Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️
Today’s tennis mood: Super eager but also a bit under the weather (so please forgive the brevity of today’s newsletter).
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
🎾 Draper down: Jack Draper announced on Wednesday that he will be skipping the Italian Open and Roland-Garros to take care of his ongoing right knee tendon injury. The news is yet another injury setback for the 24-year-old, who was at the top of his game less than a year ago.
What he said: “My knee is on the mend and I’ve started back hitting balls, but unfortunately I have been advised not to play Roland Garros,” Draper posted on Instagram. “As gutting as it is to miss another Slam, the advice is not to rush straight back into playing five-set tennis on clay. Off the back of the arm injury I sustained last year, I’ve been restricted with my training and by giving myself the time to heal and build, I can be the player I want to be out there once again. See you soon!”
The numbers: The withdrawals mean Draper will miss out on the 1150 points he amassed during a successful clay season last year, which will put him outside the top 100 in a matter of weeks.
Next: As of now, Draper plans to return for the grass season, following Roland-Garros.
🎾 One to watch: Hailey Baptiste vs. Mirra Andreeva (Semifinals - WTA 1000 - Madrid): Watch this one because we can’t stop now! After taking out three higher seeds, including world number one Aryna Sabalenka, Baptiste deserves our full attention. Meanwhile, Andreeva has had an easier path, but it’s been filled with plenty of difficulties — including some self-inflicted ones. Who wins this one? Why not Hailey Baptiste?
The record: Mirra Andreeva leads the head-to-head record over Hailey Baptiste 1-0 after winning at Wimbledon in 2025.
On the line: For both players, this is about a shot at a 1000 title. But it carries extra weight for Baptiste, given it’s the first opportunity in her career.
🎾 🏆 🎤 YOUR CALL
(Yesterday’s poll results: 55% of you called for Rafael Jodar to defeat Jannik Sinner. Sinner won 6-2, 7-6.)
And that’s game.
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Now booking: Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, Cincinnati & more!
Matches we’re monitoring today:
Madrid - WTA 1000 (Clay)
Hailey Baptiste vs. Mirra Andreeva (Semifinals)
Marta Kostyuk vs. Anastasia Potapova (Semifinals)
Madrid - ATP 1000 (Clay)
Casper Ruud vs. Alexander Blockx (Quarterfinals)
Flavio Cobolli vs. Alexander Zverev (Quarterfinals)
📺 Learn how to watch today’s action over at Tennis Watchers.
💬 For real-time match commentary and conversation, follow Court Theory on Bluesky.
The prize money rules for college tennis players have been completely rewritten, thanks to a class action lawsuit settlement.
Rafael Jodar’s dream run came to an end, but Jannik Sinner is highly impressed by the 19-year-old.
The psychology of winning streaks, according to the world’s top players.
Anastasia Potapova may be lucky, but she ain’t no loser.
Arthur Fils is having quite a tournament in Madrid.
Marta Kostyuk remains undefeated this clay season.
Flavio Cobolli shares the kind of life he has with his longtime girlfriend.
