Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️🌱
Today’s tennis mood: Bemused by Wimbledon and curious to see some first-of-the-season matches.
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
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🎾 On tap: I’m writing as Wimbledon qualifying is suspended, not because of rain but because the electronic line-calling system has overheated and malfunctioned. So, uh, catch that when it comes back on. Still, there are several other matches worth your attention, as Iga Swiatek takes the court today for the first time this grass season ahead of her Wimbledon title defense. Venus Williams and Alex Eala are pairing up for doubles in Bad Homburg. And Jack Draper, Grigor Dimitrov, Taylor Fritz, plus a bunch of other favorites, are in action today. More on that below.
🎾 Proportionality: That seems to be the question surrounding Marketa Vondrousova’s four-year ban. Between Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek on one side and Jenson Brooksby, Mikael Ymer, and now Marketa Vondrousova on the other, the ITIA is making it clear that you’re better off testing positive than not complying — even if you have a long history of negative tests. It comes off as if the ITIA would rather punish you for not complying with their authority than for violating the rules they’re charged with enforcing.
And another thing: Of course, the ITIA has to guard against test refusals. But 10 times the punishment for people who actually do test positive?!? Come on.
🎾 A grass season winner: Have you had a look at Babolat’s Wimbledon line? The whole thing is stunning. I received a few items the other day, and let me tell you, I CANNOT WAIT to get this duffle out on the court. And the Pure Drive Wimbledon edition is so beautiful that I’m almost too scared to hit balls with it (but I’m going to!). What are you picking up? Hit reply and let me know!
🎾 One to watch: Iga Swiatek vs. Emma Navarro (2nd round - WTA 500 - Bad Homburg): Watch this one for Swiatek’s only grass court tournament just days before she begins her quest to defend her Wimbledon title. And also watch it to see Navarro’s progress on the comeback trail. Neither one is a natural grass court player, which should make for some scrappy tennis and competitive drama.
The record: Iga Swiatek leads the head-to-head record over Emma Navarro 2-1. Navarro won their most recent meeting on the hard courts of Beijing last year, but they have never faced off on grass.
On the line: Navarro is playing loose with lowered expectations as she comes back to the tour with a full schedule. Meanwhile, with a major title to defend starting next week, the pressure is on Swiatek to perform in her only grass warm-up in Bad Homburg.
🎾 🏆 🎤 YOUR CALL
(Yesterday’s poll results: 89% of you called for Naomi Osaka to defeat Elise Mertens. Osaka won 6-3, 6-3.)
And that’s game.
