👋 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: Novak Djokovic moves into the semifinals, Iga Swiatek takes on Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff faces Lois Boisson, plus more in tennis news today.

Let’s tennis!

Three Points

🎾 Far from done: Novak Djokovic came into Roland-Garros intending to make a statement after a less-than-stellar 2025 season. He’s now done that by defeating Alexander Zverev on Wednesday to move into the semifinals.

  • What he said: “It’s a proven testament to myself that I can and to others that I can still play on the highest level,” the 38-year-old said. “This is where I kind of lock in and really give my best.” He added: “It’s all about Grand Slams for me, trying to raise the level and play my best tennis at these four tournaments, and this is what I have been managing to do.”
  • And what he said: “He’s still beating the best of the best,” Zverev said after the match. “So I think everybody needs to respect that.” He added: “He’s won 24 of these things. I think, yes, I expected him to be able to play like this...I think it was very, very high level from him.”
  • Next: Djokovic faces Jannik Sinner in the semifinals on Friday.

🎾 Future pledges: The Lawn Tennis Association has promised equal prize money for women at the event at The Queen’s Club and the tournament at Eastbourne by 2029. The women’s event, which returns after a 50-year absence, has a $1.4 million total purse, but it’s half that of the men’s event at $2.9 million.

  • What they said: “We are making significant increases this year to the women’s prize money at Queens and Eastbourne and want to achieve equal prize money as soon as possible,” said Scott Lloyd, the LTA CEO. “The LTA is committed to growing women’s tennis, both at professional and grass-roots level and this move is an important part of that commitment.”
  • Recently: For women on the tour, this promise will sound familiar. Organizers of the Italian Open made an equal prize money pledge that was set to take effect this year. Update: it didn’t happen.

🎾 Missing Mary: Mary Pierce, the last French woman to win Roland-Garros, was set to be honored between the women’s semifinal matches on Thursday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the occasion. But Pierce cannot be there this week “due to personal reasons,” organizers said on Wednesday. Hopefully, it’s not a serious matter.