Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️🍓
Today’s tennis mood: Deep breathing, but also fascinated by today’s schedule.
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
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🎾 On tap: Today, the second round matches should wrap up (barring a slew of 5-hour matches), and there are some fascinating ones to look out for. Will former Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova challenge Wimbledon defending champ Iga Swiatek? What about a very in-form, grass-proficient Caty McNally against a cranky Elena Rybakina? How will Maya Joint handle the post-Serena win as she takes on Alex Eala? And what’s going to happen when Brandon Nakashima and Jan-Lennard Struff resume play in the fifth set? We’ll have to wait and see.
🎾 ICYMI:
Coco Gauff is an escape artist. And here’s what she had to say about it.
Even sans-Tsitsipops, Stefanos didn’t put up much of a fight against Novak Djokovic.
Jessica Pegula was very much in control against a tricky opponent in Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Naomi Osaka continues to look sharp — and we’re not talking fashion.
🎾 We’re going to the another desert: As expected, the WTA Tour Finals will no longer be in Saudi Arabia, effective this year. Instead, the year-end championships will be in Indian Wells. For this year, anyway.
What they said: “The Indian Wells Tennis Garden provides an exceptional stage for the WTA Finals,” WTA chair Valerie Camillo said in a statement. “From its world-class facilities and passionate fan base to its proven ability to deliver premier tennis events, the venue offers everything needed to showcase the very best of women’s tennis. We are excited to bring the WTA Finals to Southern California and continue building one of the premier championships in global sport.”
Yes, but: It’s an established venue with quite a tennis history. However, is there enough warning for people to make the trip? We’ve seen this problem arise again and again for the WTA Tour Finals. They’re probably banking on some Los Angeles tennis fans to make the drive. But that’s still a significant hike.
🎾 One to watch: Matteo Berrettini vs. Arthur Fils (2nd round - Wimbledon): There’s a reason this one’s on Centre Court. Watch this one for two explosive players on the comeback who know how to entertain. Expect power on power on power, but also some incredible shotmaking off balls that most players would have no business making. This match will likely be determined by how well each player serves.
The record: Arthur Fils leads the head-to-head record over Matteo Berrettini 1-0. However, that single win was the result of a retirement in Tokyo in 2024.
On the line: Both of these players feel like they’ve got something to prove as they make their way back from injury issues. And both have their best performances at a major at Wimbledon. That means neither one will accept that they will have an early exit.
🎾 🏆 🎤 YOUR CALL
(Yesterday’s poll results: 64% of you called for Mirra Andreeva to defeat Barbora Krejcikova. Krejcikova won 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.)
And that’s game.
