👋 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 one-year ban: On Tuesday, The Athletic reported that the WTA’s provisional ban placed on Stefano Vukov, Elena Rybakina’s coach, has been extended to a full year. While both Vukov and Rybakina have denied any wrongdoing, documentation reviewed by The Athletic uncovers a series of disturbing details that highlight mental and physical abuse. “It’s clear to me you have a toxic relationship,” Portia Archer, the chief executive of the WTA Tour, wrote in a letter to Vukov and Rybakina, adding that evidence points to the two being involved in a romantic relationship.
🎾 More mixed up: As a follow-on to yesterday’s point about the U.S. Open turning the mixed doubles event into an exhibition, players have begun to share their displeasure over the decision. Among them are defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who, under the new rules, don’t know if they will be permitted to play in the event. “Making decisions just following the logic of profit is profoundly wrong in some situations,” Errani and Vavassori wrote. “We see it as a profound injustice that disrespects an entire category of players. We don't know at the moment if we'll have the chance to defend our title but we hope this remains an isolated case.”
🎾 El Peque end of the stick: Thanks to a rainy day in Buenos Aires yesterday, Diego Schwartzman’s potential final match has been delayed until today. In a missed opportunity, tournament organizers placed El Peque’s match against Nicolas Jarry in the afternoon instead of the prime time slot it originally occupied. Apparently they believe the Cerundolo brothers playing each other will garner greater ratings.
