Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️☀️
Today’s tennis mood: Curious with hints of befuddled.
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
🎾 On tap: Today is a day of curiosities more than anything else.
In Memphis, three of the four matches feature American women: Caty McNally, Peyton Stearns, and Sloane Stephens.
It’s quarterfinals day in Los Cabos, and Coleman Wong vs Jenson Brooksby should be quite interesting. But it’s Cameron Norrie facing <checks notes> Bernard Tomic that has us scratching our heads, given he withdrew from the final round of qualifying, got into the main draw as a lucky loser, won the fastest match of 2026, and then defeated world number 26 Karen Khachanov last night 6-2, 6-4. 🤯
And, as for Washington, DC, Brandon Nakashima should be lots of flat banging from the baseline. Alex de Minaur is taking on his mentor’s son. And Ben Shelton, after eking out a win over a lefty with a huge serve in the first round against Martin Damm, has to face another lefty with a massive serve in Ugo Humbert.
🎾 Programming note: Court Theory is heading to MTL to cover the ATP 1000 in Montreal. If you’re going to be in attendance for the National Bank Open, hit reply and let me know so we can meet!
🎾 One to watch: Alex de Minaur vs. Cruz Hewitt (2nd round - ATP 500 - Washington): Watch this one sheerly for the curiosity of it all. Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of Lleyton Hewitt, is taking on one of his mentors and a player he’s looked up to his whole childhood and adolescence in his first-ever ATP Tour-level event. Meanwhile, de Minaur is not only the top seed and defending champ, but he’s also facing the child of his Davis Cup captain. Will there be a bit of a wobble? We’ll see!
The record: This will be the first time Cruz Hewitt and Alex de Minaur face each other.
🎾 🏆 🎤 YOUR CALL
(Yesterday’s poll results: 58% of you called for Leylah Fernandez to defeat Alex Eala. Eala won 6-2, 7-6.)
And that’s game.
