Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️☀️
Today’s tennis mood: Highly impressed and ready for what’s next.
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
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🎾 Holy comeback! That honor belongs to Leylah Fernandez, who pulled off the comeback of the week as the midnight hour approached in Stuttgart, rallying from 1-5 down in the third set against Zeynep Sonmez. The three-hour-plus endeavor ended in a scoreline of 6-7, 6-1, 7-6.
What she said: “At 1-5 I just thought, ‘OK, fight,’ Fernandez said after the match. “Hit 100 balls, put the balls in any which way, and I’m glad that it worked out.” Indeed, it did.
Next: Fernandez faces Elena Rybakina in the final quarterfinal match of the day.
🎾 Out: Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid, posting on social media, “Madrid, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete this year. I am continuing my recovery in order to be back soon. Hasta pronto!” Madrid marks the third consecutive tournament that Djokovic has withdrawn from since sustaining an “odd” right forearm injury in Indian Wells. The world number four has only played two tournaments so far this year — the Australian Open and Indian Wells.
🎾 One to watch: Joao Fonseca vs. Ben Shelton (Quarterfinals - ATP 500 - Munich): Watch this one for the entertainment value and for their first match-up.
The record: This is the first time Joao Fonseca and Ben Shelton will face each other.
On the line: Shelton has finalist points to defend from last year’s tournament in Munich, while Fonseca has none of those concerns. But, more than that, for both players, this match represents an opportunity to get more reps in on the red clay of Europe, which has been a less-than-optimal surface in their young careers.
🎾 🏆 🎤 YOUR CALL
(Yesterday’s poll results: 66% of you called for Corentin Moutet to defeat Lorenzo Musetti. Musetti won 6-3, 6-4.)
And that’s game.
