👋 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: Andy Murray’s home at Wimbledon, Holger Rune’s online garage sale, burnt up in Mallorca, Wimbledon qualifying disappointments, plus more in today’s tennis news.
Let’s tennis!
Four Points
🎾 Standing tall: Wimbledon is planning to unveil a statue of Andy Murray to commemorate his achievements at the tournament and more broadly in just two years, according to the All England Club.
- What they said: “We looked at Rafa Nadal having that sort of plaque unveiled to him at Roland Garros which was all very special. We thought: ‘What do we want for Andy?’” All England Club chairperson Debbie Jevans said on the Ainslie + Ainslie Performance People podcast. “When he won, it was just so special, so special for him, so special for us as a club. Now he’s retired, we’re very much looking at how we can embrace him, for him to be a part of the club in the long term.”
- The big picture: The plan is for the statue to be unveiled during the 150th anniversary celebrations of the first Wimbledon championships in 2027.
- Not the first: The last time an Andy Murray statue was revealed to the world, it didn’t go so well.
- Intriguing: With Rafa Nadal’s commemoration at Roland-Garros this year (in addition to the statue that they revealed while he was still competing), fans of Roger Federer wondered if the Maestro would receive some sort of commemoration at Wimbledon. It doesn’t seem likely, leaving Federer (and probably Novak Djokovic) without a grand tennis landmark.
🎾 Open for business: Some players are launching their own skin care lines. Others are designing their own fashion for the court. Holger Rune? He’s selling off his used gear on a new website he’s launched that includes signed match-worn clothing, smashed rackets, and books.
- What he said: “To everyone who follows my journey, watches my matches, sends messages, and supports me—this is for you,” Rune posted on X. “Your support means everything. Launching this shop is my way of sharing a bit more of my journey with you.” He added: “You’ll find personally signed gear — from books, rackets, and posters to tees, caps, and more. It’s also a creative space where I’ll be sharing unique products in the future that I use in practice, during matches, and off the court.”
- The bottom line: The website says a portion of sales will go to charity. “When you shop with us, you’re also supporting a good cause. Part of the profits support selected charities close to Holger Runes [sic] heart.” Neither percentages nor the charities were specified.
- Noteworthy: Many items have already sold out, with the promise of more to be added.
🎾 Tore up from the floor up: If you caught any of the ATP 250 event in Mallorca on Monday, you may have noticed that the grass on center court was a little worse for wear. On day one. That’s no doubt in part because of a string of 90-plus degree days that will continue throughout the week. Will there be any grass left for the final? Magic 8 Ball says: Outlook not so good.
🎾 Stop looking: If you’re like me, each year you spend too much time looking for a specific Wimbledon qualifying match on ESPN+ and give up because you can’t find it. This is your reminder to stop searching. ESPN+ has one stream, and either the match you want is on it or it isn’t. It’s not clear whether the problem is facility limitations at Roehampton, a decision Wimbledon has made, or ESPN+ under-delivering, but this is a tradition that must come to an end.
And, that’s game.
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On The Radar
More tennis matches we’re monitoring today:
Bad Homburg - WTA 500 (Grass)
- Jessica Pegula vs. Katerina Siniakova (2nd round)
- Naomi Osaka vs. Emma Navarro (2nd round)
- Ashlyn Krueger vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia (1st round)
Eastbourne - WTA 250 (Grass)
- Harriet Dart vs. Barbora Krejcikova (1st round)
- Ann Li vs. Emma Raducanu (1st round)
- Sonay Kartal vs. Jelena Ostapenko (1st round)
- Mingge Xu vs. Peyton Stearns (1st round)
- Sofia Kenin vs. Kimberly Birrell (1st round)
Eastbourne - ATP 250 (Grass)
- Billy Harris vs. Cameron Norrie (1st round)
- Jacob Fearnley vs. Flavio Cobolli (1st round)
- Alexander Bublik vs. Francisco Comesana (1st round)
- Luciano Darderi vs. Marcos Giron (1st round)
Mallorca - ATP 250 (Grass)
- Ethan Quinn vs. Tallon Griekspoor (2nd round)
- Arthur Rinderknech vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (2nd round)
- Bernard Tomic vs. Rinky Hijikata (1st round)
- Gabriel Diallo vs. Laslo Djere (2nd round)
📺 Learn how to watch today’s action over at Tennis Watchers.
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Read, Watch, Listen
- Jasmine Paolini reaches the top five in singles and doubles.
- Novak Djokovic lands at Wimbledon with a target on Roger Federer’s record.
- Joao Fonseca logs his first grass court match win.
- Emma Raducanu praises Wimbledon for blocking her stalker.
- Over at Nothing Major, the fellas get down to business ahead of Wimbledon.
