👋 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
🎾 The biggest unforced error of 2025: The USTA announced today that it is putting an end to mixed doubles at the U.S. Open as we know it. The event will now take place during singles qualifying. That means before the main draw begins for all the other events. And they’re changing the format to short sets. In other words, they’ve made it an exhibition for Fan Week. Organizers say they want this format to get more singles players in the draw to attract more fans. The result is so far unclear, of course. But this really cheapens a major title and puts it on the same level as the legends event instead of treating these players as the elite athletes they are.
🎾 A rough start: It might not be a typical sophomore slump Emma Navarro is facing. After all, it’s not her second year on the tour. But it is the year after her incredible rise. And, in that sense, there’s a bit of a sophomore slump. Things have not gone well in kicking off her 2025 season — most recently losing 6-2, 6-2 to Leylah Fernandez in the first round of Qatar on Monday. Overall, there’s a lack of sharpness and the appearance of fatigue. Perhaps she booked herself a little too tightly with extra-curricular activities at the end of 2024.
🎾 The Pouille Update: Lucas Pouille reported that the operation to repair his Achilles tendon went well. Things moved fast for Pouille after he ruptured the tendon on Sunday in the final of the ATP Challenger in Lille. “I don’t want to say for certain until there have been tests, but there’s a chance it will be the last match of my career,” Pouille said during the trophy presentation, unable to finish. “I think it’s total rupture of the Achilles tendon. Playing tennis at the highest level after that is complicated.” Complicated, yes. But his spirits suggest seem to suggest things aren’t over just yet.
