
  • Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs. Alexander Bublik (1st round)

Geneva - ATP 250 (Clay)

  • Karue Sell vs. Fabian Marozsan (1st round)
  • Arthur Rinderknech vs. Miomir Kecmanovic (1st round)
  • Arthur Cazaux vs. Hubert Hurkacz (1st round)
  • Karen Khachanov vs. Kei Nishikori (2nd round)
  • Sebastian Ofner vs. Nuno Borges (2nd round)

📺 Learn how to watch today’s action over at Tennis Watchers.

Read, Watch, Listen

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For real-time match commentary and conversation, follow Court Theory on Bluesky.