Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️
…or at least it was when I started writing this newsletter. Ever have one of those days where you knock over your coffee, walk out to a flat tire, and your work tech isn’t teching? That’s how today started here at Court Theory HQ.
But! Do you know what saved the day? Tennis. I decided to let the universe work itself out while I kept my plans to hit the court. Exercise + sunshine + a few laughs = a much better afternoon. And that’s why you’re getting The Daily Theory now.
Today’s tennis mood: Redemption + anticipation.
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
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🎾 Record setter: Venus Williams set another record on Tuesday. Williams, 45, played Tatjana Maria, 38, and their combined age of 84 years and one day made for the highest combined age in a main draw match in WTA history. Certainly, Venus would have liked to have been the winner while making history. Unfortunately, she wasn’t. Instead, she was the victim of a thousand Maria slices, losing 6-4, 6-3.
🎾 Coming soon!: That would be a new documentary series on Andre Agassi. Chris Smith, who has directed documentaries including Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, Wham!, and Devo, is set to direct the series for Apple TV. It will be the streamer’s second tennis documentary series after Boom! Boom! about Boris Becker.
Noteworthy: Justin Gimelstob, who has placed himself in every Agassi endeavor for the last few years, will be an executive producer.
🎾 One to watch: Marcos Giron vs. Alex Michelsen (2nd round - ATP 250 - Auckland): Two American hard court players facing off? Yes, please. Each time these two play, it’s a battle. Expect heavy hitting off the ground from both, with each of them trying to spread the court for a short ball to come forward. This match will likely come down to how well they serve.
The record: Marcos Giron leads the head-to-head record over Alex Michelsen 2-0.
On the line: This match is about pride, bragging rights, and Australian Open prep.
🎾🏆🎤 YOUR CALL
(Yesterday’s poll results: 100% of you voted that Iva Jovic would defeat Janice Tjen. Indeed, she did! She won 6-0, 6-1. 😅)
And that’s game.
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Matches we’re monitoring today:
Adelaide - WTA 500 (Hard)
Tereza Valentova vs. Madison Keys (2nd round)
Maya Joint vs. Ajla Tomljanovic (2nd round)
Diana Shnaider vs. Katerina Siniakova (2nd round)
Yulia Putintseva vs. Emma Navarro (2nd round)
Marketa Vondrousova vs. Kimberly Birrell (2nd round)
Hobart - WTA 250 (Hard)
Emma Raducanu vs. Camila Osorio (1st round)
Iva Jovic vs. Renata Zarazua (2nd round)
Peyton Stearns vs. Olga Danilovic (2nd round)
Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs. Ann Li (2nd round)
Adelaide - ATP 250 (Hard)
Aleksandar Vukic vs. Andrea Vavassori (2nd round)
Thanasi Kokkinakis vs. Valentin Vacherot (2nd round)
Reilly Opelka vs. Tommy Paul (2nd round)
Tallon Griekspoor vs. Ugo Humbert (2nd round)
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Rinky Hijikata (2nd round)
Auckland - ATP 250 (Hard)
Ben Shelton vs. Francisco Comesana (2nd round)
Cameron Norrie vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (2nd round)
Fabian Marozsan vs. Casper Ruud (2nd round)
Jenson Brooksby vs. Sebastian Baez (2nd round)
Nuno Borges vs. Eliot Spizzirri (2nd round)
Melbourne - Australian Open Qualifying (Hard)
There are truly too many good matches to list in this space, so go check out today’s full schedule. But there are a few we here at Court Theory HQ just won’t miss.
Nishesh Basavareddy vs. Sebastian Ofner (2nd round)
Tomas Barrios Vera vs. Michael Zheng (2nd round)
Lucia Bronzetti vs. Mary Stoiana (2nd round)
Elena Pridakina vs. Lilli Tagger (2nd round)
📺 Learn how to watch today’s action over at Tennis Watchers.
💬 For real-time match commentary and conversation, follow Court Theory on Bluesky.
The BBC has the story of how one match-fixer is trying to rebuild his tennis career after getting caught as a teen nearly a decade ago.
On Served, Holger Rune gives the honest interview he’s become known for.
Victoria Mboko is blowing through all expectations, including her own, as she continues her steady rise.
And on Insider Tennis Club, Caroline Garcia talks with Lorenzo Musetti.
If you’ve never seen Andrea Vavassori play singles, here’s why you should.
In the style report: a hint about tennis fashion from another court.
Auckland defending champ Gael Monfils goes out in the first round in his last year on tour.
Solana Sierra had a breakout year in 2025. Now, she’s about to play in her first Australian Open main draw.
Aleksandar Vukic stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas in Adelaide and showed his appreciation for a packed home crowd.
Nick Kyrgios at Kooyong is a cause for confusion.
Reilly Opelka brings Craig Boynton onto the team.
