👋 Welcome back to The Daily Theory, our morning rundown to help you stay on top of your favorite sport. I’m Allen McDuffee, your guide to all things tennis.
On tap today: Serena Williams tells it like it is, the WTA faces another player lawsuit, Roland-Garros makes some announcements, Emma Navarro faces Jelena Ostapenko, plus more in tennis news today.
Let’s tennis!
Four Points
🎾 See you in court: Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko has filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York, naming the WTA Tour and chairman Steve Simon as defendants. The lawsuit stems from previously publicly disclosed complaints by Tsurenko alleging that the WTA Tour and its executives reneged on doing more to protect Ukrainian athletes from Russian and Belarusian athletes who outwardly supported the war. According to Tsurenko, the WTA Tour’s negligence has led to panic attacks, insomnia, and crying episodes, and that she has “developed excessive stress, loss of concentration affecting her performance at tennis games, mortification, and injury to her feelings.”
🎾 ICYMI: Serena Williams made the Time 100 list, and there are some fascinating insights into where she is right now — and where she’s heading.
🎾 A few more details: The previously announced Roland-Garros ceremony to honor Rafael Nadal’s career has a date. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said on Thursday that the commemoration will take place on opening day — Sunday, May 25 — on Court Philippe Chatrier at the end of play that day. No word on what is planned for the celebration.
🎾 Speaking of Roland-Garros: During that press conference, organizers disclosed more information about this year’s tournament:
- Line judges remain in play
- The tournament will also honor Richard Gasquet, who is retiring, and 2000 champ Mary Pierce.
- The second men’s semifinal will be a night match. No word on the controversial issue of women’s matches being largely left out of prime time coverage.
