👋 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: the WTA’s maternity leave announcement, Nick Kyrgios’s retirement, Paula Badosa’s withdrawal takes on a new meaning, today’s Tallon Griespoor vs. Alexander Zverev match, plus more in today’s tennis news.
Let’s tennis!
Four Points
🎾 An incredible schedule: Today’s line-up is nothing short of spectacular. You’ll see below how big of a struggle it was to narrow down which matches to keep an eye on. So, what’s the beef aside from having to choose? Many of the choices have been taken away from us because only half of the courts are streamed. For what is often considered the best Masters event on the planet, we deserve better coverage than what many of the Challenger-level events offer. It doesn’t have to be the same production quality as the main courts. Tape a GoPro to a pole. Do something. Because it is absolutely criminal that half of the matches at Indian Wells — including many seeds — are going unwatched. </rant>
🎾 A big step forward (with caveats): Yesterday, the WTA announced a maternity leave program for women playing on the tour, which would provide up to 12 months of paid leave for players, as well as fertility treatment, IVF, and egg freezing. Under the current iteration, at least 320 players meet eligibility requirements. The new policy is something of a feat for a sport composed of independent contractors, who have few collective bargaining rights.
- What she said: “The feedback from players has actually been incredible. And it is incredibly motivating that we can make the difference. It’s also important to point out this was a player-led program and we really pushed very hard to make it happen,” said Victoria Azarenka, one of the driving forces behind the initiative. She added: “I absolutely believed this day would come. It took a lot of work, even if I thought in the beginning it wouldn’t take this long. I was getting quite impatient, so I am very proud that we are here. I strongly feel this is just the beginning.”
- The message: From a messaging standpoint, this new program shows women’s tennis, as a truly global sport, is still at the forefront of some of the most important conversations in the public sphere.
- The reality: It remains unclear how many women will take advantage of this benefit. As it stands, very few players on the WTA Tour take a break to have children.
- The optics: Not optimal. The entire program is underwritten by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Critics have been quick to point out that the WTA is a bit too eager to help the country with gross human rights violations rehabilitate its reputation with sportswashing.
🎾 Release the ringer: Paula Badosa withdrew from Indian Wells on Thursday, citing her ongoing back injury. That puts a lucky loser in her second-round slot, thanks to a first-round bye. That lucky loser? None other than Eva Lys, who found herself to be the luckiest major loser in some time when she slid into the main draw at the Australian Open and won three rounds before succumbing to Iga Swiatek in the round of 16. Today, she faces American Caroline Dolehide.
🎾 An emotional moment: When, after two-and-a-half hours, Jenson Brooksby won his match yesterday against a very in-form Benjamin Bonzi, he struggled to hold back his tears as an entire crowd cheered him on for the first time in a long time. It was a gutsy performance from the 24-year-old American, who dropped the first set 6-1 before taking the next two 7-5, 7-5. Life has been a lot for Brooksby these last few years, who was suspended for missing doping tests and then underwent double wrist surgery. But perhaps it was revealing his autism spectrum disorder that was the most taxing journey. To be sure, Brooksby isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But hopefully he’s earned some forgiveness for behavior that has been misunderstood. And hopefully he’s earned some respect for talking about something there’s no way he would have wanted to.
And, that’s game.
What They Said
I want to play. I knew I was going to be in discomfort tonight after two days ago but I took the court. It’s brutal, especially because I was having such a good year. I think that’s what is painful for me. And I think the coach I’m here with this week, my physio, I keep talking about that year, and it’s, like, you can’t expect that anymore. That’s I think, for me, what’s a bit heartbreaking just because I thought I’d figured it out.
-Nick Kyrgios on his post-surgery expectations compared to 2022 when he made the Wimbledon final.
Allen McDuffee
Watch This!
🔥 Alexander Zverev vs. Tallon Griekspoor (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells): Watch this for some serious tension-filled drama. The head-t0-head record might not suggest it’s a match worth watching, but the moment each player finds himself promises a serious war. Griekspoor is coming off a great week in Dubai in which he defeated Daniil Medvedev and played a very close match to eventual champion Stefanos Tsitsipas. On Zverev’s end, 2025 has been a disaster post-Australian Open. Expect a patiently attacking style from Griekspoor and an attempt to not lose from Zverev (read: passive tennis that may well lead to crumbling before our very eyes).
- The record: Zverev absolutely dominates the head-to-head record over Griekspoor 6-1. But! Every match (with one exception) is a tight battle.
- On the line: Griekspoor would love to show the world his win over Daniil Medvedev in Dubai wasn’t a fluke by claiming an even bigger top ten win. Meanwhile, Zverev is looking to get out of his rut since getting clobbered in the Australian Open final. The pressure is on him to not go out in the second round.
On The Radar
- Alycia Parks vs. Anna Kalinskaya (2nd round WTA 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Caroline Garcia vs. Iga Swiatek (2nd round WTA 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Yunchaokete Bu vs. Daniil Medvedev (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Qinwen Zheng vs. Victoria Azarenka (2nd round WTA 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Mariano Navone vs. Learner Tien (1st round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Casper Ruud vs. Marcos Giron (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Thiago Seyboth Wild vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Tommy Paul vs. Tristan Boyer (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Iva Jovic vs. Julia Grabher (1st round WTA 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Holger Rune vs. Corentin Moutet (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Ashlyn Krueger vs. Elina Svitolina (2nd round WTA 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Danielle Collins vs. Hailey Baptiste (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Marta Kostyuk vs. Robin Montgomery (2nd round WTA 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Caroline Dolehide vs. Eva Lys (2nd round WTA 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Arthur Fils vs. Gabriel Diallo (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Zizou Bergs vs. Alexei Popyrin (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Kei Nishikori vs. Ugo Humbert (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Alex Michelsen vs. Colton Smith (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
- Jelena Ostapenko vs. Xinyu Wang (2nd round ATP 1000 - Indian Wells)
📺 Learn how to watch today’s action over at Tennis Watchers.
Read, Watch, Listen
- Yesterday, everyone’s toughest opponent was the wind.
- Marketa Vondrousova says she’s taking a few months off to deal with yet another injury.
- Today, American Colton Smith faces Alex Michelsen. But how much do you know about Smith? Here’s your chance to be the smartest in the stands.
- Coco Gauff talks about living her life.
- Buyunchaokete started in tennis by simply doing what he was told.
- Wimbledon wants a massive expansion, but it’s far from a slam dunk. The Athletic has the explainer on a truly complex set of circumstances.
