👋 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.
Let’s tennis!
Three Points
🎾 Let’s see that again: A ball kid interference, a video review, a hindrance call, an underhand serve. A 6-6 in the tiebreak. Did we mention Alexander Bublik was involved? Watch this insanity for yourselves.
🎾 What we need is a system: Former top ten player Barbara Schett touched on an important issue when it comes to the topic of abuse and the Rybakina-Vukov case — specifically about why other players struggle with speaking up about cases of abuse. In no small part, it’s the lack of systems in place and a guarantee of protection for providing such information.
- What she said: “The problem is that many players don't dare to say anything because they’re afraid of personal consequences. For example, I was incredibly afraid of Jelena Dokic’s father. I would probably never have said anything because I thought he would kill me. It was perhaps a little different with Dokic than with Rybakina because she was also beaten, but in your mid-20s you may not yet know what is really going on. Perhaps you don’t find it as tragic as you do later.”
🎾 Cilic with a surprise: Marin Cilic, the 36-year-old who is now ranked just inside the top 200, pulled off a stunning win over current top ten player Alex de Minaur. The 2014 U.S. Open champion has been showing some incredible form in the last six months, including taking home the title from Hangzhou in September.
- What he said: “I haven’t had that many chances to settle in this season,” said Cilic, who will face Alexei Popyrin in the second round. “Last week I played Carlos in Doha, Alex here. They’re both Top 10 guys playing extremely well. It’s a great effort from me, a great sign that I’m playing really well. It’s a matter of matches for me that I can get in the match form. Hopefully, I can keep the form going.”
And, that’s game.
What They Said
I was just kind of in a loop, lost with myself for a couple of years of not finding the way, not understanding what to do, what for? It sounds a bit dramatic or whatever, but like what’s the reason or purpose to live? ... I’m not happy, I’m not in a good or bad place, but I’m not feeling any more stress, I’m not feeling anxious, I’m not having depression. I’m just neutral, not happy, not bad, but at least I found the base and that’s like a beginning.
-Andrey Rublev on how his outlook has changed in recent months.
Watch This!
🔥 Petra Kvitova vs. Jodie Burrage (1st round WTA 250 - Austin): This is a welcome back match for Petra Kvitova, who took a wild card to get into this tournament after a year-and-a-half away to have her first child. As one of the tour’s most beloved players, we here at Court Theory HQ won’t miss this comeback match for the world. But Jodie Burrage has earned her own cult following, especially after her 2023 grass season in which she reached the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals in that order before taking a first-round win at Wimbledon.
- The record: This will be the first time Petra Kvitova and Jodie Burrage face each other.
- On the line: Petra Kvitova has made it clear she isn’t feeling any pressure in Austin and that she’s just trying to ease back into her pro career. Burrage, currently just inside the top 200, is trying to get back into her former top 100 form after being sidelined with an injury for a significant part of last year.
On The Radar
- Sloane Stephens vs. Petra Martic (1st round WTA 500 - Merida)
- Rebecca Sramkova vs. Lulu Sun (1st round WTA 500 - Merida)
- Varvara Gracheva vs. Peyton Stearns (1st round WTA 250 - Austin)
- Marin Cilic vs. Alex de Minaur (1st round ATP 500 - Dubai)
- Daniil Medvedev vs. Jan-Lennard Struff (1st round ATP 500 - Dubai)
- Gael Monfils vs. Matteo Berrettini (1st round ATP 500 - Dubai)
- Roman Saffiullin vs. Tallon Griekspoor (1st round ATP 500 - Dubai)
- Holger Rune vs. Roberto Carballes Baena (1st round ATP 500 - Acapulco)
- Denis Shapovalov vs. Nishesh Basavareddy (1st round ATP 500 - Acapulco)
- Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Mattia Bellucci (1st round ATP 500 - Acapulco)
- Alex Michelsen vs. Yunchaokete Bu (1st round ATP 500 - Acapulco)
- Nicolas Jarry vs. Camilo Ugo Carabelli (1st round ATP 250 - Santiago)
- Hugo Gaston vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry (1st round ATP 250 - Santiago)
Learn how to watch today’s action over at Tennis Watchers.
Read, Watch, Listen
- Petra Kvitova reflects on her expectations in this new stage of her career as she prepares to play her first match in 17 months.
- Tommy Paul shares his vision of working hard and still having fun.
- One year ago, Andrey Rublev was at a low point after getting defaulted for his on court behavior in Dubai. At this year’s event, things are different.
- Karen Khachanov says he would have been dangerous at the ATP Tour Finals, given his level of play at the end of last year.
- Frances Tiafoe on meeting Taylor Swift: “We go into this suite, and the first person we see in this suite is Taylor,” Tiafoe recalled. “I’m like, ‘Try to act like you’ve been here before.’”
