Archives for 2022

Quarterfinal picks at the 2022 US Open

September 6, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Casper Ruud vs Matteo Berrettini
The 23-year-old Norwegian broke out two years ago. Clearly, he knows that if he wants to make No. 1 someday, then he has to improve his strokes. He and the Italian have played each other five times already, which is unusual, so they know each other well. In Gstaad in July, Ruud beat Berrettini to win the title, and now it is 3-2 head to head. Both of them can slap the ball, but also, they can be very patient, and can change it up. “You need to obviously guess right sometimes, and sort of see if you can try to read where he’s going,” Ruud said. Without a doubt, when they get on court, it will take hours before they finish. It really is a toss-up, but Berrettini will win it in five nutty sets.

Ons Jabeur vs Ajla Tomljanovic
The Australian eliminated Serena Williams. Now, she finally made it into the quarters at the Grand Slam. She has been around for a long time, and she has been pretty decent, but not unreal. But over the past eight days, she rose, and has shown confidence. Plus, she likes to talk with the journalists. However, Jabeur played some assortment points. She is so quick, and she has so much variety. Yes, she has won against a number of the top 10 players, but she has yet to win a major. However, this year, at least she made into the final at Wimbledon, and she lost to Elena Rybakina. This time, though, Jabeur will be ready and beat Tomljanovic in straight sets.

Nick Kyrgios vs Karen Khachanov
The Aussie has become a real force. His serve is huge, his forehand is massiv, and currently he has added rushing the net and putting away volleys. However, Khachanov is a huge swinger, and he can crack the ball. He is not the fastest, but when he is right there, then he can belt it. Khachanov would love to go very deep at the USO, but Kyrgios will hit many aces and winners, too. He will win it in four hardy sets.

Coco Gauff vs Caroline Garcia
These two have played some fantastic matches this summer. They both have gone deep, and they have beaten a number of the top players. Gauff reached into the final at Roland Garros, and a couple weeks ago, Garcia won Cincinnati. From the backcourt, they can run all day. The American who can hit winners from all over the court. Te Frenchwoman can also be patient, but finally, the veteran started to be much more gung ho. That will be a really banner match, with some wild points. In the end, the teenager will out-hit Garcia right and win it in three thrilling sets.

More coverage
Here is my story about Frances Tiafoe believing he could take down Rafa Nada at the US Open.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Ajla Tomljanovic, Casper Ruud, Karen Khachanov. Coco Gauff, Matteo Berrettini Ons Jabeur, Nick Kyrgios, us open

Four picks on Monday at the 2022 United States Open

September 5, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Danielle Collins
How many times Sabalenka does double fault? A lot. But the good thing is that she keeps fighting, which is why the former No. 2 is still here. She is physically so strong, from both sides, and she storms her opponent immediately. She has had a tough year, but now she is thinking that “I am a great player.” This week, she certainly has been. The American Collins has had a difficult year, after she made it into the final at the Australian Open. During those two weeks, she was so potent. Both of them want to hit the ball very hard, right on the lines. Sabalenka will go into the third set and has a chance to knock her down. But Collins loves New York, and she will win it, 7-6. That would be a blast.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Marin Cilic
At the US Open in 2014, the Croat won the event. With a huge serve, it looked like he would win Slams again. But he did not, and there were a couple times that he looked like he was spectacular during the matches, when he went deep at Wimbledon and the Australian Open. But after that, he lost a lot. Maybe he was confused a lot. It didn’t help that he plays almost each week. At least this week, the 33-year-old became much more in-your-face. He has to, as Alcaraz is also playing excellent ball, not every game, but he is has become a force. Cilic wants to hit a number of aces, Cilic has to try to knock Alcaraz down, because the Spaniard is much faster side to side. Cilic will try so ruthless, but in the fourth set, Alcaraz will aim for the lines and win it.

Karolina Pliskova vs. Vika Azarenka
The Czech has an amazing first serve, with hundreds of aces. She has been better than all of the players over the past 13 years, except for Serena. That is why she has won many huge events and aldo reached the final at the US Open and Wimbledon, but she has yet to win a Grand Slam. At the age of 30, the former No. 1 might not do it at the USO, or any Grand Slams. But this year and next year, when she goes deep, then perhaps she can go for it. She is powerful, but she does not run fast enough. As we have said before, Azarenka loves to put it away from both sides. She has won two Grand Slams, so obviously, she can be dangerous, but she is aging, too, and currently, she can be erratic. They have played each eight times, 4-4. This is a real toss-up. In the third set, Pliskova will hold the lines, and where down Azarenka.

Andrey Rublev vs. Cameron Norrie
Brit Norrie has had a great season. He is so fit, with his weighty forehand, his vicious backhand and his potent first serve. Even if he was decent, two years ago, he was a little bit soft. But now, he will shatter the ball. He has to, because the Russian is so much smarter than he did even last year. He is tall, he can be alert, and when he is running hard, then he can decide where he can go. Rublev has said that he has grown, on the court and off. When he first started, he could get livid, but now at his 24-years-old, he is calmer. This will be a five-setter, some brutal points, yet in the end, Rublev will bite Norrie.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story

Sunday match predictions at the US Open

September 4, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Daniil Medvedev vs. Nick Kyrgios
This is one of the potential fantastic match, with the Russian and the Australian facing off. Medvedev won the U.S. Open last year, and he came alive. Kyrgios has not won a Slam yet, but this year, he rose gradually, and now, he has beaten a huge number of top players. They both can throw in a number of aces, there forehands are huge, and they can really mix it up. However, Medvedev does not come into the net much, but his backhand is strong. Plus, when he is locked in, then he can hit it even harder. Kyrgios throws in a bunch of shots, and he can be very creative. He can get very ticked off, but he is more control, now, and he has said that he does have a chance to finally win a Slam. He almost did when he went into the final at Wimbledon, and he was close versus Novak Djokovic, but the Serbian finally broke him down. Kyrgios said that he is a bit tired because he has been traveling for months, but after the US Open is done, then he can go home, because he misses it. He does want to punch on with Medvedev, but he will be very patient, and in the fifth set, the Russian will brake him down.

Coco Gauff vs. Shuai Zhang
Yes, the teenager Gauff is looking very good, but so is Zhang, who had some cracking good points in the last couple months. The American is running well, and her forehand and her backhand are very real. Her serve OK, but not great yet, and at times she over-thinks about what she is going to do. When you are really young, the best solution is to simply play. The Chinese plays a lot of doubles, and she is good, at the net, but again, it took her a long time to believe that in the singles. She can be more gifted. So now, she does. Serena Williams just lost, so now it is anyone to win the event. Gauff thinks she can, so if she can play at the top of the level, then she can beat Zhang in straight sets. If not, that will be a very close three-setter. In a sense, it is a toss-up, but Gauff will hit a couple tremendous winners and move into next week.

Jannik Sinner vs. Ilya Ivashka
The Italian is blasting the ball. He is so fast, and can rush the net. He is very tall, and his first serve and his return can be wonderful. He has improved, but once again, he has yet to win a Slam. But if he continued to get fancy, he does have a chance to go even further. Ivashka can be very respectable, but the 28-year-old has yet to win a big tournament. At least last year, he did win Winston-Salem. So, he is good, but not great. Because of that, Sinner wins it in three sets.

Carolina Garcia vs. Allison Riske
Each year, there are the same old players, who are good, but not great. For years, they are OK, but to chomp down the unreal players, in general, they will lose. The Frenchwoman came out of nowhere, recently, and now the 28-year-old is on a roll. She is quick, she can swing harder, and also, in her eyes, you can tell that she finally trusted herself. The same goes with Riske, who started winning when she was young, but she could only win on the grass, in singles. But gradually, on in the hardcourts, she grew into her fine player with both of her strokes. The American Riske really wants to reach into the second week, but if you watch both of them, Garcia just won the Western & Southern Open, a gigantic week. She will do it again, in three subline sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: coco gauff, daniil medvedev, Jannik Sinner, Nick Kyrgios

Saturday pix at the 2022 US Open

September 3, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Garbiñe Muguruza vs Petra Kvitova
This should be a classic match given that both of them have won two Grand Slams – Muguruza at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and Kvitova at Wimbledon. They can be brilliant, or they can be irritated on court. However, when they play each other, and they are into it, then they can break down break down each other’s forehands and backhands. Yes, the Spaniard can be bloody, but they have played each other six times before, and the Czech has won five times. Apparently, Kvitova knows how to defeat Muguruza and she will win it in two wild sets.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Jenson Brooksby
The Spaniard thinks that if he can be more consistent, and also listen to what he should be doing, then he can beat anyone. The young man has beaten so many very good players, while still having some ups and downs. He really likes to bang it around, and slam it, but so does Brooksby, who had a fine match two days ago. The American really is in a position to control rallies, and within a second, then he will put it away. Alacraz can run into the net and be an effective volleyer. Alcaraz is still deciding what he can do, before he starts in the match, and then on court. In this match he will dance around the American, and he win in four savage sets.

Andrey Rublev vs Denis Shapovalov
The Russian has been close to be into the top 4, and maybe he can win a Grand Slam, for the first time. He is super consistent, and he is also more determined as he hits harder and harder at the lines. There are times, week after week, when he gets a little pissed off, and then he can lose. Yet Rublev has learned that he needs to be calm. The Canadian plays all the time, and her travels everywhere. Shapovalov has a lot of moxie and with some cool variety. He has won some jolting sets, but he has also had some mediocre days. Rublev will fight in this Grand Slams and has been a little bit more honest with himself, at least this week. He will win it in five crunchy sets.

Danielle Collins vs Alize Cornet
The entire world on Friday wanted to see Serena Williams. But in the third set, she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic . So that it is, and she has retired. Obviously, she is one of the great players ever. So now, the fans will be focusing on other good players like Collins. At this year’s Australian Open, and she reached the final, upsetting the now No. 1 Iga Swiatek. In the final, she was pretty close, but the current No.1, Ash Barty slightly hit her. Then, Barty retired, which was a shocker. The American had a terrific tournament here and hopes to take out Cornet, as she did in the Australian Open quarters. On Saturday, they will play each other again, toe to toe. The Frenchwoman has been playing very well over the last months, and she can really bring it, using her serves and mix it up everywhere. But, if she does not, then Collins will blitz her. Yes, Cornet is very confident, but Collins wants to play much better than she did over the past five months, when she was sloppy. This time, Collins will win with some hard volleys in three sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Alize Cornet, Andrey Rublev, Carlos Alcaraz, danielle Collins, denis Shapovalov, Garbiñe Muguruza, Petra Kvitova, us open

Friday predictions at US Open

September 2, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Matteo Berrettini vs Andy Murray
Just before he got hurt, the Italian was feeling good, not only being very consistent snd controlled. He has yet to win a Slam, but he has gone deep, especially at the 2021 Wimbledon, when he reached the final, and he lost to No. 1 Novak Djokovic in four sets. But he kept going, jumping in and throwing it hard. This year, he reached the semis at the Australian Open, and he won Queen’s. But guess what? In Stuttgart, Berrettini played against the three-time champion, Murray, and he beat him in three difficult sets. This time, at the U.S. Open, things can change. The Scotl looked very good in the first two matches, as he hit some wonderful strokes, especially with his first serve and his wide-eyed return. If it goes into the fifth set, then Berrettini will tire him, but it doesn’t, then Murray can decide how to fool him. That is a toss-up, but in the end, Murray will win.

Nick Kyrgios vs J.J. Wolf
The so-called ‘new’ American, Wolf, is already smiling on the courts, sprinting and bashing his forehand. This year, he played a number of challengers, and he won a lot, but the 23-year-old knew that he needed to add to his shots. At least this week, he threw in some wonderful strokes. However, Kyrgios is playing so well, almost every match, with his mind-blowing serves, his muscular forehand, and also, his with his fine net play. Of course he can yell all day, but other than that, on court, he finally learned to be more efficient. There will be some crazy rallies, but Kyrgios will win in three sets.

Jessica Pegula vs Yue Yuan
We talked it before, but if Pegula can reach the second week, then she will finally have a terrific change to win the US Open. For so many years, she was pretty consistent, but she rarely tried to go for it, deep and close to the corners. She finally decided that if she can get into the top 20, then the world would know who she is. But even further, Pegula is ranked No. 7, which is keen. However, she has yet to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows, so this time, she has to knock it up.
Yuan has come out of nowhere in singles and currently she is ranked No. 142. Maybe she started to work hard with a couple of coaches, so she is now more mature. Regardless, Pegula will be patient, and when she has a chance, she can crack her shots. She will win in two sets.

Vika Azarenka vs Petra Martin
The Belarussian has won two Grand Slams. Years ago, she was one of the most aggressive strokers with her forehand and her backhand. However, her serve has been OK, but not great, and at the net, she stumbles. But the outgoing Azarenka can really return, in the lines. She would scream ‘C’MON.’ Very loud She has a child, and she has said that she is totally happy. We are sure that she is, but on court early in her matches, she can look terrific, but then, not so much. If she can manage to win fast, then she will continue to battle. However, Croatian Martin has been around for a long time. Years ago, she hit the top 15, and at the US Open, she reached the fourth round a few times. Yet she never was able to go super far. She upset Paula Badosa this week, so the 31-years-old must have been solid. Can she poke around against Azarenka? Maybe, for an hour or so, early, but Azarenka will be intense and she will win it in two sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Andy Murray, J.J. Wolf, Jessica Pegula, Matteo Berrettini, Nick Kyrgios, us open, vika azarenka, Yue Yuan

Four picks on Thursday at the US Open

September 1, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Grigor Dimitrov vs Brandon Nakashima
Is it possible that the Bulgarian can reach the semis at a Grand Slam once again? The cool backhander did go deep at Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the US Open. In 2017, he was ranked No. 3, winning the ATP Finals. It was clear that each year, with his terrific strokes, he did say that yes, I certainly will win a Grand Slam. Unfortunately, he hasn’t yet, and he is starting to slow down. However, can still rock the boat. Yet American Nakashima is trying to gain speed but his shots were not deep enough. He has had some good wins, but the 21-year-old is ranked No. 69, so he has continue finding new gears. It is so hard to tell how Dimitrov will play, but in this match, he will sweep the American and win it in three sets.

Iga Świątek vs Sloane Stephens
When No. 1 Świątek starts in a point she can hit it so hard, with her forehand and backhand. She will go for it almost immediately. Yes, Ash Barty retired after she won at the Australian Open, leaving the top ranking open. Then Świątek won match after match. However, when she easily won at Roland Garros (she just lost one set) but then she began to slump a little bit, losing three tournaments a row. Look, you cannot win all the time, it is impossible, even with great players such as Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. Swiatek has won two Grand Slams at RG. So, this year, she has won six titles — excellent titles — but she is not in their class yet. Stephens won the USO, but she pulled back after that. Still, she is not in the top 32. Of course, she can be super consistent, still, but she hasn’t improved enough. When she is happy, on court, then she thinks about what to do, she can snap back into form. Once again, there will be some bewitching points, but Świątek will storm early and win it in three sets.

Borna Coric vs Jenson Brooksby
The Serbian just won Winston-Salem. He said he wasn’t sure that when he came back after his surgery, he will not win a lot all the time. But slowly, he started to be consistent and really go for it. So, in the past 10 days, he was much more dependable. The 21-year-old American Brooksby has put together a number of very good wins. However, in three months, he was very solid, but after Miami, he began to slump. Yes, here and there, he can be very good, but in the last three tournaments, he was confused, and he lost quickly. Of course, he can rip it with his forehand and backhand, but he can also miss a lot. Coric won a long five-setter in the first round and will have to find ways to break down Brooksby. Coric will win in four difficult sets.

Belinda Bencic vs Sorana Cirstea
The Swiss can look amazing, running around and mixing it up, but then she would lose control. She can be thrilling, and then she can also look lazy. She has always been a fascinating person, but Bencic still doesn’t understand who she is. The veteran Cirstea is also trying to reach into the top 20 before she retires. Ten years ago, she did reach to the No. 21, and then she fell back. Currently now, the Romanian has had some OK wins, but not a lot in 2022. Maybe she can change it up and try to something new. Perhaps she will, but Bencic will out hit her with some incredible shots to win in straight sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Belinda Bencic, Brandon Nakashima, Grigor Dimitrov, Iga Świątek, Jenson Brooksby, sloane stephens, us open

Four US Open Wednesday picks

August 31, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Serena Williams vs Anett Kontaveit
Believe it or not, Serena and the No. 2 Kontaveit have not played each other — ever. That is strange, but in the past four years, Serena was not playing much, and Kontaveit was slowly rising, waiting to get stellar. She did, eventually, although she has not won a tournament this season, although she did reach into the final in Hamburg. However, Kontaveit is a off her game as she lost very early on the hardcourts in Toronto and Cincinnati. Serena is still struggling, but when she wins a match, which she did on Monday, she begins to be more lethal. Arthur Ashe Stadium will be packed, with the fans cheering so loud. Serena has had some tough moments at Ashe, but she has also has some perfect matches. Kontaveit will try to rush her, and hit it very deep, while Serena has her tremendous serve that can produce so many aces. Serena will win it again, in two competitive sets.

Daniil Medvedev vs. Arthur Rinderknech
On Tuesday, the 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, lost against Alize Cornet. The Frenchwoman played fantastic, but the Britain was so-so, and she will drop down to around No. 71. Ouch. But not the Russian, Medvedev, who also won last year’s Slam in Flushing Meadows. Then, he was so solid, and he rarely missed the ball. But since then, the No. 1 has some great moments, but he also can be challenged. At least he reached the final at the Australian Open, but in the end, Rafa Nadal rose up and he won it 7-5 in the fifth set. Wow. Rinderknech can be stylish, and he can also throw it around, but can he work him for hours? I cannot see that, although he did have some fine wins this year. But the charging Medvedev will win it in three sets.

Tommy Paul vs Sebastian Korda
Both of the Americans know each other very well. They have practiced, and they are both trying to rise to elite status. They are more than decent, but they have much more work to do. Gradually, they have found out which way to go, and to chuck it around. It will be very close, but Korda has not played terrific well in the summer, and Paul has been more up than down. Tommy Paul will win in four sets.

Coco Gauff vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
There are a lot of TV commentators, and almost all of them say that the teenager Gauff will win a Grand Slam for the first time very soon. That is possible, but this year? I am not sure. Yes, she made it to the final at Roland Garros, and that was wonderful, but week after week, she can go far, yet this year she has not won in tournament in 2022. So the 18-year-old is very, very good, but not great — yet. Just like Serena and Venus Williams, who began to dominate in the late 1999, the potential is there. Ruse is not in the top 100, and she had struggled this year. In Dubai, she upset some very good players, such as Paula Badosa. Good, but not good enough and Gauff will win in straight sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story

Day 2, 2022 US Open, the picks

August 30, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Emma Raducanu vs Alize Cornet
Raducanu, ranked No. 11, won the 2021 US Open last year. Oh, really? Who knew that before Flushing Meadows that this teenager would play her so steady forehand and backhand, set after set after set. But, she did and then everyone knew that she can be terrific. But in the last 12 months, she has been up and down. The pressure is totally on. The Frenchwoman knows that, and also, she has been pretty good even last week in Cleveland when she reached the semis. She has played so many matches, and sometimes she is so consistent and other times, she is flat. There will be some fascinating points, with some wild backhands. Cornet really wants to reach the second week at the US Open, but Raducanu wants to rise, again. She will win in three sets.

Danielle Collins vs. Naomi Osaka
Talk about a pick-em. Yes, Osaka has won it twice, and when she did it, she was so strong and so focused. But, in the past year and a half, due to the vicious COVID-19, she was hit with depression. After that, she didn’t want to play in the matches. So far, since she made it into the final at Miami, she has won one match, and four lost. Osaka is now ranked No. 44, and given that she won the US Open in the 2018 and 2020, she can be mentally off. Maybe she can be motivated against Collins. However, the No. 19 Collins is very forceful, and she also goes for it immediately. It should be a bangup match, and Osaka will finally be happy and win it in three dramatic sets.

Diego Schwartzman vs. Jack Sock
The Argentine has been for years, and he always get into the rally, and grind it. Plus, when he has a chance, Schwartzman can swing away, and when he does, he can pocket a lot of winners. Years ago, the American actually got into the top 10, winning Paris. After that, his body got hurt and he wasn’t trying hard enough in the singles. In the doubles, yes, he is very good. In singles he has improved slightly, but he is ranked No. 107. Not good enough. He did say that he is trying again, and he thinks that if he is 100 percent, he will win many more matches. But not against the No. 16 Schwartzman, who knows that he wants to push him side to side, and tire him out. He will, and he will win in four sets.

Frances Tiafoe vs. Marcos Giron
Talk about a matchup, as both of them have practiced a lot, so they know each other well. Tiafoe is in the top 26, and Giron is in the top 56, too, meaning that at the US Open, they really want to reach the second week. But only one can win it, and when they are playing, they certainly be very creative and attack when it is right. They have to hit a lot of first serves — not second serves — smack their forehands, and bend down low at the net. It doesn’t look like that they will be nervous, so the most important is to be very focused. Tiafoe will edge him in five sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Alize Cornet, danielle Collins, Diego Schwartzman, Emma Raducanu, Frances Tiafoe, Jack Sock, naomi osaka, us open

Four picks on Monday at the 2022 United States Open

August 28, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Serena Williams vs Danka Kovinic
This will be Serena’s last tournament ever. So, hopefully, Serena will steal the show, and perhaps she can win at least a few matches. Of course she is one of the best players ever, but if you watched when she played over the last of six weeks, she won only one match, and she lost three contests. She is a little bit slow, giving that she is 40-years-old. Yes, she can throw in her famous serves, and her forehand and backhand. But if you cannot play all the time, in the practice courts and in the matches, which she did that for 25 years in the WTA, then it is almost impossible to win the U.S. Open. The last time the 23-time Grand Slam champion won a major was in the Australian Open in 2017 — that is five years ago. Maybe if Serena starts on the roll, then the fans will be overjoyed. But not for long. She is a pretty good chance to beat Kovinic, who is a decent player, but not wonderful. If Serena locks in early, then she can win in three sets. However, in the second round, she might have to play against the No. 2, Anett Kontaveit, which will be a huge challenge. Gigantic.

Taylor Fritz vs Brandon Holt
Taylor Fritz, from San Diego, has a legitimate chance to go very far. However, there are times when he is playing terrific, and other times — and he plays a lot — he can get frustrated at the end of matches and then he will miss spray errors. That is why he hasn’t won a Grand Slam yet. But when he feels it, then he can put down everyone. On Monday he will face Brandon Holt whose his mom, Tracy Austin, won the 1979 US Open when she was only 16 years old. Two years later, she won it again. She was so incredibly consistent and also, she was so intense. Her son qualified, which was almost phenomenal, but he still has a lot of work to do, as he is ranked No. 312. Can he upset Fritz? I would think there will be some fun sets, but in the end, Fritz will take him down in four sets.

Andy Murray vs Francisco Cerundolo
Will the former US Open champion go far this week? Maybe, but while Murray looks pretty good, but not great. While he has some good wins, the problem is that in two out of three sets, he can maintain it. But in the three out of five, then his legs can hurt him, given that he had to go into the surgery, and he almost retired. Murray can though, tough it out, on Monday. However, he has to face the Argentine Cerundolo, who won Bastad on clay recently and also on the hardcourts in April, he put together with some good wins at Miami, beating Gael Monfils and Frances Tiafoe. At the start of the year, he was No. 127, and now he is ranked No. 27, meaning that he is jumping again. There will be long rallies, and in the fifth set, Murray will nail a bunch of winners with his all-star backhand.Taylor Fritz vs Brandon Holt
Taylor Fritz, from San Diego, has a legitimate chance to go very far. However, there are times when he is playing terrific, and other times — and he plays a lot — he can get frustrated at the end of matches and then he will miss spray errors. That is why he hasn’t won a Grand Slam yet. But when he feels it, then he can put down everyone. On Monday he will face Brandon Holt whose his mom, Tracy Austin, won the 1979 US Open when she was only 16 years old. Two years later, she won it again. She was so incredibly consistent and also, she was so intense. Her son qualified, which was almost phenomenal, but he still has a lot of work to do, as he is ranked No. 312. Can he upset Fritz? I would think there will be some fun sets, but in the end, Fritz will take him down in four set

Pablo Carreno Busta vs Dominic Thiem
If anyone watched the Spaniard when he started to play, he was fit, and he does like to rally. But he wasn’t going to punch the ball on the lines because he didn’t have the pace. The five years ago at the US Open he rose up, reaching into the semis. Then again, in 2020, he was right there, knocking at the door, but he lost to Alexander Zverev in five brutal sets. Maybe he can do it now, as he has become more thoughtful. However, he has to face Thiem, who won it two years ago in Flushing Meadows. The Austrian looked so good, with his terrific forehand and his backhand, with a lot of spin by both sides. But he got hurt a number of times, so he pulled out month after month. He has beaten the Slam winners, Rafa Nadal and Djokovic, many times. Thiem does want to scratch into the top 10, eventually, but Carreno Busta will jar him down, hour after hour and he will win it in five tender sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story

McEnroe and Evert mull Medvedev and Osaka at US Open

August 27, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Both with John McEnroe and Chrissy Evert have won at Flushing Meadows. They were the best players back then, but now they have retired. However, they are on ESPN. While they talked about with Serena and Venus Williams earlier this week for a long time, still, they had a lot of comments. Some very good ones, and some real questions.

Outside of the famous Williamses, there are other players who could go very deep — or even to win — the US Open.

The No. 1 Daniil Medvedev won it last year, but since then, he has looked pretty good, but not spectacular. The former No. 1, Naomi Osaka, who won it twice at the USO, she has been struggling a lot.

According with McEnroe, Medvedev has not improved enough.

“He looks more or less the same. You wonder what’s going on in his head, obviously, with what’s going on with that war,” McEnroe said. “So, I can’t imagine it’s not playing a part in all these Russian players [who couldn’t play at Wimbledon] and what’s going on in that part of the world. Having said that, I still think he’s one of the favorites, one of the top two couple guys, no question about it. So that’s obviously an interesting storyline to follow. And tactically there’s a whole other thing. Obviously he plays so far back. It seems like that will catch up to him … players should figure out a way to deal with that and he’s got to adjust.”

Osaka has been phenomenal when she is so focused, with her huge first serve, and her hard hitting with her forehand and backhand. In her first Grand Slam final in 2018, the fans were almost stunned when she exploded out of nowhere and she upset Serena. But eventually, after Osaka won the 2021 Australian Open, she became depressed. Mentally, the Japanese player had to stop, a lot. She wouldn’t play that much, and here and there, she could walk on the court and be pleased, but in the matches, maybe she didn’t want to be there.

Evert said, “You don’t know how she’s made us very aware that mental health is very important in her tennis. And I think she’s hitting the ball fine. I’ve watched her the last couple of weeks. She’s hitting the ball fine. She’s made some coaching changes [she does not have a real coach, currently] by which I think was probably because of the time — I don’t know why. But anyway, she’s made some changes. And I think she just isn’t match-tough. I think that’s the one thing that’s hurting her. She just hasn’t played enough matches where she feels her instincts are back and she feels confident going for the shots, going for shots on big points like when she was playing her best tennis. If she gets to the second week, I think she’s going to be dangerous. She loves the hard courts and I think she’s going to feel good playing at the US Open.”

McEnroe thinks that Osaka can be thrilled, on and off the court, or she can be very gloomy. When she is smashing her forehand and backhand, then she can put together a ton of winners. But she is now ranked No. 44. He thinks the 24-year-old needs to step it up.

“Did she look happy? Does she look sad?,” McEnroe said. “Does she look this way or that? So, in a way it made it more difficult for her. So that part I think she didn’t take that. It seems like that part may not have been taken into account enough. And so that’s made it trickier. I don’t know where her head’s at. Obviously, she’s incredible on hard courts. And I’m sure if her head is into it the way it can be, she’s obviously one of the favorites, in my book. But at the moment it doesn’t seem like she’s all there. But she’s won it twice [at the US Open] and she’s won four majors [also twice at the Aussie Open] on hard courts. To think she wouldn’t be capable of doing it would be crazy.”

NOTES
Here is my story about Alize Cornet on Tennis.com.

Cornet, 32, is set to break the consecutive Slam appearance record, with her 63^rd straight major at the US Open. She could retire next year, but right now she is playing very good, so maybe she can continue for a couple years. She will probably make decision in 2023.

Here is my Tennis.com story on Maxime Cressy. The French-American, said, “I do big things when I’m really focused.” He will have to. The best think is that he is seeded for the first time at a major at No. 30. In the third round, if he gets there, he might face Stefanos Tsitsipas. That would be a huge battle.

19-year-old Ben Shelton is in the draw based on winning the NCAA singles this year. If he makes it to the third round he might have to face against the No. 1, Daniil Medvedev, who won it last year. That is almost impossible, but you never know. … Jessica Pegula has yet to reach into the quarters at the USO, but she is ranked No. 7. So this time, she has to be so real and be much more fierce. Just do it.

TennisReporters.net plans on commenting on the US Open draws on Saturday and Sunday.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Alize Cornet, Ben Shelton, Chris Evert, daniil medvedev, flushing meadows, Jessica Pegula, john mcenroe, Maxime Cressy, naomi osaka, us open