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Today’s tennis mood rating: Freshness vs. resignation.

Let’s tennis!

Three Points

🎾 Back in action: Aryna Sabalenka is back in action after more than a month away from competitive tennis. Her last match was the final of the U.S. Open, where she defeated Amanda Anisimova, 6-3, 7-6. But the world number one took time away, citing an undisclosed “minor injury.”

  • What she said: “I feel good,” Sabalenka said on Sunday in Wuhan. “I just didn’t want to rush my body into the tournament. So I think we made the right decision to take extra time for recovery and for the preparation. Physically, I feel ready to go.”
  • Next: On Wednesday in Wuhan, Sabalenka will face a tricky opponent in Rebecca Sramkova.

🎾 A shot at a million: Carlos Alcaraz and 21 other pro players will participate in the “One Point Slam” at this year’s Australian Open, in which the pros will mix with 10 amateurs for a shot at $1 million (AUS). Each match will consist of a single point. A pre-match game of rock, paper, scissors will determine who serves. “Whether you're an amateur or a pro, the ultimate winner will walk away with the prize. Entries will open soon at clubs across the country, and during Opening Week, finalists will compete for a chance to face the pros on Rod Laver Arena,” organizers said in a press release. “With more big names to be announced soon, you now have a million reasons to pick up a racquet and get ready for January.”

🎾 Repeat performance: Arthur Rinderknech defeated Alexander Zverev in three sets on Monday with aggressive play and grinding out points when it was necessary. In all, he knocked down 7 aces and struck 40 winners on his way to his second win over the number three player in the world this year. For Zverev, it was another loss against a much lower-ranked player.

  • What he said: “My year has been terrible, I’m just playing terrible tennis all round,” Zverev said. “It’s nothing unusual for me, unfortunately, these days.”
  • Next: Rinderknech faces Jiri Lehecka in the round of 16 on Wednesday.

And, that’s game.

On The Radar

Matches we’re monitoring today:

Wuhan - WTA 1000 (Hard)

  • Hailey Baptiste vs. Jessica Pegula (2nd round)
  • Moyuka Uchijima vs. Coco Gauff (2nd round)
  • Aryna Sabalenka vs. Rebecca Sramkova (2nd round)
  • Jaqueline Cristian vs. Elena Rybakina (2nd round)
  • Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. Ann Li (2nd round)
  • Naomi Osaka vs. Linda Noskova (2nd round)
  • Maya Joint vs. Katerina Siniakova (2nd round)
  • Iva Jovic vs. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (2nd round)
  • Sofia Kenin vs. Liudmila Samsonova (2nd round)

Shanghai - ATP 1000 (Hard)

  • Arthur Rinderknech vs. Jiri Lehecka (4th round)
  • Nuno Borges vs. Alex de Minaur (4th round)
  • Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Lorenzo Musetti (4th round)
  • Learner Tien vs. Daniil Medvedev (4th round)

📺 Learn how to watch today’s action over at Tennis Watchers.

Read, Watch, Listen

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