Preview: WTA at the 2023 Roland Garros

Navratilova: Swiatek “may not quite be at that stage yet, but she still should be super confident.”

Last year in the final at Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek won the title, winning seven matches and only one set. In the last three matches, she won so easy, and in the final, she smoked Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-3. That was the second time she won another Slam.

As the 18 Grand Slam Martina Navratilova said, she thinks that if she is 100 percent, fiscally, she can win it, again. Once forever, the Pole won Madrid.

Iga Świątek
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

“I definitely want to see [Swiatek] in full flight. I want to see her supplanted only if people play better than her, not because she was injured. Last year, Iga almost forgot how to lose. She may not quite be at that stage yet, but she still should be super confident.”

Absolutely. However, Swiatek has had a pretty good year, but not fantastic. Her forehand and her backhand is gigantic, and her return is aggressive. At the net, she is still learning how to react, and also, at times, she is not patient enough, all the time. But it changes each year, so when she walk into Paris, then she will remember that in 2022, she knew exactly how to play. She did win Stuttgart last month, so she is right there.

If you look at the field, there are only two who won Roland Garros, with Barbora Krejcikova and Jelena Ostapenko.  Two of the other players, with Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza, both won it, but Halep has been suspended, and Muguruza decided not to play for a couple months. She is sick of playing tennis.

There are a number of players who can win the event, all 10 of them, such as obviously, Swiatek, Krejcikova , Ostapenko,  and maybe Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina , Jessica Pegula, Gauff, Veronika Kudermetova, Paula Badosa and the French women, Caroline Garcia, who played fantastic last year, but in the French Open, she has yet into the semis.

Navratilova was a dominant players, in the hardcourts, on the grass, and on the clay, too.

She does think that while they are playing, they have to be super patient, and not  to be spacey.

“Sabalenka [who won in Madrid] and Rybakina [who won in Rome], they would be the favorites to win. No doubt about it, the way they’ve played on the clay,” Navratilova said. “All those players should be pretty confident coming in, with Swiatek having the most if her body is 100 percent. We could have a surprising winner, but chances are it will be one of the three.”

Two of the Americans,  Pegula and Gauff, looked highly good at times, and yes, in the doubles, they are way up there. However, they have had some fine matches, but also, they can unfulfilled. Both of them have improved at the net, and retuning, too, but however, in the singles, they have to change if up, even more. Gauff has thrown some solid wins, but in 2023, she has lost some solitary matches. She still has to remedy her forehand, and also, her second serve. But both of them are severe when they are striking the ball.

In the second week, the excellent doubles player, as well as the singles,  Krejcikovi, won it two years ago, so she will be charge up. The huge hitter, Ostapenko, can hit some massive, crazy shots, and she can also miss a ton of  errors, but she is locked in, and she can snap it into the corners. The Russian Kudermetova can be very stable, and the Spaniard, Badosa, can be super patient. Or how about the French woman, Caroline Garcia, who had a terrific last year, but she has yet to reach the semis at Roland Garros, ever. She has said that it can be so much pressure in Paris. It could be, and next week, they will all find out if they are playing great, mediocre, or playing poorly. That will be a fascinating to watch, with another, interesting, year.

The Picks in Rome: Sunday, May 21

Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev over Holger Rune
“I play some of my best tennis when I play the top guys of the world.”

At point will the Russian  Medvedev finally rise into the top of the mountain, once again. He has been darn close, and during his life, he can be confused, off and on the court, but when he begins to understand, then he can raise his game. He can hustle, he can slap his forehand, and he can mix it up with his sizable backhand. Over the past five years, he changed a few things, and also, he has a good tactics, and also, he practices a lot, so he can put together any shot. For sure, his return is decent, but not phenomenal, and at the net, he can bend down, look to see where the ball is going, with a quick decision. Just like many of the young, the top players, they can re-act quickly. The 27-year-old certainly has done that, when he just beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 7-5 in the semis, a really important win.

So here is Rune, rising so briskly. When he is running around, he can move quickly, he can flat it out, and drive so hard. He can control his shots, and also, he can flat it out and crush it.

He is ready to win his second tournament at the ATP 1000, especially that in Monte Carlo last month, he out-hit Daniil Medvedev.

“I play some of my best tennis when I play the top guys of the world. I mean, it’s a good time to play your best tennis because you need it against those players I’ve managed to do it many times now,” Rune said. “I think it’s obviously some of the toughest challenges to face guys in top five because they’re obviously some of the best guys in the world. But I play well when I play them.”

He has had a good year, but not fantastic, grabbing some very good wins, and other ones were so-so. He certainly will be ready to wreck the ball when it starts in the rainy Rome, but Medvedev will be more controlling,  and he will win the tournament in three, super interesting set.

The Picks in Rome: Friday, May 19

Jelena Ostapenko
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Elena Rybakina over Jelena Ostapenko
Many people thought that Iga Swiatek was possibly going to win it, but in the second set, she became injured so in the third set, she retired. Yes, when she is totally on, she has been the best player on clay, winning Roland Garros, twice. However, outside of that, Rybakina has beaten three times, as the former Wimbledon champion would hit some incredible winners, especially with her hard forehand and her backhand.
 
The thing about the Russian is that she has won many matches, but essentially on the hardcourts and on the grass. She is so powerful. In March, she won Indian Wells, beating, believe it or not,  the No. 1 Swiatek, in the semis and also, taking down the No. 2 , Aryna Sabalenka. When she is playing great, she can beat anyone. But over the past month, she has been so-so. This is much the same way with Ostapenko, who when she is totally on, she can crush the ball so deep and into the corners. Yes, she can knock down anyone, but over the years, she has lost some odd matches. She did beat Rybakina twice,  on the hardcourts and the grass, but at the 2023 Aussie Open, she when down and she knocked her back.

This is the first time this year that Ostapenko has reached into the semis. Listen, when she is locked  in, she will look phenomenal, but when she is frustrated, then she puts together dozens or error. Yes, the Latvia can start early, grab the first set, then she will look tremendous, but currently, she is hard to read, which is why Rybakina will win it in  three, savage, sets.  

Veronika Kudermetova over Anhelina Kalinina
This is certainly almost a new thing, with Kalinina, who already  is a veteran. She has won a couple good wins in 2023, but not that much. Maybe she has become more aggressive and also, when the Ukrainian changed her tactics. Or something else, but yes, she is playing thoughtful.

Once again, the Russian Kudermetova can be hard with  herself when she isn’t finding the solution. However, though, there are days when she is more patient, and re-think about where she should go.  She certainly can bash the ball, and when she is returning,  she can mash it, down the line. She did reach the semis in Madrid, and here, in Rome, she  has done it again, sitting on the porch, waiting to start and sprint, on the court. Kudermetova will win it in two, simple, sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Daniil Medvedev over Yannick Hanfmann
Borna Coric over Stefanos Tsitsipas

Matt’s picks from Rome

8 out of 14, 57.1% correct

The Picks in Rome: Tuesday, May 16

Alexander Zverev
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Alexander Zverev  over J.J. Wolf
It is pretty clear that the German Zverev can be erratic, and he can also lift up high when he is reacting. He does know  that when he is feeling stellar, then he can not to just mix it, but he is pointed. However, he has not played great this season, but he is gradually playing better, due to his injure.

The former Grand Slam champion Boris Becker says that Zverev has to go back to the basics. That is exact what Becker used to do when he was on court.

“That’s in the past, and 12 months later, the stark reality is brutal. That’s the sport. He is fit again but can’t manage to match the form he had a year ago. There are many reasons for that,” he told Eurosport Germany’s Das Gelbe vom Ball. “What is important, and he is always extremely self-critical, is that he realizes this, that he is honest with himself and doesn’t blame bad luck, bad fortune, wind or too hot a sun – but the fact that he doesn’t play enough. I am sure he will address this in his team and then also train better again. In my opinion, Zverev is not playing tennis properly at the moment.”

Now that is a very controversial, but at least he decided to be honest, even though when he was playing on tour, at times, Becker could dismiss his comments. Zverev must have read it, but beyond that he has to out-hit Wolf, who can play vast  when he is on. The American is pretty intense, and he can also be jolly consistent. On clay, though, it will be a huge challenge to out-hit Zverev. Wolf will make the attempt, but Zverev will bash his forehand and win it in a three, super long, set.

Lorenzo Musetti over Frances Tiafoe
The Italian has always been pretty good on the clay, and over the past two months, he has knocked down some very good competitors. The young Musetti can be hitting it hard, pretty deep, with his forehand and his backhand. When he is feeling good, he can smash the ball. However, he still has a good amount to prove that he will add more on his game.

As he said, when he asked about the multi champion Roger Federer, he watched him a lot.  “”I like everything about him, but if I have to highlight one aspect I would say it’s his style. It’s something unique, the combination of fun and elegance, like the ability to play relaxed and calm.” Musetti said. “I try to be like him, I have less control and sometimes I’m more nervous on the court, so I think I can do better if I compare myself to Federer. But I think there are details where we have similarities, for example in movements, which is something I’ve always tried to do since I was a child.”

The same goes with Tiafoe, who always listens to watch many players. On the hardcourts, he has been dominating at times, but recently, he set back, a little bit. On the clay, he has to rally for a long time, until he will has a good chance to rip it on the ball. He may do it, but here in Rome, the fans will be cheering so hard to watch   Musetti  win the match. He will do it, in three, exhausting, sets.

Paula Badosa over Karolina Muchova
Over the past five weeks, the Spaniard finally started to play much better. She still has a substantial improvement on the court, moving around, and really understand where she has to go.  

Badosa revealed some changes that she is planning on implementing. “I see that the players are starting to get to know me, so we have decided to change some things in my game and make tactical adjustments. It is not easy, in the middle of a game, to change the position of return or hit a parallel in a difficult situation, but I’m on that path so I have to continue on that path,” Badosa  said.

Muchova can be very consistent, and she also likes to wreck her backhand. Her forehand is pretty good, but it can also be short, and her first serve can also be huge, but her second serve can be slow. These two have put together some terrific wins, but on the clay in the slow Rome, Badosa will take it in three, bizarre, sets. 

Veronika Kudermetova over Qinwen Zheng
Last year,  in September in Tokyo, Zheng beat Kudermetova  5-7, 6-3, 7-6(3). It was a super close match, when the young player put together some  incredible rallies. She is very quick, she is also pretty steady, but she still has to hit the ball harder. Plus, the 20-year-old really likes on the hardcourts, but on the clay, she is still figuring it out.

Kudermetova appears to be better week after week. She played a fine tournament in Madrid, reaching the semis, beating a couple very good players. However, in the final, Iga Swiatek  smoked her. Kudermetova is a big hitter, but her forehand can be out of control, but when the Russian is locked in, then she can smack it into the corners. She still needs to be more consistent, and they both do, but on Tuesday, Kudermetova  will win it in three, hardcore, sets.

Jannik Sinner over Francisco Cerundolo
Even on clay, the Italian is much more consistent, he swings hard with his forehand and his backhand, and also, he is better at the net. He is young, and he does get upset, but when he is really thinking about what he is going, then even after he made a lot of errors, Sinner can re-set it. He can be intense, and so is Cerundolo, and he does hit some huge shots, into the corner. This year, he has won a couple, tough, excellent matches, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime and Casper Ruud. However, he also lost pretty early.

The No. 8 Sinner has put together some fine matches on the hardcourts and while he still has to figure out on the clay, he is gradually improving. Sinner will win it in three, grinding, sets.

The Picks in Rome: Friday, May 12

Grigor Dimitrov
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Stan Wawrinka over Grigor Dimitrov
Is the Swiss ready to fly, again? Wawrinka has not had a great year, but the brilliant backhand can begin to roll, even though he is 38-year-old. He can push himself, deep in the corners and put it away.

The Bulgarian Dimitrov can also throw so many interesting rallies, and the one-hander can really mix it up, as well he can flat in out. His serve is OK, and at the net, he is pretty good, but not spectacular.  Dimitrov has had some wonderful matches, at the Slams, but he will likely not come back into the top 5 again. I might be wrong, but in order to do it, then he has to beat the former Roland Garros champion, Wawrinka. He won’t on the clay right now, as the Swiss will win it in three massive sets.

Novak Djokovic over Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Two years ago, the Serbian won Rome, beating Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas. He was playing great, when he was so steady, and he was almost perfect with his phenomenal backhand. He thinks a lot, on court, and he could miss once in a while, but he can recover.

Etcheverry is pretty young, and clearly, he is trying to improve his serves, at the net, and with more power. He did reach in the final in Houston and in Chile, this year, when he had some terrific matches. However, he has yet to beat the top 10 players, so the though that to stun Djokovic is a little bit crazy. The 21 Grand Slam winner Djokovic will win in two easy sets.

Sebastian Korda over Roman Safiullin
So many young people think that he or she believe that they are so good, on the court, and very soon, they will rise into the the top 20. Or the top 10. Or the famous No. 1. But the older they get, they realize that the other players are also very, very good, so that they will lose, which is difficult.

Korda knows all about when he started, and he would practice all the time. He knew that once he reached into the ATP Tour, he was ready to beat many players. He has done that, slowly. Unfortunately, Korda grew hurt after the 2023 Australian Open and he had to stop for a three months. He is in the top 30, and the 22-year-old can play extremely consistent, and he can also hit the ball on the lines. He grew up in Florida, so he does know what the hardcourts is, but in the clay, he still has to learn where to go. As we said about Safiullin two days ago, the Russian has had a decent year, and he did upset Marcos Giron in Rome. He must have bee thrilled when he made it to the second round, but Korda will pound him, and he will win it in three very long sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Marie Bouzkova over Caty McNally
Correct: Caroline Garcia over Ana Bogdan

Aryna Sabalenka over Sofia Kenin
Jessica Pegula over Taylor Townsend

Matt’s picks from Rome

3 out of 7, 42.8% correct

The Picks in Rome: Wednesday, May 10

Fabio Fognini
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Andy Murray over Fabio Fognini
The three-time champion Murray recently said that if he can, he will play Roland Garros if he is feeling good, with his sore body. That is up in the air, but the most important thing is to prove it, with himself, to play excellent, in Rome. Yes, it is pretty darn slow, but it is a historic atmosphere, so almost everyone wants to show from the fans that he is a superior person. Murray can be, early on, but he has to face Fognini, another aging person, but when he was on, the Italian put together some wonderful points. He is a grinder, and his forehand and his backhand with a lot spin. But if you look at him now, he is losing a lot, as his game is slipping. Therefore, Murray will win it in two, long, sets.

Gregoire Barrere over Brandon Nakashima
The American Nakashima can mix it up, a lot, and also, he can attempt to nail his forehand. He is pretty steady, too, but he can also leave it short. Barrere is very interesting, the way he plays, and where he is going on the court.The Frenchman veteran has yet to reach the top 50, but he is hoping that one day, he can upset a few significant players. He did reach the semis in Rotterman, and he was somewhat consistent, but in order to snare of a bunch winners, then he will have to point it on clay. Barrere will play very appropriate, and win it in three, very long, sets.

Marcos Giron over Roman Safiullin
The Russian Safiullin has had a decent year, as when he won a bunch on the qualifying, which it is difficult, but none the less. You just never know what is going on, to finally be better, or just stay there. In Madrid, he qualified, beating Tommy Paul. He must have been happy, even though he lost in the second round. Giron had a good year in 2022, but currently, he has been UP and DOWN. He does like to lash his backhand, and he can also, hammer his forehand. Right now, he knows that he has to try to return better, and crush his first serve. This time, Giron will overcome Safiullin in two, hammer, sets.

Jaume Munar over Thanasi Kokkinakis
The Aussie Kokkinakis is very competed with the doubles, but in the singles, he is still finding the real action. He can be inconsistent, and his forehand is decent, but not great. Still, though, he is excellent at the net, and also, with his return. The Spaniard Munar is another man who wants to reach the top 50. Not the top 20, or the top 10, but the top 50 is good enough. He did win a couple matches at Madrid, so apparently, he is feeling good. Munar does like on the clay, and he plays it all the time, so against Kokkinakis, he will push him in the wall, and win it in two, engaging, sets.

The Picks in Madrid: Saturday, May 6

Iga Swiatek
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Iga Swiatek over Aryna Sabalenka
It was going to happen in the final at Madrid, as the No. 1 and the No. 2 believe that if they played so consistent, then they can beat anyone. However, they both think that if they play well and throw in some deep returns, then the rallies will be close.

They both have two huge forehands and their backhands are super vigorous. Swiatek has a better clay record, and she won Roland Garros twice by being patient and also crushing the ball. The challenge is really on, again.

After she won the 2023 Australian Open, Sabalenka was finally satisfied. Before last year, she looked pretty good but also she struggled, especially at some events. She can really run, and she can also push herself, from the backcourt where she can snag some winners. At the end of year in the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, she cut down over Swiatek in three sets on the hard court. Then two weeks ago, on indoors on clay in Stuttgart in the final, Swiatek battered Sabalenka in two sets on clay.

“Really different,” Sabalenka said, “but I really like it. I don’t have to rush things. I just have to wait for my opportunity and I just have to take it and go for it. … I really want to have this revenge. I think I would just play with more passion. I wouldn’t rush things. Yeah, I would just go one more time, try better, and fight for this title.”

Then Sabalenka will attempt to go for it with some hard shots. But, if you recall, at Rome almost one year ago, Swiatek destroyed her

On Saturday, Swiatek will win it in three sets, with some electrifying points.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Carlos Alcaraz over Borna Coric
Jan-Lennard Struff over Aslan Karatsev

Matt’s picks from Madrid

8 out of 13, 61.5% correct

The Picks in Madrid: Thursday, May 5

Maria Sakkari
Ron Cioffi/TR

Stefanos Tsitsipas over Jan-Lennard Struff
These two have had some close matches, with Tsitsipas winning three, , and Struff grabbing two, one on clay, and another of the hardcourts, at the ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati. The veteran Struff has had a decent year in 2023, as when he started, he was way back, with his ranking which was No. 152. He must have been fighting.

However, he began to play different, and manage it. Tsitsipas can also be more tolerant, and he does what kind of shots. He will think occasionally, and when he does, the strong man will decide which way to go. Tsitsipas will nail more than a few aces with his serve, and he will win it in two, famed, sets.

Iga Swiatek over Veronika Kudermetova
The Russian Kudermetova has had a surpassing tournament, as over the past year, she would play spectacular, and then, she would lose it, on the court. But as she said, “I step on the court, I try to do my best. I try to improve. That’s give me confident. When I step on the court, I know behind of my shoulder I have a lot of good practice, a lot of good matches. It’s give me really belief in myself.”

She must, but now she has to upset Swiatek, who is totally into it. She knows how to caper on the ball, and she can also be nursing.“ Having both things combined and being able to do both, like, Rafa [Nadal] or Novak Djokovic], they can play great in defense and be patient and also they can attack well. I think this should be the goal of every tennis player,” Swiatek said. “That’s why we are working on both, but for sure there are many girls right now who are playing fast serve and fast first ball. I can’t really tell you, but I don’t mind.” She apparently is playing happy, with no nerves. There for, Swiatek will win it in two, smart, sets.

Zhizhen Zhang over Aslan Karatsev
Who would have known that Zhizhen Zhang was going to win again, even though he had not won hardly anything anything at all in the the ATP Tour, but he is this week, and now he will out-hit over Aslan Karatsev in two sets.

Aryna Sabalenka over Maria Sakkari
Aryna Sabalenka is rippled along, as her forehand is massive again. This week, Maria Sakkari played some fine tennis, with some touch, and she will try to slide and bring it back, but Sabalenka will attack her backhand, and put together in the corners. Sabalenka will win it in two sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Carlos Alcaraz over Karen Khachanov
Correct: Iga Swiatek over Petra Martic
Correct: Borna Coric over Daniel Altmaier
Jessica Pegula over Veronika Kudermetova

Matt’s picks from Madrid

5 out of 8, 62.5% correct

The Picks in Madrid: Tuesday, May 2

Alexander Zverev

Carlos Alcaraz  over Alexander Zverev
This is one of the best matches early, as the Spaniard has won a Slam, and the German has reached the final.  Last year, Alcaraz was on fire, with some breathtaking  shots. He beat Zverev in the 2022 Madrid, out-hitting him with some muscular shots. On Tuesday, he wants to do it again, and he won’t back down.  He wants to show the world that very soon, he wants to be No. 1 again. He has to, as Zverev beat him at the 2022 Roland Garros in the quarters, 7-6 (7) in the fourth set. That was so close.

“I really want to play that match. I really want to show my great level  I have great memories from last year in the final but obviously I have to be really focussed in that match,” Alcaraz said. “I know that Sascha [Alexander ] is a really good player, a really aggressive one with good serves. I have to show all my skills.”

Zverev can be hit some massive shots, and with his first serve, close to the corners, when he flips it as a winner. However, this year, he has been mediocre at times, but one of the main reason why is because last year at Roland Garros he tore his three ligaments in his right ankle. He had to retire in the semis verses Rafa Nadal. Had he not done that, he might have stunned Nadal. But he could not, so currently, he wants to play 100 percent.

“We played in the final here last year, played a massive match at [Roland Garros] before I got injured. … I’ve been on Tour for 10 years now, so,” Zverev said. “It’s kind of been a break, I’ve been injured, not dead so I’ve not been reborn again or something like that. It’s still the same old me and I still want to win these tournaments and I’m going to do everything I can to do so.” 

Perhaps he will, if he can push Alcaraz back, near the wall, and frustrate him. However, Zverev has lost some mediocre matches,  and while he used to be No. 2, this year he has not able to win the top 25 men. Because of that, while if he feels healthy, then he should be able to go into the top 10, again. But not yet, as Alcaraz will win it in two, dramatic sets. 

Taylor Fritz over Zhizhen Zhang
Two days ago, it looked like he had a fine match, but he still wasn’t good enough to win the next contest. But once again, Zhang played incredible; edging Norrie. But now he has to face with Fritz, who apparently, on the clay, he adjusted. Perhaps the reason why is in Madrid, it is faster on the court, so he can hit the balls quickly, and tucked in a number of winners. He can really throw in some tremendous shots, in the backcourt. His first serve ishard-hearted, and he can ship. The quick Zhang will attempt to have some long rallies, and he will also try to put it in the lines, but Fritz will pound him back, and the American will win it in two, engaging, sets.

Aryna Sabalenka over Mayar Sherif
Even though when she starts at the tournament, the teenager can be a little bit slow, mentally,  to get into it when she can. She was thinking about at the tournament, how well she will be, and to play more than respectable. Currently, she knows that, as she said: “I think tennis is a little bit different right now. Everyone is playing well, and it’s not actually easy,” Sabalenka said. “I think just because I’m able to focus on myself and no matter what happen on court, I’m fighting for every point. … Everyone is trying to hit the ball very hard. Everyone is serving. Everyone is playing really aggressively and fighting for every point. You have to be really focused and have to work very hard to be on the top all the time.”

Then do it if you can. At the event, Sherif has came very strong. She has some amazing spin, and she can also re-set her direction. Her forehand isn’t that hard, but her backhand is powerful. Yes, Sherif is jumping into the air, but the No. 2 Sabalenka will hit it harder and she will win it in two amusing sets. 

Irina-Cametia Begu over Maria Sakkari 
The veteran Begu has been around for a long time, going place to place, with some classic matches, and also, some so-so cities. She can be consistent, and she also can punch her backhand. Begu can create, and she can go really low. However, the Greek Sakkari   also like some king-side rallies, and she will go back and forth, hoping that she can put it in a basket. Sakkari has not had a good year, but it does seems to like that she is playing more efficiently. However, she will continue to struggle, and Begu will win it in three, super long, sets.

The Picks in Madrid: Thursday, April 26

Dominic Thiem over Kyle Edmund
The Brit Edmund was pretty hurt last year and he barely played in 2023. Now he is trying to rise up in the ranking, and he must be thinking that if he can play all the time, then he will be much more solid. However, five years ago, Edmund beat a number of very good players, and then he moved into the No. 14, winning Belgium, indoors on the hardcourt, beating Gael Monfils. Believe it or not, at the 2018 in Madrid, he actually beat three darn good players, like Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic and David Goffin, before he lost against Denis Shapovalov. Then it looked like that he had a good chance to go even deeper. But he did not really, so while he was very solid, he wasn’t good enough to stay in the top 20. 

Oh, well, but right now, he has to face against the former No. 2 Thiem, who is a tough customer. Yes, he was really struggling, but over the past three tournaments, he finally looks like he is healthy. He is not as fast as he once was, but he really like to dig into the clay. Thiem will win it, in three sets, as his one-handed backhand nailed the ball.

Aryna Sabalenka over Sorana Cirstea 
The fast and the very mature person on the court reached in the semis in Miami, and believe it or not, Cirstea beat Sabalenka. Even though on the hardcourts, the Belarus  would hit her shots, harder, and eventually, she would put together a number of winners, very deep. However, Cirstea has changed her outlook, moving early, and when she could see during the rallies, then she would decide to try to slam the ball, or just being consistent. In Florida, she did both.  

But now they are in the clay, not on the hardcourts, so while in Madrid it can be somewhat faster, but they will have to be some call-ups. Sabalenka  did reach the final in Stuttgart last week, and she was so intense, but she could not out-hit with Iga Swiatek, as the Polish person new exactly what to do. Sabalenka might be some sad, but her coach likely said just “forget about it and move on.” She might not, but this time Sabalenka will revenge in her match against Cirstea, and this time, she will win in three long sets.

Elina Svitolina over Aliaksandra Sasnovich
The Ukrainian Svitolina just came back last month, as she had a child in 2022, and then she decided that it is time to play on the WTA Tour. She has had some excellent matches, going into the semis at Wimbledon and the US Open, and winning 16 titles, including in Rome, Toronto and the WTA Finals. That is tremendous, but in realty, on court, she would be at times, pretty nervous and frustrated. But she is learning now as she gets older, and while it could take her another year or so, she will be much more mature and level headed. 


Sasnovich seems to be sliding. She did have some matches in 2022, but she also lost a lot of matches. She certainly has been there for a while, trying different shots, but she still isn’t powerful enough. Because of that, Svitolina will win in three, interesting, sets.