Good morning, Court Theorists! ☕️☀️🎢
Today’s tennis mood: Eye-rolling at Nick Kyrgios and a bit concerned for Aryna Sabalenka.
Let’s tennis!
-Allen
🎾 On tap: It’s quarterfinals day (part one) in Cincinnati today, and there are a couple of matches that feel like a final and a couple that are more like, ‘okay, let’s see what happens.’ You can decide which matches are in which category. One big question: Can Amanda Anisimova snap the 0-5 losing streak she has against Jessica Pegula? Here’s another: Have Tommy Paul and Flavio Cobolli recovered enough/equally from their long three-set matches yesterday to perform in the quarters a day later? We’ll find out soon enough.
🎾 Get them jawns: Hey, Philadelphia! Just a reminder here that the WTA 125 Ennoble Care Philadelphia Open is just days away. Have you bought your tickets? It’s not too late. And if you’re attending, hit reply and let me know! I’ll be on-site covering the tournament from Sunday through midweek. Let’s catch up or watch a match together. Go birds!
🎾 On brand: Nick Kyrgios testing positive for cocaine use during competition is so on brand that it’s barely worth the attention. That is, however, until you take into consideration all the hypocritical sh*tposting he’s done on social media about clean sport. And, until the hypocritical attempt to explain it away with “some context” in a statement. And the hypocritical request to respect his privacy. To be sure, there are times for — and people deserving of — compassion. In the case of Kyrgios, it’s been extended too many times. It’s time to sunset this walking case study in mediocrity.
🎾 Sabalenka woes: Sara Bejlek played a brilliant match to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets on Wednesday. Full stop. She absorbed Sabalenka’s power and frequently shot it right back at the world number one. She anticipated which shots were coming and used her superior speed in tandem to put balls back in play that Sabalenka usually counts on as point-enders.
Yes, but: After Bejlek won the first set and Sabalenka went up 4-1 in the second set, you had the sense that it was one of those Sabalenka matches that she was a little insecure and was now going to take over the match. Except she then lost the next five games in a row and the match. This is cause for concern.
Next: The U.S. Open, where Sabalenka is the defending champ. It’s also where she could lose her number one ranking if she doesn’t (and possibly even if she does).
🎾 One to watch: Iga Swiatek vs. Elena Rybakina (Quarterfinals - WTA 1000 - Cincinnati): Watch this for some serious competitive drama. Both players are finding their form again after some serious rough patches this year, and they are determined to perform well in the final major of the year. One problem: they’re meeting in the quarterfinals. Only one moves on. Who will it be? Magic 8 Ball says: Ask again later.
The record: Iga Swiatek leads the head-to-head record over Elena Rybakina 7-6, with Swiatek winning the most recent meeting in the final of Toronto 6-2, 6-3.
🎾 🏆 🎤 YOUR CALL
And that’s game.
