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The Picks in Rome: Thursday, May 18

May 17, 2023 by
Daniil Medvedev
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Daniil Medvedev over Yannick Hanfmann
The Russian has been a very solid year, especially on the hardcourts. Before, at times, Medvedev would be erratic, and frustration, but currently, he finally changed a few things in the court, on clay. So now, he was very pleased. “Yeah, play definitely some more spin. Especially the sliding, I think the sliding was always a problem,” he said Medvedev.  “After Madrid, after I lost, a couple days I practiced there I tried really a lot to focus on the sliding, on the movement. I felt like I improve in these couple of days.” He has, in Rome, when he can attack, but also, he has to really go for it when he has a chance.

Hanfmann has yet to go very  deep at all, and believe it or not, the 31-year-old is ranked No. 101. His highest rank is No. 92, period. That is pretty low, but maybe he finally became mainly  better. He did win a bunch of matches, in Houston, and Madrid, so he must be totally into it. Even so, Medvedev usually feels serene, and he can throw it into the corners. He will win it in two, interesting, sets.
 
Borna Coric over Stefanos Tsitsipas 
The Croation has not had a great year, yet, but he has beaten Tsitsipas three different times, on the hardcourts. He won it at Cincinnati, in the 2022 final, and he played so sharp. He is pretty smart, on court, and he really likes the rallies, especially with his strong backhand.  It is very hard to understand how well he can play, day after day, as in certain weeks, he loses pretty early.
Tsitsipas is a little more often, but again, he can check out, with his strokes. He is fast, and he can swing darn hard, but he can also return too short. On court, they know how they play, as in 2022, Coric beat him 7-6 in the third in Vienna, Australia, but at the beginning of the year, in the United Cup Australia, Tsitsipas won it 7-5 in the third on the hard courts.

But today, it will be in the wet clay, so both of them have to change it up, a lot, and wait for a long time until they can try to split the ball. Coric has had a mediocre year, losing a lot, but at least two weeks ago, he reached the semis in Madrid, so his confidence is coming back, again.   The Croatian will grind it for over two hours, and in the third set, Coric will win it 7-6. 

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The Picks in Madrid: Friday, May 4

May 5, 2023 by
Carlos Alcaraz
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Carlos Alcaraz over Borna Coric
On Friday, the Spaniard will be 20-years-old and he is in the semis again. Alcaraz is on top of the ball, crushing his strong forehand and his backhand, which can be exact, or fling it with some crazy, good spin. He has never played against Coric, and he knows that the rallies will be super long. But both of them will do it, trying to table in some cosmic shots. As Alcaraz said, he is just fine to hurl in a number of dropshots, and with a huge of winners, right over the net.

“This is something that I did a lot when I was young. I feel really comfortable on that shot,” he said.” Yeah, is a really good weapon for me. Honestly, I just feel it, the dropshot. Alcaraz did win the 2022 US Open, but that is only one Slam, yet. However, he really does believe he will continue to get better, and win, a lot. As he said: “I want to be part of the, you know, the best tennis players in history and I will work for it.”

Back in 2018, Coric took down Roger Federer, Juan Martin del Potro, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, among others. He was so terrific, grinding all the time, and he was so consistent. But he never made it into the top 10, partly because he could be somewhat odd, on the court, and also, he needed to take over the net, more frequently. “Carlos is an impressive player in an incredible form. He is the favorite against me, but I will go out and have fun on the court,” Boris said. Five years later, he is going for it, and if he wants to out-hit against Alcaraz, he must have to take off the gloves off. He might, but Alcaraz will pound him and knock him out in two, tough, sets.
 
Jan-Lennard Struff over Aslan Karatsev
To see these two in the semis at the ATP 1000s rarely happens. The combination of the rankings are 176. That is so rare in the ATP 1000s, where so few people would think that the players will win in a bunchs of matches. Usually, deep at the tournaments, the top 30 men will have a legitimate chance to go very profound with the young players, good players, but this time, the long veterans are here now.

Struff stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas, and it looked like he was going to lose quickly, but he came up huge, especially with his first serve, and his hefty forehand. Two weeks ago, they played each other in a qualifying, and Karatsev chopped him. Now, it will be very close again, this time on the fast clay courts.

“Aslan is playing amazing this week. I didn’t play the best tennis in that match, but he made me play not good I feel like,” Struff said. “I think we need to analyze it now, focus on the match and I hope I can do better.”
He will have to as Karatsev is finally rising, and he must be breathtaking.
“I started the year inside the top 100, then I dropped and lost some matches. You have to keep going and believe,” Karatsev said. “From the qualifying, match by match, it has got harder, so mentally you have to be there more. Because your opponent doesn’t give you any free points so you have to be there yourself.”

It will be maybe three hours, with some long points, and in the third set, Struff will hit a few winners into the corner. He will win it , when he is almost exhausted, but he will be happy.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Iga Swiatek over Veronika Kudermetova
Correct: Aryna Sabalenka over Maria Sakkari
Stefanos Tsitsipas over Jan-Lennard Struff
Zhizhen Zhang over Aslan Karatsev

Matt’s picks from Madrid

7 out of 12, 58.3% correct

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The Picks in Madrid: Wednesday, May 3

May 3, 2023 by
Petra Martic
Ron Cioffi/TR

Carlos Alcaraz over Karen Khachanov
Here and there, the Spaniard is already playing as well as he could, crushing Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2. He is already so good, crushing his forehand and his backhand, and he attacks, even with his return.
Khachanov has had a fine event, putting together with his massive shots, and also, he can rip the ball. However, while he knows that he has to almost attack him, early, but how can he bend down and get into the rallies? He can do it for a while, but the Spaniard Alcaraz will drive him close to the net and put it away. The soon to be No. 1 Alcaraz will win it in two, long, sets.

Jessica Pegula over Veronika Kudermetova
In Madrid, Pegula has finally understand what she knows how to be more honest, on the court, and in the dirt. Not only has she played for years in the singles, but now over the past couple years she has also plays the doubles, and that is became with her special shots. She reactid, all the time. Kudermetova also can react, with her hard forehand and her backhand, somewhat deep, and close to the corners. She can miss some solitary shots, but she can also to be truly center. This will be a long match, point after point, but at the end, Pegula will grab it in the third set, with her new optimistic game.

Iga Swiatek over Petra Martic
The No. 1 is rolling again, with her huge, deep shots. Swiatek jumps very quickly, and she will mash her vicious forehand and her backhand. There are moments when she dumps the ball, but after words, she reacts. Martic is still fast, and she goes to try with the rallies. She also can mix it up, and fool her opponents. However, Swiatek is overthrow again, and she will out-hit her, so Martic won’t see what to do. The Polish Swiatek will win it, in two, fast, sets.

Borna Coric over Daniel Altmaier
He played more than three hours, and clearly he will be tired, but finally, he is playing much better than he did three months ago. Coric can be so steady, and he can also engage in the rallies. He can also mix it up, and when he is feeling good, then he can strike. The German Altmaier rose last year, winning a bunch with small events. However, the 24-year-old has pushed himself, going early, and bang close to the lines. He will try to exhaust Coric, which is a good idea, but as long as he doesn’t retire, with an injury, the Croatian will win it in two, exhausting sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Carlos Alcaraz  over Alexander Zverev
Correct: Aryna Sabalenka over Mayar Sherif
Taylor Fritz over Zhizhen Zhang
Irina-Cametia Begu over Maria Sakkari 

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TennisReporters.net’s top 32 in 2022: men 32-26

December 10, 2022 by
Tommy Paul
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

32. Tommy Paul
The American had a fine year, not because he is not in the top 10, but last year he was laboring. On court, he would attempt to grind it, but in order to beat the very good players, he has to hit it much more harder. That he did, when this year, in Paris, he upset Roberto Bautista Agut, Rafa Nadal, and Pablo Carreno Busta. That was pretty darn good. Still, in order to reach in the top 20, he will have to improve his return and his second serve.

31. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
It is very interesting that the Spaniard, who must be thinking that just like with Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz — the Slam winners, that if he continues to be much more laid back, then he will be able to leap into the top 10. If so, he is going to hit it much more harder and really push it. If he does not, then he will not be able to go super far at the ATP 1000s, let alone at the Slams.

30. Francisco Cerundolo
There are so many Argentines who are super respectable. But can Cerundolo chop down the big boys? Well, he is trying as he started ranked No. 127 and is now top 30. On clay, he became much more confident, scoring wins with his big forehand. He was happy on court, but in the last four months, he froze. Hopefully in 2023, he can find his direction and ram it up into the top 15.

29. Miomir Kecmanovic
The Serbian began to rise up this year, reaching the quarters at Indian Wells and Miami. He is not quite ready to beat the great players, but at least he upset Felix Auger-Aliassime. His forehand and backhands are stout. Yes, he played some terrific matches. But he is not steady enough and he lost too early. He will have to change it in 2023, to hand it closer to the lines.

28. Grigor Dimitrov
Years ago, the Bulgarian was mixing it up and his one-hander backhand was effective. He reached the top 10 and also made it into a three Grand Slam semis. The veteran can be a blast when he is on, but then he would be so-so in the match and can be so erratic and frustrated. He has not improved enough, especially at the net. Before he retires, he has to add some different shots. Please do.

27. Daniel Evans
The 32-year-old Britain veteran had a decent year, winning Nottingham on grass. But at Wimbledon, he went down immediately in the first round. That was brutal. Yes, he can be very steady, and he is much more thoughtful, but the problem is that while he wants to win a huge tournament, he has not been able to do it. There will be another chance to go super deep at the Slams. At least one more time.

26. Borna Coric
Mr. Consistent finally played perfectly, winning Cincinnati, beating Nadal, Auger-Aliassime, Cameron Norrie and Stefanos Tsitsipas. That was a stunner, as he has been pretty good, but not spectacular. He is fast, and he runs, plus he can play a long time during the rallies. Yes, he got hurt and then he came back, and he changed it up a little bit, with his serve. He may never win a Slam, but at least he is more effective now.

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Top 30s in 2018: Men, 15-11

December 24, 2018 by

Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas

No. 15: Stefanos Tsitsipas
What a year for Tsitsipas. He was ranked No. 131 during the fall of 2017. He ended up 2018 ranked No. 15. For the 20-year-old, he rose way up and he was upbeat. Even during the fall, he changed a dramatic amount. For him, he was mentally smart, more aggressive and stronger. The Greek Tsitsipas reached the ATP 1000 Canada, upending Dominic Thiem, Novak Djokovic, Alexandra Zverev and Kevin Anderson before losing to Rafa Nadal. He won Stockholm, and he grabbed the Next Gen ATP Final. He may be a little bit erratic, but as long has he continues to get better, he will push in the top-10, and maybe even further. 
  
No. 14: Kyle Edmund
When he is erratic, the Brit showed that he is worried. But now, Edmund, who finally appears to believe in himself. Without a doubt, he can be confused on court, and he needs to be better with his returns. When moves forward, his returns improve substantially. In the Australian Open, he reached the semis, beating Grigor Dimitrov before he lost to the huge serving Marin Cilic. During much of the year, he was spotty. In the fall he kept working off court and on court, and he won Antwerp in October. Look, Edmund has to go into the net and put it away — more frequently. He still has a lot of work ahead, but if he does, in 2019, he can even reach the final at a Slam or in the ATP 1000. He will move up, that is for sure.  

No. 13: Fabio Fognini
During the last two years, the Italian has been so much more consistent and he is calmer than he used to be. He can smack the forehand and backhand, he is very quick and intelligent. For sure, he can still become angry, and extremely frustrated, and his brain blows up. However, when he begins to breathe, and look at everything, then he can become very intelligent and he can hit so many cool shots. Fognini won three events this year: Sao Paulo, Bastad (on clay) and Los Cabos, on hard court. That shows consistency. However, he has yet to reach to the finals at the Grand Slams and the ATP 1000s. Clearly, he wants to do that for the first time. He is 31-years-old, and he has a few years left, but in 2019, he needs to lock it in and stay there.

No. 12: Borna Coric
A year ago, I wasn’t sure that Coric could focus enough to succeed. In 2018, he played substantially better, he began to grow up, and on court, he decided that he would grind until the sunshine went down. And that’s he did, playing many long rallies — super, long rallies — and when he had an opportunity, he would strike, instead of just hitting the ball back. He won Halle. In October, he reached the ATP 1000 Shanghai in the final, upending Stan Wawrinka, Juan Martin del Potro and Roger Federer, before he losing to No. 1 Novak Djokovic. That was his best week, ever. Next year, he will push really hard to reach the top 5. He is ready, but can he go very deep at the Slams? That will be an investigation.
 
No. 11: Karen Khachanov
The tall Russian had a terrific fall. He captured the Paris Masters, shocking four top 10-ers: John Isner, Zverev, Thiem and Djokovic. The 22-year-old also won Moscow and Marseille. At the US Open, while he lost against Rafa Nadal, it was very close. He is a huge hitter on both sides, and his serve is massive. But, like the younger players, he does not return very well. Khachanov has to continue to work on his returns; I mean for hours and hours because the Grand Slams winners — like Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Andy Murray and Wawrinka — they return consistently and deep. Other Russians – Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov who won a couple of majors – could jump on the first and second serves. Not only where they capable of putting it away at the net, but were devastating with their return game. The young 6-foot-6 Kachanov is taller and hits harder than both of them. As he as said, he works off court all the time. So in 2019, if is he continues to revamp, he will be there deep in many semis and the finals. He is that good.

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Fascinating matchups coming up at Wimbledon

June 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Roger Federer actually lost on Sunday against Borna Coric in the final in Halle. The Swiss won a tournament in Stuttgart, and the next week, he was a little flat, but it’s not like he was all bad. In the final, in the third set, Coric kept digging and nailing the winners, grabbing it 6-2. 

The Croatian has improved a good amount this year, especially in the last six months. He has only won two titles, but still, he reached the semis at Indian Wells, and he nearly upset Federer on the hardcourts. This time, on grass — which Coric never loved — the strong young man went for it. And that is why he won.

Now, even though Coric is rising. It will take him even more time, because he can still back off, and that is why he didn’t go deep at Roland Garros. However, not only did Coric upset Federer, he also knocked down Alexander Zverev. That was very significant. Now he is ranked No. 21. It will be fascinating to watch next week. By the way, Coric has yet to reach a second week at the Slams — ever. It is time for him to step it up.

Last year at Wimbledon, Federer won the title once again, not even dropping a set, including battering Marin Cilic in the final. Can ‘Rog’ win it again? For sure, he is the favorite, according to Novak Djokovic, who just reached the final at Queen’s. But while those two can win Wimby again — combined that would be 11 titles, eight for Federer and three for Djokovic — that doesn’t mean that someone new can snag it. Perhaps Cilic, for the first time on the beloved grass, Rafael Nadal, who has won here before, but generally, after he wins Roland Garros, he has played so many matches, a ton of matches, on clay. Maybe his legs and arms are OK, but he pulled out of Queen’s. So, perhaps, during Wimbledon, he will break down, with a same old injury. But let’s hope not.

As  Djokovic said: “It’s always very close. I mean, Roger, I think everyone will agree that Roger is the No. 1 favorite. But Cilic is right up there, next to him. Cilic, Nadal, these guys.”

And Novak, too.

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Rising Borna Coric outlasts Shapovalov

March 28, 2018 by Leave a Comment

The young 21-year-old Borna Coric has played so much better in the past month. Last year, he was all over the place, but now, he doesn’t get so angry and throw his rackets. No, when it is in to it, he just walks over and he refocuses.

On Tuesday, he edged Denis Shapovalov, 7-6 4-6 6-4. The Canadian was very enthusiastic, but he also can be pretty pissed off when he misses a shot or two. Coric has changed a few things, but really, he is just so steady and acurrate. For sure, he needs to come into the net a little bit more, but he can run forever…

 Alexander Zverev looked terrific against Nick Kyrgios and he won it 6-4 6-4. The tall Zverev is finally  becoming more happy, consistent, and he just rips the ball from both wings. He won Rome and Canada last year so clearly, when he is feeling good, he can beat anyone. I mean, everyone. But it is fairly early so if he wants to win Miami, he needs to breath and be more smart.
Kyrgios is hurt again. He has been hurt all the time this season, and a good amount last year, too. He is a damn good player when he feels healthy, but when he is not, he struggles. Who knows when he will play again…

The American Frances Tiafoe outlasted Tomas Berdych on Tuesday, but then he had to play again and he lost against Kevin Anderson. Tiafoe has had a terrific six weeks, and hopefully, he will continue to practice. We will see much more in the coming months…

Here comes a wild match tonight: Milos Raonic vs. Juan Martin del Potro. Raonic looks healthy, and JMDP is on fire and I mean he is totally smoking. Del Potro won Indian Wells, and he recently said that he is pretty tired, but he is locked in and he is not missing the tiny balls. Still, Raonic  wants to take him out, badly. He is going to have to return extremely well or he will lose in straight sets…
 
Talk about Vika Azarenka who is launching. She overcame  Katarina Pliskova 7-5 6-3. Her serve has improved — a little — her backhand can go anywhere she goes, and she is super optimistic at the net. She can win the title again, but she has to dig deep for hours to do it…

She will face Sloane Stephens in the semis on Thursday. Just like Azarenka, she is hopeful and self-assured. She is super steady,  she can really run and mix it up, which is why she destroyed Angie Kerber. However, against Azarenka, she has to attack early and keep it deep, or she will do down. Or perhaps Stephens can were her down in the third set. Perhaps.  

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Djokovic, dominatrix: Novak d. Nadal in Beijing. Shanghai begins

October 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

Djokovic IW 15 TR MALT1656

Now what to do with Novak Djokovic? He has essentially won just about everything this season. Oh sure, he was somewhat stunned against losing against Stan Wawrinka in the final at Roland Garros, but he never looked shaken. He has won the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Wimbledon, the US Open and now Beijing. He has won on hard courts, clay and grass. He has beaten Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal. Yes, Federer grabbed a couple matches, but Djokovic has beaten him in the most important contests, out-thinking him in the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.

The same goes with Murray, who finally beat the Serbian for the first time in two years by upending him in Montreal. But Djokovic did essentially thrash him in the Aussie Open, plus he beat the Brit four times this season.

Djokovic has played Nadal three times this year, and he has not only been beating him, but he didn’t lose a set, winning 6-2, 6-2 in the final of Beijing. Yes, Nadal was happy to even being there, given that he has lost so many times against guys he used to be able to control. Against Djokovic, he has a long way before he can unearth him.

The incredible thing about Djokovic is that he actually likes the fall. A number of players pretty much fall apart after the US Open because they are too tired or they have checked out mentally,. Since 2011, Djokovic has been pushing hard every month. Of course, he hasn’t been able to win every single match, but when he wasn’t hurt during the fall, he has been pretty electric, winning Beijing, Shanghai, Paris/Bercy and the Barclay ATP World Tour Finals in London.

He can do just about anything now, from his intelligent serve; his much improved and forceful forehand; his never-miss backhand; and his amazing return. Right now, over the past four years, he has been the most consistent player around, and the only way someone can knock him out of the top No. 1 is to be substantially better.

Who is ready to do that? Currently, Djokovic is on fire. He can win Shanghai, Paris/Bercy and the ATP World Tour Finals. He might be a little tired, since he is always going deep, but he can do it again. He really can.

Nadal was pretty pleased by reaching the final in Beijing, knocking out Vasek Pospisil, Jack Sock and the dreaded Fabio Fognini. But in the final, the Spaniard was OK, but not even close to winning. Yes, he ran hard, and he was aggressive for the most part, but he didn’t crack enough deep balls, he couldn’t smack enough backhands and his serve is still a little weak. The 14-time champion Nadal was substantially better in 2013 when he was neck to neck with Djokovic, but now, he isn’t confident enough. Perhaps he will continue to improve over the next five weeks, but if the now No. 6 is able to do so, he will have to cut loose.

Nadal is hurt and he may pull out of Shanghai this week if he doesn’t feel better. Federer and Murray are both there, and both of them will have clean shots to go deep, especially the “Great Federer,” who won the tournament last year.

But what about the younger competitors? All of them need to end the season doing very well, or if they cannot, in 2016 they will not be able to take apart the so-called Big Four (Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray) as well as the excellent Stan Wawrinka, who just won Tokyo and grabbed the French Open, owning two Slams now.

Here are some of the 24 and under which are still at Shanghai:

Milos Raonic, Dominic Thiem, David Goffin, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Borna Coric, Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios and Sock.

Every singles player – including Raonic, who was able to end 2014 ranked No. 8 – could use a huge win or two. Thiem is now ranked No. 18 and could face Djokovic. The Aussie Tomic could face the Serbian in the quarters – if he gets there. The 18-year-old Coric will face the other Croatian, Marina Cilic. That will be a gigantic battle.

The Belgian Goffin has to play excellent ball during the rest of the season, as he will have to be the main man in the Davis Cup final at home against Great Britain. He could face Murray in the third round, but first things first as he could play John Isner – not an easy task.

The unknown Basilashvili from Georgia qualified and recently cracked into the top 100. It’s hard to tell how really good he is, but at least he’s rising.

Kyrgios will play against the 25-year-old Kei Nishikori, who was disappointed in losing against Benoit Paire in the semifinals.  Kyrgios has not been spectacular in Asia, but he has been very decent, currently being ranked No. 32. Even though the 20-year-old has been controversial this year, he has tremendous potential and could end the year in the top 20. In order to do so, he has to keep his head on straight. He better run and run, because that’s what the super fast Nishikori loves to do.

The American Sock is currently ranked No. 33 and he was very close against Nadal. He wasn’t patient enough at the end, but he will have a legitimate opportunity in the second round if he gets there against Tomas Berdych. The Czech has not had his best year ever in 2015, but he is still ranked No. 5 and he rarely plays poorly. Sock will have to play as well as he could to be able to upset him. Sock can hold fairly easy with a huge serve, but he is still has to work substantially to improve his return – all the kids need to.

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