👋 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: Petra Kvitova is wrapping up an incredible career, Alexander Bublik ends Jannik Sinner’s winning streak, Kei Nishikori deals with getting caught, the bizarre Andrea Bocelli-Jannik Sinner collab nobody saw coming, Carlos Alcaraz takes on Arthur Rinderknech, plus more in today’s tennis news.

Let’s tennis!

Three Points

🎾 The end of a career: Two-time Wimbledon champ and former world number two Petra Kvitova announced on Thursday she will retire at the end of this year’s U.S. Open. The 35-year-old returned to the tour earlier this year, but has struggled to find the form she aimed for.

  • What she said: “While no such decision is ever easy to make, for me this is a happy moment!” Kvitova posted on social media. “I will leave the sport with the biggest smile on my face — the same smile you’ve seen from me on and off court throughout my whole career.”
  • Recently: Kvitova returned to the tour earlier this year after having a baby, noting she had low expectations and unsure how long she would remain on tour. “I tried to explain to everybody that I came back because I love it,” Kvitova said at the time. “I miss tennis, I love tennis itself since I was four. So I think the love for the sport took me back to tennis. I missed the hard work, the sweat, that’s why I’m here.”
  • Next: Kvitova accepted a wild card for the main draw at Wimbledon.

🎾 The end of a streak: Alexander Bublik pulled off the upset in a wild day of tennis on Thursday by taking out Jannik Sinner in three sets in Halle. The win ended the world number one’s 49-match winning streak.

  • What he said: “I kept serving,” Bublik said, referring to his approach to the match. “I tried to be clutch. I tried to get back whatever I can. I mean he’s an unbelievable player. I was not thinking I could beat him.” He added: “I stayed there. Tried to return as much as I could. Serve aces so the ball doesn’t come back. That worked really well.”
  • That number: Bublik served huge, thanks to...well, a huge serve...but also a closed roof. In all, he tallied 15 aces. However, he earned many more service winners.
  • Recently: There has been a noticeable change in Bublik this spring. More composure. More effort. And more clear-eyed intention when he steps on the court. It showed during his quarterfinal run at Roland-Garros. In defeating fifth-seeded Jack Draper on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, he said: “You know, sometimes in life there is only one chance, and I had a feeling like that was mine. I couldn’t let it slip. So, standing here, this is the best moment of my life. Period.”

🎾 Off track in more ways than one: Kei Nishikori has issued an apology to all of his supporters (and his family, by the way) for an affair, according to Japanese media. The 35-year-old, who was recently mounting a comeback and headed to the top 50, was recently photographed leaving the apartment of a model he has reportedly been carrying on an affair with, dating back to 2022.

  • Why it matters: Nishikori married Mai Yamaguchi in 2020. They have two children together.
  • What he said: “I deeply apologize for causing discomfort to everyone who supports me: tennis fans, associations, sponsors, and other related parties, and for their concern and inconvenience due to my dishonest behavior. Additionally, I deeply regret making my wife and children feel hurt.”
  • Notable: Business first and family second, it seems.
  • Next: “Moving forward, in order to fulfill my role as a responsible member of society, I will focus solely on tennis competitions and achieving results. We will do everything possible to regain their trust.”
  • Recently: Nishikori retired in Geneva with an injury and has pulled out of every tournament since then, including Wimbledon.

🎾 Didn’t see one this coming: Yes, the Andrea Bocelli-Jannik Sinner thing is apparently real. 🤔