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Fritz, Gauff on a roll going into Australian Open

January 8, 2025 by Matthew Cronin

Two of the Americans just won at the United Cup in Sydney, with Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff, who beat Poland.

The No. 3 Gauff out fought over the No. 2 Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4, and before that, she had lost 11 matches. But not now, as the No. 3 Gauff is already on fire.

“She has a great head start so depending on how many more times we play, I don’t know if I’ll catch up,” Gauff said. “But at this point, it doesn’t feel like it’s so heavily favored her way. Any day, I can step on the court and I can win, which maybe before I didn’t believe that. I can’t say that I’m going to beat her every time I play her now, but I also can’t say that she’s going to be me every time I play her now. But before I would say I definitely felt a little bit of defeat stepping on the court but now I don’t. I know I have the ability to do it and it’s just about what happens that day. It always comes down to a few points between us.”

The No. 4 Fritz also delivered, beating Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4). He was darn close, but in the tiebreaker, he hit some terrific shots.

“It’s amazing. It’s almost more fun to win the team events because you have people to celebrate with afterwards,” Fritz said. “Coco made it easy for me as the MVP on the team; it definitely helped my job a lot and its great to get it a second time.”

The 20-year-old Gauff is a doubles player, not all the time, but a lot. She has learned her return, at the net, and also, with the lobs. She wants to improve, each month.

Gauff did win at the 2023 US Open, and she has been close in the Slams, but she was unable to grab it. Yet at the 2025 Aussie Open, she will have another chance to find the solution. She can be aggressive, especially with her strong backhand, and she can also be intense on the net.

Gauff will head to Melbourne, hoping that she will play very consistent, and try to nail her forehand, which can be up and down. Last year, she reached into the semis, and then she lost
against the now No.1 , Aryna Sabalenka. This time though, Gauff really wants to soak it into the corner.

“Honestly, before every Grand Slam, I have the belief that I can win, and especially after US Open, I proved that I could do it,” Gauff said. “I definitely have belief that I can win. Obviously this start of the season gives me a lot of confidence. I feel like when I’m playing confident tennis I’m playing great tennis. I definitely feel confident going into AO.”

Sabalenka just won Brisbane, ready to win another Slam. She did it in Melbourne, twice. She can crack the ball, both sides, and she can also be patient, if she has to. There are times when she over hits, but currently, she can be super patient. She is much better than she was five years ago.

“I have to be honest, it’s not working really well so far. But I’m not going to give up on the things I practiced,” Sabalenka said. “Hopefully in Melbourne it’s going to work better for me…I’m just going to swing the racquet, hit the ball and bring the aggressive game back.’ I was more free with my shots and my body. I was able to play with a bit better level.”

NOTES

The former No. 1, Naomi Osaka, reached the final, but then she had to retire in Auckland due to a injury. She did say later that she should be pretty good at the AO. Maybe, but when you can get hurt, and then you might have to retire, once again. Who knows?…
The former US Open finalist, Kei Nishikori made it onto the final in Hong Kong. He is much older, now, but when he is locked in, he can grind it. However, the Frenchman Alexandre Muller out hit him… The younger player, Jiri Lehecka has improved a lot, over the past year, and now he is ranked No. 24, winning at Brisbane. The 23-year-old can really smash his forehand. At the AO, he could go into the second week, and then?

“Definitely the goals are high. I played quarterfinals two years ago,”Lehecka said. “I know that I’m capable of such a result. I know I have the game, I have the level. I beat some good players already. This week also helped me to build my confidence up. I will have a high.”

Filed Under: Lead Story

TennisReporters.net’s top 32: women 5-1

December 24, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

No. 5: Qinwen Zheng

The 22-year-old had a terrific season, as the quick hitter finally understood what she was doing on the court. It took her a while to smash the ball, crosscourt or down the line, and to put it away. However, she has some fine weeks, but others, she could collapse. The Chinese did start early in January, reaching the Australian Open final, and finally, she lost against Aryna Sabalenka. That was good enough. Months later, she won the Olympic Games, beating Donna Vekic. In the fall, she gained ground, reached the final Wuhan, and won in Tokyo. She showed a lot of new styles. In the WTA Finals, she reached the final and had a serious chance against Coco Gauff, but the American out-lasted her, 7-6(2) in the third set. Zheng can look very good when she plays well, but she can drop off in others, like at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and US Open. Sabalenka has beaten her three times in 2024, beating Zheng quickly. She has to improve her serve and her performance on the net. Without a doubt, she must attack early and often. If she does, the Slams are eating for her.

No. 4: Jasmine Paolini

The 28-year-old Italian had an amazing year, almost coming out of nowhere, reaching the final at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. She was so consistent with her deep forehand and her backhand. She can spin it, flatten it out, and top it. She can lose early, but she can lock it in, then she can explode. She won Dubai, and with the doubles, she and her partner, Sara Errani, won some huge events. Paolini wants to win a Grand Slam for the first time, as at Wimbledon, in the final, she was so close, but she went down, 6-4 in the third set against Barbora Krejcikova. That was a brutal loss. Still, if Paolini can do the same thing, plus with a more potent forehand, then yes, on clay, she can hit anyone.

No. 3: Coco Gauff

At the end of the year, the 20-year-old American had a fabulous win, taking the WTA Finals. She beat Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng, playing so solid and driving on the ball. She did not have a spectacular year, but there were some smooth results when she won Beijing in the fall. However, at Roland Garros, in the semis, she went down her up and down forehand, losing quickly against Swiatek. At the Australian Open, in the semis, Sabalenka slapped her forehand close to the lines, and Gauff could not understand what she had to do. She lost, and she was frustrated. Now, given that she is still young, she will try to enhance her forehand and to return, too. She has already won a Grand Slam, so clearly, she is darn good. However, people rise fast each year when they practice and try to do something better. If she does that, Gauff will win another Slam in 2025.

No. 2: Iga Swiatek

Being No. 1 is very important, and the Pole did it for a while, but right at the end, Sabalenka took it. Oh well, Swiatek can take it back again in 2025, but she will be more grounded. For the most part, the steady master can lock it in, winning Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros, winning only one set. Wow. However, after that, she started to slide, losing at the US Open and the WTA Finals. Sometimes, the players can become bored over the years, on the court and off. And then, you can find the solution when you are walking, all by yourself. Swiatek seems to really love tennis, and given that she can crush her forehand, her backhand, her first serve and her return, then in 2025, she will snag another Slam in 2025.

No. 1: Aryna Sabalenka

What a stunning year for Belarus, who won the Australian and US Open. The huge hitter knocked down against Gauff and Zheng with some phenomenal groundstrokes. It was pretty good on clay, but not great, as she can be more patient. Yet in the summer, she became more case on the hardcourts, winning Cincinnati and grabbing the US Open, beating the American Jessica Pegula. Her forehand is massive, her backhand is heavy, and her return is very aggressive. Her serve has improved a lot, as a few years ago, she had so many double faults, but now, it is much more consistent. She can win another couple more Slams in 2025, and it would be nice to win at Roland Garros [clay] or Wimbledon [grass], but to do it, she will have to be much more thoughtful on the court and off.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story

TennisReporters.net’s top 32: men 5-1

December 22, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

No. 5: Daniil Medvedev

Back in 2022, the Russian won a Grand Slam at the US Open, and he was so steady, with his deep forehand and his backhand. Then, it was clear that he will win another Slam, and since then, he tooked many wins, but he has not won another gigantic event. However, when he gets into the rally, then he can still beat almost anyone. Yet in 2024, he lost some odd days, such as in the ATP Finals, when he only took one set. However, the former No. 1 played some terrific matches, reaching into the final at the 2024 Australian Open, but in then, Jannik Sinner out hit him in the fifth set, 6-3. Medvedev knows that he should have to try into the corners, and close to the lines. But he couldn’t. He did flipped Sinner at Wimbledon, yet Carlos Alcatraz beat him in the semis. And then at the US Open, Sinner cracked the Russian.

He can look very well, and the tall man can run for days, but this year, he did not come into the net much, and his second serve is spotty. In 2025, he could improve both of them, and attack early, if he wants to win his second Slam.

No. 4: Taylor Fritz

The American had a terrific year in the second half. The 27-year-old ended the year and for the first time, he finally made it in the top five. At the US Open, he beat Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev and Frances Tiafoe, and in the final, he lost against Sinner in three sets. He became very steady, and when he had a chance, he could rip his forehand and his backhand, almost on the lines. But year after year, he could look good, but then he would slip out. This season, he started slow, but then he played more fitting, winning Delray Beach, a small event, and then, he started to be much more patient, going into the final at Munich on the clay, and in Madrid,. He also won Eastbourne on the grass. At the US Open final, he was a little bit nervous, but Fritz was “tough to handle, to much emotion.”

In the fall, at the ATP Final, he did beat Alex de Minaur and Medvedev, but then, Sinner chopped it again.

He did have a fine year, and he can rake it from the backcourt, but he should be more comfortable at the net, as it is critical to do it more. He can also return better, too. If he does, he will have a chance to try and win a Slam, but he will have to be more harmonious.

No. 3: Carlos Alcaraz

Early in the summer, the Spaniard will play way up in the sky. The former No. 1 won Roland Garros, beats Sinner in semis and then in the final, against Alexander Zverev, in the fifth set, he went on the tear, and he grabbed it. Five weeks later, he won Wimbledon, beating Novak Djokovic in the final, with just three sets. He was totally into it. He was playing super consistent and he reached into the final at the Olympic Games, but Djoko beat him, as the Serbian played amazing. After that, though, Alcaraz started to look like that he was hurt, physically, and perhaps, mentally. He didn’t reach into the second week at the US Open, but in the fall, he did win the China Open. Yet after that, he was pretty much done. He did play the ATP Finals, but he lost against Casper Ruud and Zvereva.

In 2025, Alcaraz will still be very young, and he has won it on the hardcourts, the clay and the grass. He understands all of it, but he also has to be more thoughtful, most times. If he does that, he can be No. 1 again. When? Who knows.

No. 2: Alexander Zverev

The German was so close again, as the 27-year-old decided that here and there, he could try to crush the ball, rather than to grind it, game after game. He has done that many times, and he has won, but day after day, he could get tired, and then he could drop off. At the Australian Open, he went down versus Medvedev in the semis.

He can mix it up, though, with his hard backhand and his forehand, into the corners. He won Rome, and he was ready to grab Roland Garros, but Alcatraz out hit him. He was a little bit frustrated, but he would continue to give himself a real chance. In a sense, outside of the Slams, he could be very composed, but at Wimbledon and the US Open, he lost against Fritz, twice. Maybe the American discovered how to beat him, possibly with his forehand. In the fall, Zverev looked intense, hitting the ball deep, and he won a big event, at the ATP Masters Paris.

For a decade, he has been trying to win a Slam. He has been crowded, but he hasn’t done it, yet. In 2025, he will try again, but to snag it, he should improve at the net, and in the second serve, too.

No. 1: Jannik Sinner

Without a doubt, the Italian did his best year, ever. He won the Aussie Open and the US Open, on the hardcourts, beating everyone, and nailing it on the winners. At the end of the year in the ATP Finals, in Turin, he took it, knocking down all of them. He was so locked in, all the time. Over the year, he would look so-so, but he continued to enhance not only in the matches, but also, off court, when he can talk with the various coaches and people, too. Gradually, he was smarter, and more patient, too. During the entire year, not only did he win the ATP Masters 1000 Miami, Cincinnati, and Shanghai, but also won in Rotterdam, Halle and the Davis Cup. He will continue to be No. 1, at the start of the year, but there are a couple people who can hitch to be No. 1. Sinner and Alcaraz have played each other 10 times, as the Spaniard leads the rival 6-4. They both really like to rally, but they also move it all around, side to side. In December, Sinner is practicing, trying to improve when he is returning. If he does, then he will continue to win another two more Grand Slams. Believe it, or not.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story

TennisReporters.net’s top 32: women 10-6

December 18, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

No. 10: Barbora Krejcikova

At the net and returning she is spot on, when she is into it. She plays a lot of doubles, which has helped her over the years. Yes, the Czech can fall, especially in the third set, but still, she knows which way to go and tricks. She has won the 2021 Roland Garros and 2024 Wimbledon, so clearly, she can be totally intense. She has yet to enter the semis at the Australian Open and the US Open, so in 2025, she will try super hard. She might not, but she will make a considerable effort.

No. 9: Daria Kasatkina

The Russian has had some terrific matches, but she also can lose it on the court. However, when she is into it, then she can look stunning. She did go deep in Adelaide, Abu Dhabi, Charleston, winning Eastbourne, Seoul and taking China in the fall. She can be very consistent and try to snare her backhand crosscourt. Oddly, she can beat almost anyone when she plays very well, but in different weeks, she can lose early, too. In 2025, she knows she has won many matches but has not gone deep at the Slams. She must be thinking about it. Try to do different things, like when she returns, into the corners, for a winner.

No. 8: Emma Navarro

The American had a fine year, as she looked much better going into the semis at the US Open. She was intense, moving quickly and nailing it with her strong backhand and forehand. She can also hustle and put it away early. However, there were weeks when she lost early, as she is only 23 years old, so she is still learning how to play. She beat Coco Gauff twice this year, which was impressive, as both wanted to smash the ball from the backcourt. At the start of the year, Navarro won Hobart, so in January 2025, maybe she can win it again. If she does, she will undoubtedly go into the second week at the Aussie Open, and there, she could chop down one of the top 5 players. However, she has to pull it up.

No. 7: Jessica Pegula

At the US Open, the veteran finally made it into the final at a Grand Slam, and this time, she was totally into it at the US Open. The 30-year-old knocked off Iga Swiatek and Krejcikova before she lost against the current No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, 7-5, 7-5. Close, but not accurate enough.

She has been working on it for years and is now more aggressive and thoughtful. During the summer, she won Toronto and reached the final at Cincinnati. She was finally ready to attempt to nail it whenever she could. However, in the first six months, she can push the ball and hope that her opponents will miss it. Yes, she is steady, but her serve isn’t hard enough. In the fall, she didn’t do much, so she can go to Australia and be fresh next year. Hopefully, Pegula will sprint and be much more accurate.

No. 6: Elena Rybakina

When healthy, she can out-hit all of them, cracking her forehand and backhand. Two years ago, she won Wimbledon, and when she did it, it looked like she would do it at the other three Grand Slams. However, she hasn’t done it, although she did reach the 2023 Australian Open. But she lost, as Sabalenka smacked her. Just before that, Rybakina beat Sabalenka to win Brisbane. They know each other a lot, playing on the clay in Madrid, and in the final, Sabalenka edged her 7-6 (5). Take about close. She can be accurate and powerful, so if the 25-year-old can lock in, Rybakina will certainly have a chance to win another Slam. But to do it, she must be more patient.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story

TennisReporters.net’s top 32: men 10-6

December 16, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

No. 10: Grigor Dimitrov

Over the years, he was close to winning a Grand Slam, but he didn’t do it, and while the Bulgarian will still have a chance, he missed some critical errors at the end and then lost. However, the positive thing is that he has tremendous strokes with his stylistic forehand and backhand. The one-hander can slice it, top it, and flatten it out. His serve and his return have never been great, but at the net, when he is there, he can put it away. He won Brisbane at the start of the year and reached the final at ATP Miami in April. He has to push himself in 2025, but he plays way too much, so the 33-year-old has to be careful. He won’t go deep in the Slams if he gets hurt frequently, which he did three times. But to win another ATP 1000. Well, he has done it once, so sure, why not?

No. 9: Alex de Minaur

The Aussie had a good year, playing terrific at the United Cup to start the year, beating Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. He was on fire but lost against Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open in five brutal sets. However, the young player was on a roll, reaching the final at Rotterdam, taking down Dimitrov in the semis before the current No. 1 Jannik Sinner grabbed the final. Regardless, the steady person kept moving, winning Acapulco over Casper Ruud, and he was thrilled. However, after that, he was up and down, losing early, and then, he would explode again, winning the Netherlands. During the fall, he faded, and at the ATP Finals, he only won one set. De Minaur will try to get into the top five, but to do it, he must improve his first serve, return and backhand. If he does, he will have a solid shot to reach the finals at the ATP 1000s and the Slams.

No. 8: Andrey Rublev

It is odd that during the ATP Finals, the Russian did not win a match in three of them, but at least he won a set against Casper Ruud. The now veteran has had a decent season, playing fantastic, and then, Rublev backs off, and then he becomes very upset. He did reach the final in Montreal, upsetting Sinner in the quarters, but then, in the final, the Aussie Alexei Popyrin stunned him. Week after week, he can play very consistently, but other times, he would think about what he should do or maybe something crazy. In April, Rublev won the ATP 1000 in Madrid, knocking off Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz. That was the best week, perhaps ever. He can be super fitting, but he can also fail. In 2025, if he wants to try and win a Slam, he has to be more mature on the court. After all, he has yet to enter the Slams’ semis. Change it.

No. 7: Novak Djokovic

Even though the great, great player did not have a specular year, at least the Serbian won some stellar matches. However, he is aging, and the 37-year-old has an amazing backhand. it is still there, but gradually, the opponent can hammer with his forehand. Look, the former No. 1 has won 24 Grand Slams worldwide, especially with the hardcourts dictating game after game. In the fall, the former No. 1 Djokovic stopped playing as his body was hurt physically. He should be fine in January, but it will be super interesting to see how he will play, perhaps with his new shots. Yes, his forehand is solid and strong, his first and second serve are on the lines, and when he returns, he can knock it back very deep. He did win another Slam in 2024, but at least he won the Paris Olympics, edging Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-6 in the final. He had to, as the Spaniard beat Djokovic in three sets at Roland Garros. The other Grand Slam winner, the now-retired Andy Murray, is working with Djokovic, so they know each other well. At the 2025 Australian Open, which he won 10 times, and now, he will try to out-stroke with the young, darn good players. Try to snag it.

No. 6: Casper Ruud

Two years ago, he became No. 2 and was close to winning a Slam at Roland Garros and the US Open, but he couldn’t do it. So now Ruud will have to throw in some different shots. He is fast, running, and can nail it with his forehand and backhand. In the first six months, he played very well, reaching the final in Monte-Carlo, beating Djokovic, winning Barcelona, and then getting into the semis at Roland Garros. But after that, he didn’t go deep for the rest of the year. Ruud is very stable and can hang in there, but he slumped during the fall. If he can re-set and return better, he can try to reach the final at a Slam again. Go for it.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story

TennisReporters.net’s top 32: women 15-11

December 14, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

No. 15: Jelena Ostapenko

The strong veteran can nail the ball with her variable strokes. The Swiss has gone deep when she is on top of it. Eight years ago, she won the Roland Garros, but she lost somewhat earlier, becoming when she is frustrated. The Latvian has been with some super long matches and pulled it off, but she also has lost, with some odd decisions. She does have an opportunity to do very deep at the Slams again, but to do it, then she will have to be much more calm and thoughtful.

No. 14: Anna Kalinskaya

She can go up and down, month after month, but the Russian played in Dubai in February, winning seven matches until she finally lost in the finals. She upset with Ostapenko, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek before she went down against Jasmine Paolini 7-5 in the third. So clearly, her legs are strong. However, she can drop for months, losing way too early, but in June, she reached the final again, in Berlin, out-hitting Vika Azarenka and finally losing versus Jessica Pegula. After that, she struggled, playing way too much. If she can change a few things, then in the court, and to be more suitable, she can go deeper weekly. She will have to.

No. 13: Diana Shnaider

The 20-year-old is already rising, ending the year when she won Hong Kong. She always seems to push herself; even then, she can lose against the top players, but she will try to play spectacularly, even when losing. She upset Coco Gauff in Toronto, even though she was feeling good when she lost in the semis against Pegula. But that is not week after week. The lefty is learning to be more proper, and in the event in Germany, she beat Paula Badosa, Emma Navarro and Donna Vekic to win it all. That was pretty darn good. The quick hitter also won another two tournaments, with different areas, so she must be intense and with some cool shots. It is hard to say when the young players can always be terrific, but Shnaider will try to serve harder and at the net, too. If she does, the top 5 will come very soon.

No. 12: Paula Badosa

The Spaniard had a fine year, going bottomless all over the place, running hard and knocking it back. Perhaps she is not a mammoth hitter, but she can put it away on the lines. She won Washington, and she reached the semis at Cincinnati. She did go into the quarters at the US Open, and later, the steady hitter went into the semis at Beijing. She has been for a decade, and her forehand has finally been stronger, but if she can mix it up more, then it is possible that she can finally go into the final at the Slams. Yet she will have to show it.

No. 11: Danielle Collins

We all thought that the American was going to retire, month after month, but then, during the fall, she decided to continue to play again. Her body was breaking down, yet suddenly, she felt good again. Now she is there, so hopefully, she will be healthy, a lot, as during the fall, she lost quickly. The huge hitter put together some terrific wins in the first four months, winning Miami and Charleston. She is very aggressive and tries to put it away in the corners. She has never won a Slam, but she did come somewhat close at the 2022 Australian Open. In 2025, she will have another chance to snare it, but to do it, she will have to be super fit or lose.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story

TennisReporters.net’s top 32: men 15-11

December 13, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

No. 15: Jack Draper

The 22-year-old had a very good year, as Britain won Vienna in the fall, and at the US Open, he reached the semis, knocking off Alex de Minaur, before he lost against the No. 1, Jannik Sinner. He was not only consistent, but he can nail it into the corners. Even on the hardcourts, in June, on the grass, he won Stuttgart, and while he did not go far at Wimbledon, he tried week after week. Yes, he still has to add some smart shots and mix it up more, but he is young, so assuming he will focus, he will go into the top 10 soon.

No. 14: Ugo Humbert

He had a pretty good season, reaching the final at the ATP Paris, upsetting Carlos Alcaraz and Karen Khachanov before he lost versus Alexander Zverev. He plays all the time, and some days, he looks very powerful, but on other days, he can push it around and not show where he should go. He won Dubai in February when he upset Daniil Medvedev, so he can stick it in there when he really likes to rally. However, month after month, he can go up and down. Next year, he will have to be more real on the court.

No. 13: Holger Rune

You never know whether he can look amazing, but then, he can drop fast. Last year, he was ranked No. 4, playing tremendously, but in 2024, he was good but not huge. Yes, he can go deep, but he couldn’t win another tournament when he backed off. He is fast and could have some fine strokes, but he also can miss it a lot when it is very close. To watch him, though, he can attempt to put it away when the Dane is locked in. Next year, the 21-year-old Rune will push himself again to enhance some important shots.

No. 12: Tommy Paul

The American has developed a lot this season, winning London/Queens and the semis in Rome and Indian Wells. Those three were significant events, which is fine, and also, though, in February, he won Dallas, a smaller place. He has refined his forehand and at the net. His backhand has always been very fit, and he can smash it down the line and crosscourt, too. He is OK with his return, too, and he does not slice much at all. In the fall, Paul won Stockholm, beating Grigor Dimitrov in the final, one of her best. However, he lost early and could not play the ATP Finals. Next year, he wants that, so if he can be more aggressive, he will have a fortune.

No. 11: Stefanos Tsitsipas

He is another person who, when he was so close to winning a Grand Slam but couldn’t, then when he was thinking about it a lot, it is possible that he could fail. Tsitsipas reached the 2021 Roland Garros and the 2023 Australian Open finals but could not grab it. He can hit his forehand and backhand deep when he is really into it. He is tall and can jump, but this season, he is decent but not wonderful. At least he won the ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo in April and reached the final in Barcelona. “I have huge belief that I’m capable of winning not just one Grand Slam, but many of them,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time.” He didn’t, as he didn’t do much from May through November. In 2025, try, try again.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story

TennisReporters.net’s top 32: women 20-16

December 10, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

No. 20: Victoria Azarenka

The two-time Grand Slam winner has been around a very long time, spectacular at times, and disappointing, too. The Belarussian is still very powerful, from her forehand and her backhand, and she can also crush the ball when retuning, to nail it in the second serve. Yet the now 35-year-old is a little bit slower, running, and she has never been excellent at the net, putting it away. Now though, she has been more mature, off court, and when she is on, she can beat almost none. However, she hasn’t won a huge tournament since 2020, so because of that, she can get hurt, physically, each year. Next year, Azarenka will put together some cool strokes, but that doesn’t mean that she can win another Grand Slam. That is the way it is.

No. 19: Donna Vekic

She goes week after week, and when she is locked in, she can knock off many people. The Croatian is another player who has played for a very long time, winning well, and also, mediocre, at best. Earlier , she can drive with her hard forehand and her backhand, and attack, earlier, but she can also become frustrated, and then, she would lose. At least this year, she put together some terrific events, including the Olympics when she reached into the final, and also in the semis at Wimbledon, but she also almost collapsed, at the end. She won’t be there forever, so she better throw in some new strategies, and breath again.

No. 18: Marta Kostyuk

The 22-year-old Ukraine had a decent year, losing early in the second half, but at least she made it into the final at Stuttgart on the clay, upsetting Coco Gauff and finally losing against Elena Rybakina. She also went into the semis on the hardcourts , this time at Indian Wells, finally losing verses Iga Swiatek. There was another excellent week, when she reached it into the final at San Diego in February, upsetting Jessica Pegula, before she lost versus Katie Boulter. So it was a very good during the first four months, but then, she fell, very early. Maybe Kostyuk became hurt, physically, or she was just tired during the fall, but next year, she has to be more thoughtful, on and off.

No. 17: Beatriz Haddad Maia

The Brazilian has been grinding for a decade, and this year, she had a few good wins. In September, she won Korea, and in August, she reached into the final in Cleveland. Not bad. However, outside of that, she did not go deep in 2024, straining. She does like to rally, fore a long time, and she can also mix it up, too, but often, her ball can go short. Next year, she should swing harder.

No. 16: Mirra Andreeva

Already, the 17-year-old is rising, very fast, going for it earlier, and to try to find the lines. She is quick, and determent. Her backhand is excellent, and her forehand is pretty good, but she still needs to work it more, into the corners. Without a doubt, the Russian can go into the top 10 in 2025, or maybe even lower, but you don’t really don’t know until she sees it, and reasonable almost all the time. Critically, though, with all the young players, you have to think about it all the time.

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TennisReporters.net’s top 32: men 20-16

December 8, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

No. 20: Arthur Fils

The Frenchman is very young, and he is already pretty intelligent. Of course he needs to improve with everything, but he already is a lot of variety. However, year after year, the green players can rise up fast, but to get into the top five is a huge challenge, and many people fail. The is reality. The good thing is that in the summer and the fall, he won Hamburg, beating the current No. 2 Alexander Zverev, and in Tokyo, he beat Holger Rune and Ugo Humbert. That was impressive. Fils did lose here and there, but he can laud it on, week after week. Assuming that the 20-year-old will keep healthy, then next year, the top 10 is waiting.

No. 19: Karen Khachanov

The veteran Russian had a fine fall, reaching the final at the 1000 Paris, before Ugo Humbert overcame him. He also reached the final in Vienna, and earlier in October, he won Almaty. He must have been fantastic. However, he plays a lot, when he looks good, but there are others events that when he is playing, he can get very frustrated. Back in February, he did win Doha, but right after that, then he lost way to early. Perhaps next year, he can exploit again, or just hanging around, with the same type, forehand and backhand.

No. 18: Frances Tiafoe

This has not been a spectacular year, but there were some wild, very good events. Coming at the start of the season, it was thought that when he was ready to go into the top five, then he could be super consistent, all the time. However, week after week, he lost early, from January through July. But in August, almost out of nowhere, he reached into the final at the ATP 1000 Cincinnati, beating Holger Rune in the semis, until the current No. 1, Jannik Sinner beat Tiafoe in straight sets. Then, three weeks later, he reached into the US Opens semis, playing great, but in the end, he lost against his friend, Taylor Fritz, 6-1 in the fifth set. He could not raise his game again, which disappointed him. The good thing is that he really likes to play, on court, or when he is practicing. He has some new shots, but he can back off, and then he can miss some odd strokes, way out.

In 2025, the American will have a chance to go into the finals again, but will Tiafoe win a ATP 250, or 1000? He has to be prove it, again.

No. 17: Lorenzo Musetti

The Italian man is only 22-years-old, so over the past three years, he actually has enhanced his backhand, down the line, and at the net, which he needed it. Of course his forehand is excellent, and he can return somewhat deep, but mentally, he can be up and down. He did reach into the semis at Wimbledon, upsetting Taylor Fritz in the quarters, until he lost versus Noval Djokovic in straight sets. Musetti did reach into the final in Turin, Italy, and also in Cagliari. Yes, when he is feeling good, then he can bash the ball, but he has to be more aggressive. The other Italian, the No. 1 Jannik Sinner, it took him at least a few years to be more solid, and also, with variety. Eventually it did, so now, Musetti can be more suffering, and then, at the end of 2025, he can be at least in the top 10.

No. 16: Hubert Hurkacz

That was an odd year, very good early, and then so-so in the end. He did win Portugal on clay, and in Halle, in the grass, he reached into the final, upsetting Alexander Zverev before he lost against Sinner. Even at the start of the year, he reached into the final at the United Cup, in Australia. So it should have been great, but it really didn’t, as in the fall, he went down, early. Perhaps his body collapsed, so next year, he can jump up high again. Or maybe not.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story

TennisReporters.net’s top 32: women 25-21

December 6, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

No. 25: Magdalena Frech

The Pole person played well at the hardcourts, winning Guadalajara. She can chuck in some fun shots, and she can also attack when she is feeling good. However, she can play pretty lousy during the matches, as she cannot discover what to do. She did have some fine matches, like in Prague when she reached the final, but other than that, she did not go deep enough. Next year, she will try to play more harmoniously, as she wants to run into the top 10. Good luck.

No. 24: Katie Boulter

It took her a long time to be in the top 30, as the English person was decent but not terrific. This year, she rose, reaching the final in Hong Kong and going deep in the fall. Also, she won Nottingham on the grass in the summer, and on the hardcourts again, she won it in San Diego. She was darn good. She traveled a lot, trying to find which way to go. Her backhand is solid, but her forehand and her return was spotty. However, this year, she was more focused and improved her decisions. Now, she is much more confident, so in 2025, she can have a chance to go super deep in the Slams. However, if she does it, that would be surprising.

No. 23: Elina Svitolina

A couple of years ago, she was rising fast when she returned to play again. She was still quick, her backhand was powerful, and at the net, she was respectable. Yet she could not grab a Slam, which is fine, but without a doubt, she wants to. In 2019, she reached the semis at Wimbledon and the US Open, looking good but not good enough. If Svitolina can improve her forehand down the line and bend down at the net more frequently, she will have a chance to win it. She has won 17 titles, more than a few, so in 2025, she will do it again.

No. 22: Karolina Muchova

The veteran is also terrific when on the lines and at the net. The Czech is to watch her in the singles and the doubles, too, winning year after year. This season, she reached the final in Beijing, upsetting Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng before she lost versus CoCo Gauff. She has a heavy topspin, with variety and her patience, too. However, she can lose, as in the semis against the US Open, in the third set, Jessica Pegula found the lines, while Muchova made some key errors. She can go short or hit it way out. Next year, assuming she is healthy, she will have another chance to win a huge tournament. How deep at the Slams again? Who knows?

No. 21: Madison Keys

Sometimes, she is nailing a winner with her huge forehand and backhand, but she misses it. Years ago, it looked like if she was healthy, then she could win a Grand Slam. She was close, but in the end, she panicked, and she fell. However, next year, Keys will be 30 years old, and she will still have a chance to go deep again, but then, she will have to be more proper and take some different, excellent shots.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story