Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️☀️🗽

Today’s tennis mood: Refreshed and ready for the final slam of the year.

Let’s tennis!
-Allen

🎾 On tap: It’s Sunday. It’s opening day at the U.S. Open. So, it’s only right we’ve got a weekend edition of The Daily Theory, even if it’s a somewhat abbreviated edition. There are some fascinating matches on the docket today that are raising some interesting questions. Will Daniil Medvedev find form today, or will today’s match against Hugo Gaston seal the decision to play pickleball? Can Venus Williams put up a fight in the all-American prime-time match against Sofia Kenin? What form will Alexander Bublik be in after skipping the whole hard court season? What kind of shape is Novak Djokovic in?

🎾 Perspective matters: You may have heard that Mary Carillo and Roger Federer have been inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. But, chances are, on Saturday evening you had other plans. But you won’t want to miss What Carillo had to say, nor Federer, during their remarks. In an era of hot takes and quick clips, I cherish perspective more than ever. And something tells me, Court Theory readers, you do, too.

🎾 This week: It’s been a busy one. I’ve been running back and forth between New York and Philadelphia for interviews, meetings, parties, and, yes, even some tennis. I’m catching my breath and listening back to interviews with Tereza Valentova, Lois Boisson, Zeynep Sonmez, Viktorija Golubic, and Camila Osorio. You may have noticed a theme. And that only seems fitting after a week of women’s pro tennis returning to Philly in more than two decades. It’s been a week of celebrating women’s sports in this town — and I’ll have more to share on that front soon.

🎾 One to watch: Lois Boisson vs. Emma Navarro (1st round - U.S. Open): Watch this one for how each player will push the other one. Boisson will use a combination of French finesse and sheer power to lull Navarro until it’s time to rap a forehand. Meanwhile, Navarro will use her backboard-like counterpunching skills to see just how often Boisson can pull off those big shots. Given recent form (aside from Boisson’s retirement in Philadelphia this week), neither one exactly has an edge. This will likely be determined by who handles the big stage better.

And that’s game.