👋 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
🎾 A fuller picture: The Athletic’s Matt Futterman and Charlie Eccleshare have tracked down a number of disturbing details surrounding the ongoing case of Elena Rybakina and her coach Stefano Vukov. As expected, the fuller picture gives a more chilling account of what has gone down in that relationship — something that everyone in Rybakina’s life noticed, except Rybakina herself.
🎾 Djokovic on Sinner: At a pre-tournament press conference in Doha, Novak Djokovic was asked to share his thoughts on the outcome of the Jannik Sinner-WADA deal struck last week. He answered as senior statesman and the head of PTPA, the pro player pseudo-union, noting that there is a general “lack of trust” of all of the agencies involved among players thanks to behind-closed-doors deals that appear to be unavailable to rank and file players.
- What he said: “It’s not a good image for our sport, that’s for sure,” Djokovic said. “A majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favoritism happening. It appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers and whatnot.”
- What’s next: As far as Djokovic is concerned, it’s time for the PTPA to play an influential role in forcing the many anti-doping agencies into creating a true and transparent process.
🎾 Problems in Doha: Players on the WTA Tour who played in Doha last week are wondering what happened to their welcome gifts from tournament organizers. In previous years, all players received gifts upon arrival. This year, it was a water bottle. But what’s angering the women on the tour is that the men who are playing in Doha this week all received the newest iPhones.
- What players are saying: “My problem isn’t the gift; it’s the disparity especially given the level of events,” Ellen Perez posted on X, noting that the WTA event is a 1000-level tournament, while the ATP event is a 500-level. “I never think I deserve a gift but if you set the men’s standard high in a lower event, it’s hard to not feel hard done by for the women.”
And, that’s game.
What They Said
Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend professional sports for mental wellness definitely (smiling). I’m not sure that’s where you go. I think you go to, like, padel or something like that for mental wellness, not professional sports (laughter).
-Vika Azarenka when asked about how she balances mental toughness with mental wellness.
Watch This!
🔥 Qinwen Zheng vs. Peyton Stearns (2nd round WTA 1000 - Dubai): This is a temperature check match for both players, but for different reasons. Qinwen Zheng has had a rough start to 2025 with just three matches under her belt, equalling a 1-2 record. For Stearns, it will be about keeping her nerve against a top ten opponent. Expect lots of big hitting from both, but with more variety from Stearns.
- The record: This will be the first time Zheng and Stearns have faced each other.
- On the line: Zheng desperately needs to get her 2025 season started. Thus far, it’s a dud. For Stearns, this is a test to see if she can stay in the moment and keep from faltering against a top player.
On The Radar
- Vika Azarenka vs. Iga Swiatek (2nd round WTA 1000 - Dubai)
- Coco Gauff vs. McCartney Kessler (2nd round WTA 1000 - Dubai)
- Emma Raducanu vs. Karolina Muchova (2nd round WTA 1000 - Dubai)
- Belinda Bencic vs. Emma Navarro (2nd round WTA 1000 - Dubai)
- Karen Khachanov vs. Daniil Medvedev (1st round ATP 500 - Doha)
- Novak Djokovic vs. Matteo Berrettini (1st round ATP 500 - Doha)
- Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Hamad Medjedovic (1st round ATP 500 - Doha)
- Zhizhen Zhang vs. Luca Nardi (1st round ATP 500 - Doha)
- Zizou Bergs vs. Roberto Bautista Agut (1st round ATP 500 - Doha)
- Jan-Lennard Struff vs. Tallon Griekspoor (1st round ATP 500 - Doha)
- Mariano Navone vs. Roberto Carballes Baena (1st round ATP 500 - Rio)
- Corentin Moutet vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry (1st round ATP 500 - Rio)
Learn how to watch today’s action over at Tennis Watchers.
Read, Watch, Listen
- Ons Jabeur was surprised to learn a candle had been designed in her image. But she isn’t into the wasabi and cucumber fragrance assigned to her: “I’m more a Harissa person.”
- Exactly one year ago, Jasmine Paolini was in a very different place.
- Matteo Berrettini has some ideas about how to face Novak Djokovic.
- Watch Jimmy Butler knock down an overhead on Carlos Alcaraz.
- WADA says Jannik Sinner was “a million miles away from doping.” A week ago, they said they were going for a two-year suspension.
