Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️
Today’s tennis mood: Invigorated + spicy.
We’re into the third round in Melbourne now, with just five seeds falling out in the second. We’ve got one insistent hanger-on in Stan Wawrinka, who played a dramatic second-round match. And some other kinds of drama unfolded on the other courts as well.
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
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🎾 Stanimal!: Stan Wawrinka, playing in his last Australian Open, isn’t going home yet! The 40-year-old outlasted Arthur Gea in a four-and-a-half-hour, five-set thriller, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6. He moves on to the third round in Melbourne.
What he said: “As I told you, it’s my last Australian Open, so I’m trying to last as long as possible,” he said, telling a crowd that was almost entirely behind the Swiss veteran. “Not only I had fun, but you gave me so much energy. I’m not young anymore, so I need the extra.”
Recovery plans: “I’ll pick up a beer,” Wawrinka said. “I deserve one!”
Next: Wawrinka will face Taylor Fritz in the third round.
🎾 Icy: Sorana Cirstea and Naomi Osaka had a frosty handshake at the net after the Romanian lost in a close three-set battle and called into question Osaka’s sportsmanship. But Osaka wasn’t having it, and said in the on-court interview, “Apparently a lot of ‘c’mons’ that she was angry about, but whatever,” Osaka said. “I mean, I tried to play well, I tried my best. She’s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open, so, OK, sorry she was mad about it.” In her press conference, Osaka apologized for “disrespecting” Cirstea with those comments.
🎾 Win Elina Svitolina’s racket: We’ve partnered with Diadem to give away one of Elina Svitolina’s stunning new rackets: The Elina Svitolina Signature Axis 98. The racket giveaway is for Court Theory Plus members who have signed up for a yearly subscription. And, if you’re a monthly subscriber, Diadem’s got you covered, too, with a backpack filled with gear coming in at a $150+ value. If you’re already a Court Theory Plus member, you’re automatically entered. Upgrade Now!
🎾 One to watch: Frances Tiafoe vs. Alex de Minaur (3rd round - Australian Open - Melbourne): Watch this one for the pure excitement: Alex de Minaur on the biggest home turf stage, plus Frances Tiafoe, who always puts on a show. Add to that, it’s always a battle every time they play.
The record: Alex de Minaur leads the head-to-head record over Frances Tiafoe 4-1. He won their most recent meeting in Toronto last year, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
On the line: De Minaur has made it clear that he wants to win the Australian Open; he also has the pressure of defending last year’s quarterfinal points. Meanwhile, Tiafoe wants to prove that the changes he said he’s made are real and are taking hold.
🎾 🏆 🎤 YOUR CALL
(Yesterday’s poll results: 80% of you called for Lorenzo Musetti to take down Lorenzo Sonego. Musetti won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.)
And that’s game.
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Matches we’re monitoring today:
Melbourne - Australian Open (Hard)
Women’s matches
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Anastasia Potapova (3rd round)
Coco Gauff vs. Hailey Baptiste (3rd round)
Elina Svitolina vs. Diana Shnaider (3rd round)
Victoria Mboko vs. Clara Tauson (3rd round)
Iva Jovic vs. Jasmine Paolini (3rd round)
Zeynap Sonmez vs. Yulia Putintseva (3rd round)
Karolina Muchova vs. Magda Linette (3rd round)
Men’s matches
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Corentin Moutet (3rd round)
Alexander Bublik vs. Tomas Etcheverry (3rd round)
Tommy Paul vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (3rd round)
Learner Tien vs. Nuno Borges (3rd round)
Francisco Cerundolo vs. Andrey Rublev (3rd round)
📺 Learn how to watch today’s action over at Tennis Watchers.
💬 For real-time match commentary and conversation, follow Court Theory on Bluesky.
Court Theory friend James from Tick Tock Tennis has recently launched a newsletter (appropriately named Tick Tock Tennis Daily Intel) that keeps the tennis facts fresh with a different theme for each day of the week. This is your sign to subscribe!
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