Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️☀️
Today’s tennis mood: Trying to focus on today’s tennis line-up, but getting distracted by crappy tennis money news.
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
🎾 On tap: It’s women’s semifinals day, with a chance for an all-American women’s final at the U.S. Open as Jessica Pegula takes on Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff faces Elena Rybakina. It’s also men’s doubles semifinals day on Louis Armstrong Stadium. Those matches begin at 4:00, and Ashe Stadium matches begin at 7:00.
🎾 ICYMI: Here’s how yesterday’s action shook out…
Men’s quarterfinals: Karen Khachanov won over a severely hampered Alexander Blockx, who eventually had to retire in the third set. Khachanov will take on Alexander Zverev, who defeated Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.
Coco Gauff pulled off a stunning win over Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6, 6-2.
Elena Rybakina overcame a first-set deficit against Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
🎾 Not great, Bob: Earlier this summer, The Guardian reported that talks surrounding an ATP-WTA merger had been put on hold because of impending budget cuts at the WTA. Now, new details are emerging that things at the WTA are much, much worse than most of us had thought, according to reporting from Simon Briggs of The Telegraph.
🎾 One to watch: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jessica Pegula (Semifinals - U.S. Open): Watch this one because it’s always a battle, with the last four meetings having gone three sets. Expect Sabalenka to try to overwhelm Pegula with her serving and power. And expect Pegula to take Sabalenka’s big wind-ups away by rushing her with her positioning, flat groundies, and taking the ball early. Who wins? Great question!
The record: Aryna Sabalenka leads the head-to-head record over Jessica Pegula 9-4. Pegula won their most recent meeting on grass in Berlin this summer.
On the line: With Elena Rybakina guaranteed the number one spot when the rankings come out on Monday, Sabalenka’s only concern is winning the U.S. Open as her only major title for 2026. Pegula’s wishes (for now) are only slightly more modest: reach a second major final.
🎾 🏆 🎤 YOUR CALL
(Yesterday’s poll results: 92% of you called for Coco Gauff to defeat Mirra Andreeva. Gauff won 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.)
And that’s game.
