sloane stephens – TennisReporters.net

On clay, Sloane Stephens was brilliant, wins Rouen

April 21, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

Month after month, when Sloane Stephens is up and down all the time, but last week, she finally raised it again, winning a title, in Rouen. How she did that, when in the first three months, she could not turn on the lights, but this time, she went for it, earlier.

On Sunday, she beat Magda Linette 6-1, 2-6, 6-2. That was pretty darn good in the third set. Her forehand and her backhand went deep, close to the lines. She could lose it early again, but the former 2017 US Open champion is finally satisfied.

As Stephens said, she is friendly with Linette, but she beat her anyway. “She’s one of my favorite people on tour. We spend a lot of time together and practice together a ton. We talk literally every single week . It’s so nice to play against someone I really care about in the final.”

Now Stephens will have to play against the great players, at Madrid, Rome and then, at Roland Garros. Hopefully in Paris, she will be ranked in the top 30, at least. Can she reach into the second week? Time will tell.

The other American, Taylor Fritz, made it into the final in Munich, and it was possible that he could win it all, but the veteran Jan-Lennard Struff finally won the tournament. He was so darn happy, when he beat Fritz 7-5, 6-3. He is 33-year-old , so it took him a very long time to breath, in the final. This time, he was super consistent.

“I have been on the tour for such a long time. It’s an unbelievable feeling to win my first title [on] home soil,” the German said. “I played good tennis this week. I am very happy, as I beat many great guys. It’s just amazing to do it here in Germany.”

He did, and while Fritz couldn’t win a tournament, at least he got there.

Ruud dominates in Barcelona
In Barcelona, Casper Ruud really knew it, in the final, as eight days ago in Monte Carlo , he lost in the final against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Yet this time, Ruud decided to win it, he was going to have to play more powerful, and push himself, close to the baseline. He did that, when he won it 7-5, 6-3 over the Greek. Ruud has won 11 titles, 10 on clay, so obviously he really likes to rally. However, if he can win a huge event, he can actually try to win at the French Open, but it is still early. The No. 6 is thrilled.

Rybakina wins in Stuttgart
Over in Stuttgart, Elena Rybakina won the title, and once again, beating everyone when she is really on. She can be so aggressive, and she can throw it all around, everywhere. Yes, she can be ticked off, when she is not thrilled during the match, and she can toon it out. However, when she is thoughtful, and patient, then she can beat anyone.

In the semis, she beat the No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 , and then in the final, she blasted the young player, Marta Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-2. That was the first time this year that the No. 4 Rybakina won a tournament. So now, she is very satisfied and more confident. As she said when she beat Swiatek: “I think it’s just style of the game. Iga, she moves really well and she likes to dominate in the rally. With me, it’s difficult because I play fast, I play flatter, and also like to move the opponent.

“So matchup where we are both pushing each other, both trying to dominate in the point. So I think of course also my serve helps a lot. That’s why some matches I win; some matches I lose. But it’s always tough for her to play against me and for me to play against her.”

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: barcelona, Casper Ruud, Elena Rybakina, Jan-Lennard Struff, Magna Linnett, Rouen, sloane stephens, stuttgart, Taylor Fritz

Sloane Stephens: ‘Who knows how much longer I will play, but there is still a lot left’

March 22, 2024 by Matthew Cronin

The older they get, many people finally become more intelligent, and what is really happening. Sloane Stephens just turned 31-years-old, and while she won the 2017 US Open, after that, she could not do it again. Other players want to do it again and again, and while she certainly made some huge efforts, it wasn’t good enough, and that is OK. However, she has had some tough times, on the court. She knows that.

“It’s been obviously a difficult journey, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of heartbreak, a lot of strong, incredible performances on incredible stages and great trophies and just very low lows,” she said, who is playing Miami Open, after she beat Angelique Kerber 6-2, 6-3. “It’s definitely been a journey in itself, and I think obviously when I started playing tennis I would have never even dreamed of winning a Grand Slam or being No. 3 in the world. I was playing because I really enjoyed it and I loved it. Somebody asked me this the other day, like, does it matter that you were never No. 1 in the world? I’m, like, absolutely not. I maxed out what I had, I won a Grand Slam, I had a great career-high ranking, played the Olympics, done all these amazing things.”

Yes, there are some terrific memories, when they are awake, or sleeping. It is the good stuff, or bad, depending during the matches. Stephens can be so steady, with her forehand and her backhand, and when she is comfortable, then she can try to nail it into the lines. Even on the dirt, when she is skipping around on the court, then she can mix it up, a lot. She did reach at Roland Garros, in 2018, and while she didn’t win it, she was more respectable. But not all the time. Current, she is ranked No. 41, which is OK, but not wonderful. At the last six Slams, since 2022, she could not advance into the second week. Ouch. Perhaps she can do it again, but maybe she will just hang it around.

“When you start a sport, you can have a dream, obviously something that you really want to do, and if you do that, you get there, it’s always incredible, right? But when you do that and then you do so many other things on top of it, it’s just like icing on the cake,” said Stephens, who will face against the solid person, Sorano Cirstea.

“I feel like I have done so much, but there is still a lot left. I’m 31, but who knows how much longer I will play, but there is still a lot left. Hopefully some more, like, accomplishments and fun things to come.”

Osaka win sets up clash with Svitolina
Another four time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka, is starting to play well, so when she can go month after month, then eventually, she can be much more attentive. She can mash her forehand and her backhand down the line, quickly, and she can also raid, immediately. She has had some tough years, with her thoughts, and she is working on it, but in the matches, she can re-think what she is doing. She has to face against another very good player, Elina Svitolina, in the second round. Both of them will hit the ball so hard.

It has to be with Frances Tiafoe this week in Florida, as the other American hasn’t gone deep this year, and even before that. In 2023 in June he won Stuttgart, Germany, but after that, he fell down. Two weeks ago at Indian Wells, he lost in the second round. He was a fine player in 2022, when he reached into the semi at the US Open, and he almost did it, but Carlos Alcaraz overcame him in the fifth set. At Miami, Tiafoe will face a solid veteran, the Aussie, Christopher O’Connell, so that should be a long contest. Backhand to backhand, whoever can press it, down the line, he will grab it.

Is Cameron Norrie is fading this year? I would say, no, not yet, as the No. 30 players all the time, and he is very steady. However, he should blitz early. He will face versus Flavio Cobolli, who has had a solid season.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Cameron Norrie, Frances Tiafoe, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, miami, naomi osaka, sloane stephens

The picks at Wimbledon: Thursday, July 6

July 6, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

These picks were written before play started. Due to a technical error, these picks were not posted on Wednesday, July 5.

Andy Murray over Stefanos Tsitsipas
The Greek finally grabbed it right at the end, when he beat Dominic Thiem 7-6(8) in the fifth set. He almost lost, but he hung in there, so on Thursday, his legs will be tired, but he really wants to win. He has been struggling, but his strokes can be consistent, so against Murray, he must be super patient.

When Murray won Wimbledon, twice, his return was very deep, his first serve was banging it, and his backhand was fantastic. However, he is not that fast now, as not only that he us aging, but he almost retired due to his broken legs. He knows that, and he is trying to bring home again, but he may not as he was not won an event since 2019. As he said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt sort of physically this good coming into Wimbledon. The last few years have been very challenging. I’m hoping I’m fit and ready for a good run.”

Tsitsipas can play amazing on the hardcourt, but on the grass, he is still wheezing on the slippy grass. There will some long rallies, yet Murray will rise once again at Wimbledon, and he will win it in five, dramatic sets.

Sloane Stephens over Donna Vekic
The once great American player now has become slightly better, trying to powder the ball. Stephens looked pretty good at Roland Garros, which was somewhat surprising, as she lost a number with some sole matches. However, she has gone deep at a variety of events, so when she is feeling good, she can be highly consistent.

Vekic has had a somewhat solid year, when she reached into the final at Berlin, but also, on clay, she was so-so. She can be aggressive, and she can mix it up, but not often enough. Vekic does think that eventually, she can actually win a Slam for the first time, but she will have to prove it. Stephens has been before, so she will do it again, and win it in three tremendous sets.

Belinda Bencic over Danielle Collins

The Swiss can look that she is going into the sky, touch it, and then go backdown and nail with a damn fast winner. Bencic can really hustle, and she can also grind it until she has a chance to hit the lines. However, when she backs up, she can throw in some strange errors. Collins had a good year in 2022, but over the past nine months, she has lost pretty quickly. Maybe she is confused, or it is possible that she doesn’t know where to go. Bencic will find it, and she will win it in two big sets.

Frances Tiafoe over Dominic Stricker
All of a sudden, Tiafoe actually knows how to play on the grass. Over the years at Wimbledon, he looked cluttered, and he wasn’t going to go the right way. But he just won Stuttgart, so apparently, he could see how he can play, with his strokes. He might be 22- years-old, but he does think that he is a little more sold. Stricker is also very young, as he is 20-years-old, and he his rising, slowly. He is briskly fast, and the Swiss can bash his forehand. However, Tiafoe will be more patient and he will win it in three long sets.

Matt’s picks this week

Correct: Belinda Bencic over Danielle Collins
Correct: Frances Tiafoe over Dominic Stricker
~~Sloane Stephens over Donna Vekic~~

Matt’s picks from Wimbledon

3 out of 4, 75% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Andy Murray, Belinda Bencic, danielle Collins, Donna Vekic, Frances Tiafoe, Matthew Cronin, sloane stephens, Stefanos Tsitsipas, wimbledon

The picks at Roland Garros: Sunday, June 4

June 3, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Sloane Stephens over Aryna Sabalenka
This could be wrong, because Sabalenka is playing darn good, but yesterday, the Belarusian was upset because her country’s involvement in Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine. She decided not to go into the press conference. As she said: “I know they still expect some questions that are more about the politics and not so much about my tennis,” Sabalenka said. “For many months now, I have answered these questions at tournaments and been very clear in my feelings and my thoughts. These questions do not bother me after my matches. I know that I have to provide answers to the media on things not related to my tennis or my matches, but on Wednesday, I did not feel safe in the press conference.”

That is likely true, and because of that, she must be pretty sad. When she gets on court , Sabalenka might be thinking about the situation, so then she won’t be able to be very calm, with her massive forehand and her backhand.

Stephens has heard it, so now she will totally be in control. She has had a difficult year, but once and a while, she can not just be patient, in the back, but she waits until she can smash it, down the line or crosscourt. Stephens is now saying that she loves playing at Roland Garros. This week, she has looked very good, with very few errors. This time, Stephens will dust down Sabalenka in the third set, putting together some tremendous shots.

Carlos Alcaraz over Lorenzo Musetti
This should be a terrific match, as Musetti won Hamburg in 2022, beating Alcaraz in three wonderful sets. However, at the USOpen, Alcaraz won it all. The Italian finally became much more real.

“The match in Hamburg gave me a lot of confidence… Of course, it’s a completely different position, different status but I think we will enjoy our match.” “I see (him as) a friend. He started a (new) way, a new generation,” Musetti said. We are trying to push him and to get closer.” The Spaniard added, “It’s a big challenge for me. I remember the match in Hamburg. It was really, really tough. He’s a really talented player. I know him very well. We played tournaments when we were kids… It’s going to be a really fun match.”

There will be some extremely rallies, with there backhands, flat or spin. They don’t chop it much, but with the forehand, they can push it very close on the backcourts. They are still working to improve there returns, especially with there second serve.

Alcaraz is on fire again, and while Musetti thinks he has to be more steady, he won’t be able to change a few important tactic in the fifth set. Alcaraz will win it with a few insane shots.

Stefanos Tsitsipas over Sebastian Ofner
The Greek is quietly playing as he knows that in the second week, many of the fans will go to watch him. He has not had a fantastic year in 2023, as there were times when he would lose his head. But currently, he is more serene, just like he did at the Australian Open. In the final, he was there but then he went down. After that, he lost some odd matches, but in Paris, he decides that he was going to think hard, every second.

“I’ve produced some really good tennis when I’m at a psychological state of ‘nothing matters and I don’t care anymore’. And I just want to play it, I don’t care what the outcome will be,” he said. “I have broken back. I’ve suddenly found my rhythm back into the game. I guess there is lack of expectation, lack of thought… when you’re out there because you’re constantly analysis every decision.”

Ofner just played three hours and 50 minutes, and while he ran for hours, and he looked a little bit tired, but his backhand was so sober. However, the 27-year-old has yet to reach the top 100, ever. He will eventually, but he won’t be able to out-hit him. Once again, Tsitsipas will reach into the second week once again. He will win it in straight sets.

Elina Svitolina over Daria Kasatkina
The No. 9 has had a pretty decent year, as the Russian has improved with her forehand, as well as her first serve. She can be somewhat consistent, and on occasion she can chuck in some fun drop shots.

However, Kasatkina has played six times again Svitolina, and she lost every time. She is more oomph, as her forehand and her backhand are stronger. There are times when the former No. 3 would disappear, with some crazy shots, but the older you get, you can be much more proper. Without a doubt, Kasatkina will try to change something new, but even if she does, Svitolina will find her way again, and she will win it in two long sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Alexander Zverev over Frances Tiafoe
Correct: Coco Gauff over Mirra Andreeva
Correct: Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova over Kayla Day
~~Taylor Fritz over Francisco Cerundolo~~

Matt’s picks from Roland Garros

19 out of 28, 67.8% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Elina Svitolina, french open, Lorenzo Musetti, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, paris, roland garros, roland-garros, sloane stephens, Stefanos Tsitsipas

The picks at Roland Garros: Monday, May 28

May 28, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Brandon Nakashima over Denis Shapovalov
The Canadian has looked decent this year, but he is certainly struggling a lot. Shapovalov has a lot of spin, and he can also attack early, but at times, he isn’t concentrating enough. The young American had a fine year in 2022, but over the past five months, he has been disappointed. He can be proper, and he does like to sit in near the baseline and swing it, at times, hard. However, his serve is mediocre , and his return is OK, but they aren’t harsh enough. Last week he did reach in the semis in Lyon, so perhaps his pride is rising.

Shapovalov is ranked No. 32 and last year he was a charmer, but this year he has done almost nothing. Maybe he is hurt, on the court, or perhaps he is thinking about whether he can add some new shots, or stable. Eventually, he will, but who knows when? This is a huge toss-up between the both of them, but at least Nakashima had a good week, so then he will win it in five brutish sets.

Felix Auger-Aliassime over Fabio Fognini
This should be a blast in Paris. The Italian Fognini has played so many clay courts matches, for many years, and he has won so fantastic matches. He has a lot of roll, and he can also chop it, here and there. He can return, and he can touch with the the drop, shots. But at the Slams, he has been OK, but he has yet to reach the semis. Maybe this week, he can coup so high.

But I doubt, that. The other Canadian Auger-Aliassime, had a tremendous year in 2022, beating a number of the very good players. He is a colossal
hitter, and he is fast when he is running. He can slap his forehand and his backhand, and he can crush it down the line. But this year he is another player who is really struggling. Even with that, though, Auger-Aliassime will start to twirl, and he will win the match, with some gigantic forehands.

Sloane Stephens over Karolina Pliskova
The American Stephens has had a tough year, but she plays constantly, and while she has lost some odd matches, there are times when she can lock it in. The former 2017 U.S Open champion was so steady, from the backcourt, and she could really mix it up with her solid backhand and her forehand.

She may never win another Grand Slam again, but if she wants to push herself one more time, then maybe she can do it.

The Czech Pliskova can look tremendous, beating anyone, with her massive first serve and her forehand. She came so close to winning the U.S. and Wimbledon, but in the third set she misses a few critical shots. However, when she is feeling good, she can put it together with so many winners. Stephens has beaten Pliskova four times, including at the 2021 French Open, and while she can check out, at time, she will do it again, in three, wild, sets. As she said: ‘I think now I’ve kind of picked up some momentum. The clay-court season is always nice. And being able to win matches and collect a lot of points is always good. So just been trying to keep the momentum going from here.”

Elina Svitolina over Marina Treisan
They have not played with each other before, but the Ukranian is on fire again, as she just won another event, 19 all together. Svitolina is such a competitor, and she can hit some phenomenal strokes. She just returned, as she had a child, so now it is different, when you run, but already, she is much more snug. The Italian Treisan said, “I’m living in a dream.” Well that is good, except a few days ago, she became injured. She can skid it side to side, but if you are not 100 percent, then against Svitolina, she won’t be able to bring her down. Svitolina will win it in two sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Sebastian Korda over Mackenzie McDonald
Correct: Camila Giorgi over Alize Cornet
Correct: Jessica Pegula over Danielle Collins
~~John Isner over Nuno Borges~~

Matt’s picks from Roland Garros

3 out of 4, 75% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Brandon Nakashima, Elina Svitolina, Felix Auger-Aliassime, french open, Matthew Cronin, paris, roland garros, roland-garros, sloane stephens

The Picks on clay in Houston and Charleston: Tuesday, April 4

April 4, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Houston

Jason Kubler over Fernando Verdasco
The Brisbane player Kubler has traveled for a long time, through the world, and perhaps someday, the 29-year-old will reached the top 50 — or maybe not. He can really hustle, but he does not hit it hard enough. However, he always tried, so when he plays against the former No. 10, Verdasco, he will try to mentally exhaust him. Years ago, the Spaniard was a terrify player, but listen, the man is 39-year-old, in the singles, which is almost impossible to get back into the top 100. Without a doubt, Verdasco’s forehand was tremendous, but the older you get, you will start to slowly down, and he has. Kubler will rack him, pretty quickly, winning in two sets.

Steve Johnson over Facundo Bagnis
We can start again with the aging people, the 30-plus men, who keep driving as long as they can. The Argentine Bagnis is 33-year- old , and there are a ton of male players, but he has yet to get into the top 50. Of course he wants to, but to do it, he has to push himself more harder, with a lot of changes.
And guess what? The American is also 33-years-old, and in the same thing, Johnson travels almost every week. There were times when he upset some very good players, but he is now ranked No. 152, and he is losing frequently. Yes, he likes to grind it, and he also can throw it some good shots, but realistically, he is not powerful with his forehand and his backhand. This is a toss up. but in the United States. Johnson will rim Bagnis in three tight sets.

Charleston

Victoria Azarenka over Sloane Stephens
They have both won the Grand Slams, when Azarenka who won it twice at the Australian Open, and Stephens did grab it, at the 2017 U.S Open. However, right now it would be surprising that they can win a Slam again, or even a huge event. Azarenka looks very decent, but at a tournament, even if she looks tremendous in the first couple days, but after that, she gets hurt, physically, and then she folds. Stephens has dropped out of the top 32, even lower, as on the court, she has not improved at all. Maybe she will before she retires, but she has not changed much. Azarenka is more robust, and she can hit it as cruel as she can. This time, Azarenka will win in two savage sets.

Claire Liu over Bernarda Pera
The Californian Liu is only 22-years-old, so eventually, she should be more pushy, and chuck in some different shots. Gradually, she is slowly moving up the change, but it is hard to see that she can crack into the top 10. When Pera is on, she can play so consistently, but in the past seven months, the current No. 38 has not won against the top competitors. Perhaps she is confused on courts, or she has made with too many errors, but either way, she has to step it up and mash the ball. Liu will beat Pera in three very long sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: charleston, Claire Liu, Houston, Jason Kubler, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, sloane stephens, steve johnson, victoria azarenka

The Picks in Miami: Wednesday, March 22

March 22, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Bianca Andreescu vs. Emma Raducanu
The Canadian is rising again, and given that she won the 2019 US Open, everything is possible. But not quite yet, as Andreescu is playing better, but she can also mentally disappear. The same goes with the Great Britain, Raducanu, who also won the 2021 US Open, when she was on top of the ball. But the 20-year-old lost her way, and she still is trying to pick up the peaces. This will be a marathon, and Andreescu will out-last Raducanu in three brutal sets.

Sloane Stephens vs. Shelby Rogers
The one-time Grand Slam champion, Stephens, has not done much over the past few years. At times, she does look impressive, but that is very rare. Rogers can be up and down, and there are times when she can be real, and she will go for the lines, but she can also miss a number of shots. However, Rogers knows that Stephens is struggling each week, so in Miami, she will were her down, mentally. Rogers will win it in three, long sets.

Andy Murray vs. Dusan Lajovin
The 35-year old Andy Murray has improved this year, and while he is aging, he still strokes it. His backhand is so solid, and also, he can really mix it up. Lajovin can be consistent, and he will attempt to bash the ball, but he has never gone deep at the Slams, which is why Murray will win in two easy sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Andy Murray, Bianca Andreescu, Dusan Lajovin, Emma Raducanu, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Shelby Rogers, sloane stephens

2023 Australian Open: Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud lose to Americans

January 19, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

American, Mackenzie McDonald just played his best tennis, ever, upsetting the No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

He was so quick, and he crushed his forehand and his backhand. Who, knew? He was been decent, but he had not defeated top 10 players.

Nadal was clearly hurt, and while he could have retired in the second set, he decided to play on when he suffered a hip injury. He was breaking down, and his legs were very sore. Usually, he can run so fast, and nail his famous forehand, but he put together so many errors. That is the way it goes. The 36-year-old has rarely retired, but he wanted to just play, win or lose. This time, he lost, and he has to deal with it.

Will Nadal return next year in the 2024 Australia Open? It is tough to say.

“It’s a tough moment, it’s a tough day, and you need to accept that and keep going. Just can’t say that I am not destroyed mentally this time because I would be lying,” Nadal said. “I don’t know what’s going on, if it’s muscle, if it’s joint. I have history in the hip. I had to do treatments in the past, address a little. It was not this amount of problem. Now I feel I cannot move.”

Believe it or not, McDonald, who was born in Berkeley, Calif., is only ranked No. 65, and the 27-year-old has never won a tournament. However, gradually, they can get better, but they have to construct the points. Plus, they have to try every second. This time, he swung hard.

“[Nadal] didn’t even want to roll over and quit. He kept fighting until basically the end, even though he maybe didn’t have all his game,” McDonald said. “I was like, `Hey, that’s actually really big for me, because I haven’t beaten someone of that caliber.”

If he can reach into the second week, then maybe he will think that he can upset other excellent players.

Brooksby ousts Ruud
In another stunner, a Northern Californian – Jenson Brooksby – took out another the second-seeded Casper Ruud 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-2. The Norwegian threw in 55 unforced errors, giving the consistent Brooksby an opening to advance into the third round. This is Brooksby’s first time playing the Australian Open.

Ruud said, “I didn’t feel like I played particularly bad or not at the level that I wanted to play, but he just ended up winning many of the longer rallies and had an answer to all the questions that I asked him.”

A number of the American men won on Wednesday and Thursday, including Frances Tiafoe and Sebastian Korda. Michael Mmoh eliminated Alexander Zverev in four sets. JJ Wolf ousted Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

Taylor Fritz, the top American man, lost to Australian Alexei Popyrin in five sets. Cressy fell victim to the ninth-seed Hunger Rune in straight sets in the second round.

Brandon Holt outlasted Aleksandar Vukic 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. It is never easy to play for many hours in a five-setter, but he stood in there, and he was very consistent. He has only won few matches in the ATP Tour, so he has to be powerful, and to mix it up more. But Holt is young, so gradually, he will understand what he should do.

Lauren Davis on a roll
Who would have thought that Lauren Davis won another match? Davis has played in the WTA for 12 years, and while she plays all the time. Incredibly she has won eight matches in a row, coming off a victory in Hobart. She decided to really go for it, rather than just be more stable. It seems to be working.

Coco Gauff is playing with intelligence and hitting the balls deep. She took down the former US Open champion, Emma Raducanu, 6-3, 7-6(4). She can beat most players, but she still has to improve her serve and return. Maybe she can do it over the next 11 days…

For other American women, there are some impressive wins by Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Bernarda Pera and Claire Liu.

What a match it was when Danielle Collins edged Karolina Muchova 6-7(1), 6-2, 7-6(6). The rallies were tremendous.

Two of the women lost, Sloane Stephens and Alison Riske-Amritraj. Once again, Stephens is unsure where she is going. This year will be fascinating. Can she comeback into the top 10 again, or stay under the top 50? She will have to change, something.

Riske-Amritraj plays a lot, too, but perhaps she can find a way into the net and put it away, or attack when she is returning.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Australian Open, Brandon Holt, Casper Ruud, coco gauff, Jenson Brooksby, lauren davis, Mackenzie McDonald, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Rafael Nadal, sloane stephens

The Novak Djokovic show

January 5, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Is it really crazy that Novak Djokovic will win another Grand Slam? He is already super excited and wants to show the fans that he can dominate on a hardcourt. He is currently in Adelaide. Whether he wins or loses, when he will go into Melbourne, the tension will begin to build.

However, last year he arrived in Australia and was ready to play the Australian Open, but he never was vaccinated for COVID-19. So the government told him that he had to leave. It was very controversial, but it was his fault.

But now, he can play this year as that requirement has been lifted. He is happy, but there must be a lot of fans who do not like him. Regardless, he is a terrify player, especially with his famous backhand.

Thanasi Kokkinakis, won the tournament at Adelaide last year. He knows it will be difficult to do it once again and said that Djokovic is close to be the best player ever.

“Stats-wise and everything like that, [Djokovic] will probably end up being the best to ever do it, at least in the short-term anyway. … It’s going to be the Djokovic Show, but there’s a lot of good players that are more than capable of winning this title,” Kokkinakis said.

Perhaps he will, but Rafa Nadal is right there, even though he is rusty now, and Daniil Medvedev is ready to go, too, as well as No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune and others.

Kokkinakis does think that Djokovic can hit the lines, but there are some very good players who can win it.

The same goes with Frances Tiafoe, who is currently playing the United Cup in Australia. Already he has had a few very good wins. Another American, Jessica Pegula, destroyed Iga Świątek

6-2, 6-2, bringing the Pole to post-match tears. But Pegula is a little bit insecure since at the 2022 WTA Final, she did not win a single match.

Now, we think, that she is fresh and looked totally locked in over Świątek.

But look, to start the year, so many people who are thrilled and can play fantastic early. Each year, even though bouncing up and down, players can start to hit lots of errors. And then, when you were practicing, your new shots, or you so-so shots, and then you could feel the right balls. However, in a match, if you miss it, over and over again, then you can go back with the old tactics. Thousands of people have done that, that is why that there have been a small number of Grand Slam winners.

Talking Tennis with Tracy
Two people who I have known for a long time with Tracy Austin and Joel Drucker. Currently, they do Talking Tennis with Tracy each week about various players and about their strokes. It is very good. I listened to it (it’s also streaming video) a few days ago, and again, they are darn good. They discussed a bunch of players, mostly the top 10 competitors, women and men. I could throw all of them, but here are two, at least a couple questions marks, such as Ons Jabeur and Sloane Stephens.

Can Jabeur win a Slam this year? Right now, I would say that she is a good maybe. Yes, she had a very good 2022. But in the two major finals, she backed off. She does throw in some terrific shots, but she can lose her focus. That is why she has only won three tournaments, period. So to win a major, she is going to have to be more placid and real.

With the 2017 US Open champion, Stephens was very consistent and on the court and she was super intense. But last year, she was decent, but not wonderful. Stephens did looked pretty good in three events. She is ranked No. 37, which isn’t horrible, but she really has to step it up each week. She can run forever, and she can also be extra consistent. But, everyone knows how she plays, so if she wants to move closer into the top 10, then she is going to have to pop the ball a lot.
Stephens also reached into the final at the 2018 Roland Garros, and she looked wonderful. But now, she should move closer towards the net and return harder. Plus, if she wants to go into the semis at the Slams, then she has to be find new tactics. If she doesn’t, then the 29-year-old will not win a Slam again.

If you want to read about Daniil Medvedev, he can be very interesting. Here is a story I just wrote.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: daniil medvedev, Matt Cronin, Novak Djokovic, Ons Jabeur, sloane stephens, Thanasi Kokkinakis

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