👋 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, we’ve got: that Stefanos Tsitsipas mystery racket, Jannik Sinner get salt in the wound, Daniil Medvedev still has beef with tennis balls, and more tennis news.

Let’s tennis!

Three Points

🎾 Mystery racket: There’s been a ton of chatter over the blacked-out racket Stefanos Tsitsipas has been playing with this week in Dubai. Of course, there have been more opportunities because Tsitsipas has won more matches this week than he has in all of his tournament play in 2025 thus far.

  • But what’s the deal with the frame? Tsitsipas noted after his first-round win that balls and courts have become slower on the tour, and many players are looking for ways to adapt. Still, Tsitsipas has offered no details on the new set-up. Some equipment experts say the head shape means it’s a Babolat frame, while others think it’s a new yet-to-be-released model from Wilson, the company he’s been with his entire career. It seems we’ll just have to wait and see.

🎾 More Sinner fallout: On Thursday, the Laureus World Sports Academy withdrew Jannik Sinner’s nomination for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.

  • What they said: “We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global bodies and - whilst we note the extenuating circumstances involved - feel that the three-month ban renders the nomination ineligible. Jannik and his team have been informed,” the organization said in a statement.
  • Why it matters: It’s a prestigious award that has only been awarded to three pro tennis players: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. There is little doubt Sinner would have wanted to be in that company.

🎾 Beefed-up security: Emma Raducanu will receive extra security at Indian Wells following a stalking incident in Dubai, according to the BBC. At a tournament that is lauded for its relaxed atmosphere for players, this will be a markedly different experience for Raducanu. Hopefully, it gives her peace of mind.

And, that’s game.

What They Said

I do think that (in) the last game we played it was ridiculous how slow the balls were. I don’t understand how it’s not a five-seven ball change on the ATP Tour. I don’t get it...Again, the balls when fly through the air are slower, it [gives] an advantage to the guys who volley — because they have more time to react, to adapt to the shot that is going to them. When they have more time, that’s a big disadvantage (for the returners)...But the ATP doesn’t seem to care.

-Daniil Medvedev on the ongoing ball issues on the ATP Tour following his loss to Tallon Griekspoor.

✉️
Want The Daily Theory to come to you? Become a Court Theory Plus or Court Theory Premium member to get it delivered to your inbox each morning and a whole bunch of other nifty perks!

Watch This!

🔥 Tallon Griekspoor vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas (Semifinals ATP 500 - Dubai): Both of these players pulled off impressive three-set wins yesterday (Griekspoor over Medvedev and Tsitsipas over Berrettini). So, let’s see what they’ve got left in the tank to face each other. Expect aggressive play from both, with Griekspoor upping the ante by hugging the baseline to rush Tsitsipas on the backhand side in particular. Assuming they are equally fit following yesterday’s grueling matches, this match will likely come down to how well Griekspoor plays the pressure points.

  • The record: Stefanos Tsitsipas leads the head-to-head record over Tallon Griekspoor 2-0. Both matches have been on hard court (one indoor and one outdoor), and both have been incredible three-set battles — most recently in Rotterdam this year in which two sets were tiebreaks and the third 7-5.
  • On the line: Griekspoor wants to prove his win over Medvedev wasn’t a fluke by following it up with another win. Tsitsipas is looking to keep the momentum going because — let’s face it — it’s been a dismal year for the Greek with a losing record in tournament play thanks to two first-round losses.

On The Radar

  • Emma Navarro vs. Zeynep Sonmez (Quarterfinals WTA 500 - Merida)
  • Daria Seville vs. Paula Badosa (Quarterfinals WTA 500 - Merida)
  • Ena Shibahara vs. Ajla Tomljanovic (Quarterfinals WTA 250 - Austin)
  • Jessica Pegula vs. Anna Blinkova (Quarterfinals WTA 250 - Austin)
  • McCartney Kessler vs. Sorana Cirstea (Quarterfinals WTA 250 - Austin)
  • Greet Minnen vs. Caroline Dolehide (Quarterfinals WTA 250 - Austin)
  • Quentin Halys vs. Felix Auger Aliassime (Semifinals ATP 500 - Dubai)
  • Tomas Machac vs. Brandon Nakashima (Semifinals ATP 500 - Acapulco)
  • Denis Shapovalov vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Semifinals ATP 500 - Acapulco)
  • Francisco Cerundolo vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry (Quarterfinals ATP 250 - Santiago)
  • Damir Dzumhur vs. Sebastian Baez (Quarterfinals ATP 250 - Santiago)

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

Read, Watch, Listen

💬
Which matches are you watching? What news caught your eye today? Hit the comments below!