👋 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.

New to Court Theory? Sign up for free!

On tap today: ESPN spins up new streaming plans, the ATP makes its public case, the Menendez brothers get re-sentenced, Carlos Alcaraz takes on Jack Draper, plus more in today’s tennis news.

Let’s tennis!

Three Points

🎾 ESPN goes direct: On Tuesday, ESPN announced it will launch a new service in the fall that will roll all of its channels and services into one app. It’s an advantage to sports fans who wish to access the channels without getting locked into a cable or streaming package, which is currently the only option. The new service, simply called ESPN, comes at a $30 per month price point. The company says it will offer a special launch bundle with Hulu and Disney+.

  • What about ESPN+?: That will get repackaged as a different tier within the new app at $12 a month.
  • What it means for tennis: Tennis fans who only pick up ESPN+ for the majors likely won’t have to worry about this until Australian Open 2026.

🎾 ATP goes direct, too: In a new strategy, the ATP is making its case for the structure in pro tennis by speaking directly to fans on social media — an apparent reaction to the PTPA’s success in making its grievances heard by millions of tennis fans around the world.

  • Speaking directly to the camera: In a new YouTube video, ATP Chairman and CEO Andrea Gaudenzi speaks for five minutes about the governance structure of the ATP, claiming the organization is dedicated to the players and that they are equal partners with the tournaments.
  • Wrong: This, of course, isn’t true, or things wouldn’t be in the state they’re in. But this strategy is a serious departure from the one of arrogance that the ATP has attempted thus far. Is it too late? We’ll see.

🎾 Menendez brothers re-sentenced: Erik and Lyle Menendez were re-sentenced on Tuesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole, paving the way for a possible release after more than three decades of incarceration for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. In recent years, as their story has been retold in multiple movies and series on streaming services, new generations have learned about the prominence of tennis in their personal stories, as well as their trial.

  • “Fun” fact: Just days before the Menendez brothers committed the murders, Erik played a friend of yours truly at the USTA Boys’ National Championships at Kalamazoo. He said: “Everything seemed fine.” 😬

And, that’s game.

What They Said

I don’t expect many people to be cheering for me, but that’s okay. I played college tennis, so I’m used to it.

-Peyton Stearns on facing Jasmine Paolini on her home turf in the next round.

Watch This!

🔥 Jack Draper vs. Carlos Alcaraz (Quarterfinals ATP 1000 - Rome): The two 1000-level titleholders this clay season facing off in the quarterfinals of the last 1000 clay tournament before Roland-Garros? Yes, please. Expect an all-out war between these two in which they pull out all the stops. That could mean bad news for their bodies once they leave the court, but that won’t stop them. They’re looking to set the tone for Paris.

  • The record: Carlos Alcaraz leads the head-to-head record over Jack Draper, 3-2. But that record comes with some serious qualifiers. First, Draper won their most recent meeting at Indian Wells this year. Second, two of the three Alcaraz wins were by retirement. And, third, today will be their first meeting on clay.
  • On the line: Alcaraz needs a boost of confidence going into Roland-Garros by taking down a top-five opponent — something he hasn’t done yet this clay season. On the flip side, going out in the quarterfinals doesn’t set up the French Open defending champion in a confident manner. Meanwhile, Draper is looking to back up his Madrid title the best he can. A quarterfinal run isn’t bad, but it’s not what he’s after.
💬
For real-time match commentary and conversation, follow Court Theory on Bluesky.

On The Radar

More tennis matches we’re monitoring today:

Rome - WTA 1000 (Clay)

  • Coco Gauff vs. Mirra Andreeva (Quarterfinals)
  • Aryna Sabalenka vs. Qinwen Zheng (Quarterfinals)

Rome - ATP 1000 (Clay)

  • Lorenzo Musetti vs. Alexander Zverev (Quarterfinals)
  • Jaume Munar vs. Casper Ruud (4th round)

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

Read, Watch, Listen

Thanks For Reading The Daily Theory!

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