Featured Bottom Right – Page 2 – TennisReporters.net

The Picks in Madrid: Friday, April 28

April 27, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Carlos Alcaraz over Emil Ruusuvuori
The Finn has had a respectable year, with a few impressive wins, but he has yet to reach into the top 30, and maybe he will, eventually, but he has to change his strokes, here and there. At least Ruusuvuori played pretty well in Miami, beating Botic van de Zandschulp, and in Barcelona, he took down Frances Tiafoe . Yet how will he stun Alcaraz, as the Spaniard just won Barcelona? He has only lost two matches this year, and he has been winning a lot of some very good players. He is almost jolly aggressive, and he can chuck it in with variety. Maybe he is mentally tired, but he is a teenager, so he will be fresh. Alcaraz will win it in three, engaging sets.

Andrey Rublev over Stan Wawrinka
The three-time Grand Slam champion is aging, and he is not as fast as he was, but on clay, he can really control him. Wawrinka has an amazing backhand, with a tremendous rotation, and also, he can nail it crosscourt, or down the line. When he is on, he can be great to watch him. However, Rublev is now more settled, on the court. He can try to pin him down, and swing so hard with his stout forehand and his backhand. Yes, Rublev still isn’t great enough on clay, but year after year, he can understand what he has to do. There for, Rublev will clip Wawrinka in the third set to win it, with some savage shots.

Martina Trevisan over Eugenie Bouchard
The Canadian Bouchard looked terrific years ago, almost 10 years ago in 2014 , when she reached the semis at the Aussie Open, then in the final at Wimbledon, and then, in the semis again at the US Open. She was trucking along, as her forehand and her backhand were huge. But then next year, she started to disappear, and she did get hurt, a bit, but then she did not know why she couldn’t hit the balls in the lines. Then she was essentially gone. Bouchard stopped playing, and she also decided to go on TV. She is actually pretty decent. And then, she started playing again, so now she is trying to go upwards.

Someone can write a book, about why she was so good, and also, barely mediocre. The good thing was in Madrid, she qualified, and now she was to face Trevisan, who really likes playing on clay. Yes, the No. 20 has not had a very good year, but the Italian can spin her shots, and she can also mix it up. Even though Bouchard wants to go fast, and she also likes to play on the dirt, but it will take her a few months before she can really focus. As a result, Trevisan will win it in three, bizarre sets.

Vika Azarenka over Alycia Parks
The two-time Grand Slam champ Azarenka is addicted on the hardcourts, but in Europe, over the years, she can be wild on the clay. She is used to it, but perhaps she has not won more Slams is because when she is on court, she can hit some sole points, way out. Azarenka does think about her life, and that is terrific, yet the 33-year-old won’t really change at the net, and also, her return, too. However, she can be intense, as does the American Parks, who is ready to crush the ball. On the hardcourt, she can move forward, and she can bend down, and shoot it up. But she is not there, yet, on the lurking clay. Azarenka will win it, in two honestly, decent sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Dominic Thiem over Kyle Edmund
Correct: Aryna Sabalenka over Sorana Cirstea
~~Elina Svitolina over Aliaksandra Sasnovich~~

Matt’s picks this week

2 out of 3: 66.7% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: atp, Carlos Alcaraz, Eugenie Bouchard, madrid, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Stan Wawrinka, vika azarenka, wta

Ka-boom: Can the American men go deep on European clay?

April 24, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Taylor Fritz: “Maybe not all the other, older generation of Americans wouldn’t want to play so much on clay, but it’s important.”

The American men have not won the ATP 1000 in Madrid was in 2002, when the Grand Slam eight time champion Andre Agassi won it on clay. He had been No. 1, and he also won all four, winning the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. But with the current men, no one has won it, and it has been almost 20 years. The last one was Andy Roddick, who grabbed it at the 2003 U.S. Open.

In a sense, it is somewhat decent, as over the years, many people thought out in the county began to really like tennis. Not just in Switzerland, and Spain, but also, with Serbia, as Novak Djokovic has won 21 Grand Slams. He can play spectacularly, as did the now retired Roger Federer, as well as Rafa Nadal, who is still playing.

Unfortunately, both Djokovic and Nadal are hurt so they cannot play in Madrid this week. But the No. 10, Taylor Fritz, is playing and he has had a pretty good year, but not phenomenal. He has yet to reach into the semifinals in the Slams, but at least he had won an ATP 1000 at the 2022 Indian Wells. He was rising, and at times, he looks amazing, yet on the dirt, he has yet to go deep at Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros. He wants to go further, and he wants to, but he is not quite there, yet.

“Well, look, if you want to be one of the best players in the world, you really do have to perform on all surfaces. I think what other choice do you have? You have to embrace it,” Fritz said. “You have to try to enjoy playing on it, try to get better, try to have the best results possible. I’m still obviously improving a lot, but it’s always been important for me to try to play a serious clay court schedule. Maybe not all the other, older generation of Americans wouldn’t want to play so much on clay, but it’s important if you want to be top-5, top-10 player to be able to perform on every surface.”

Not only did Agassi finally became so much better in the clay courts, but Jim Courier and Pete Sampras both won at Rome. In the early 1990s, Courier won Roland Garros twice, with some long, hard points. You can also throw in Michael Chang, another American, who when he was so young, he flew up into the sky and nailed it, winning with some incedible matches, and he won Paris in1989. That was mind blowing. Those four combined for 27 Grand Slams. Ka-boom.

Right now, with the current men, it is possible that someday, someone will win a major. But we are not sure. As Fritz said, that the Russian Andrey Rublev has become so steady. Last week, he won the ATP 1000 Monte Carlo. “He’s very consistent. He’s made lots of quarters, semis, and I think this is his third final. It’s kind of just whoever plays the best on that week” Fritz said. “He has been unlucky. But yeah, obviously he’s 100% at the level of a player who you would expect to have one and he’ll have one soon.”

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: andre agassi, Andrey Rublev, atp, Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, jim courier, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Michael Chang, pete sampras, roland garros

The Picks in Barcelona, Stuttgart, Saturday, April 22

April 22, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Picks were written before play started.

Barcelona

Carlos Alcaraz over Daniel Evans
He really likes to play on the skidding dirt, and the Spaniard can be patient this year, although Alcaraz can go for it pretty early. He does like to mix it up, and he can also charge into the net. Evans knows that in order to upset him, he has to hurl it around, and change it in the direction. He can pound his forehand, and also, he can attempt to try to hit his backhand deeper. The problem, though, is that Evans has had a fine week, but Alcaraz is already playing some excellent ball, and he will win in two brittle sets.

Stefanos Tsitsipas over Lorenzo Musetti
Apparently, the Greek is healthy again, as in certain weeks, he was physically hurt. However, he look pretty fast again, running around, and also, his strokes were very true, again. On the court, he can be somewhat wild, but when he is totally focused, then he can be super consistent.

The Italian Musetti put together some great returns, and also, he was totally piped. He can turn it on, and then, he can control him. Musetti does really like on clay, and he must be thinking that he can out-hit Tsitsipas, yet in reality, in the third set, he would chuck in to many errors. There for, Tsitsipas will win it, once again and reach the final.

Stuttgart

Aryna Sabalenka over Anastasia Potapova
The young player is getting better, each day, as Potapova really thinks that this year, she can beat everyone. That is possible, as she still has to improve her serves, and her return. Now, clearly, she is excellent with her forehand and her backhand, and she is very strong.

However, the Aussie Open champ Sabalenka is much more steady now. Yes, last year, she would put in some wild shots, and her serves where medicare. However, she improved a decent amount, not great, but O.K. She can nail her forehand and her backhand, consistently. What Sabalenka has to prove on clay, as last year, Swiatek beat her twice. This is a toss-up, as both Sabalenka and Potapova still has to learn how to understand on clay. Sabalenka is a little bit older, and she will win it in three strange sets.

Iga Swiatek over Ons Jabeur
The Pole Swiatek is now back on the court, as before that, the current No. 1 had to see her doctors as she could not run enough. She has won Roland Garros twice, and also she has won at some gigantic tournaments, so when she is on fire very early, then she will attach with her forehand and her backhand. Also, one of the reason why was because she stopped being so moody a lot, so now, she is so focused. Jabeur has finally became elegant, and not when the veteran would become nervous against the top players. Yes, there have been some players who become panic attacks, but after a few minutes, they can be calm. Jabeur is perhaps one of a thoughtful players, especially she can really meld it around with her spin. But how can she down Swiatek on clay, who can rally for a long time? Even if she has to, for hours, Swiatek will figure it out and win it in three massive sets.

Matt’s picks

Correct: Daniel Evans over Karen Khachanov
~~Alexander Zverev over Christopher O’Connell~~
~~Coco Gauff over Anastasia Potapova~~
~~Elena Rybakina over Beatriz Haddad Maia~~

Matt’s current week picks

8 out of 11: 72.7% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story

The Picks in Barcelona, Stuttgart, Munich: Wednesday, April 19

April 19, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Barcelona Open Banc Sabadel
Carlos Alcaraz over Roberto Bautista Agut
Last year, the former U.S. Open champion Alcaraz crushed him 6-2 6-0
at Indian Wells. At that point, the young man was on fire, and the very good veteran had a lousy day. But now they are on clay, as the Spaniards are hoping to be highly consistent, and to pulp there forehand and there backhand. Alcaraz can be a little bit wild, yet he really does not care because he believes that in the next point, he can find it on the lines.

The 35-year-old has had some wonderful years, but Bautista Agut is slipping back, so Alcaraz will win it in two, long, sets.

Stuttgart
Caroline Garcia over Tatjana Maria
This will be a very tough match as they have played each other twice, on the grass and on the clay, and the Frenchwoman won it two times, yet it was three sets, and it was pretty darn close. Garcia can romp the ball, running side to side, and also, to change into the net. Maria is 35-years-old, but she still is pretty fast when she is running. She did win Bogota, which was surprising, but clearly, she wants to keep playing until she will have to retire. The German will change against Garcia, and she does like to mix it up, but in the third set, the Frenchwomen will hit a few terrific backhands and win it in three sets.

Paula Badosa over Cristina Bucsa
At the Australian Open, the Spaniard Bucsa qualified, and then she upset two respectable, but in the third round, Iga Swiatek crushed her. She must have been happy for a little while, but after that, she must have been totally frustrated. Bucsa can be somewhat proper and she can also really go for it.

The same thing goes with Badosa, who can be a very fun player, on the court, but she is trying to figure out where she has to go. She has won a decent amount of matches, but not enough. The No. 31 Badosa looked pretty decent in Charleston, and she won three matches, so it appears that she is rising again. On the clay, Badosa will win it in two, lengthy sets.

Munich
Marcos Giron over Alexander Ritschard
They have yet to play each other, and while it is early, they want to get impression. The American Giron has had a so-so year, even though in 2022, he won some fine tournaments. Now, he is struggling, and while he can be proper, but currently, he cannot knock down the very good players — yet. The Swiss Ritschard did have a decent last year, on the hardcourts, but on the clay, he could not move up, hardly at all. Yes, he can be somewhat consistent, but he cannot hit the ball hard enough. Therefore, Giron will beat him in two decent sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Jelena Ostapenko over Emma Raducanu
Correct: David Goffin over Feliciano Lopez
Correct: Diego Schwartzman over Yibing Wu
Correct: Cameron Norrie over Pavel Kotov
Correct: Denis Shapovalov over Jozef Kovalik

Matt’s current week picks

5 out of 5: 100% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: barcelona, Carlos Alcaraz, Caroline Garcia, Marcos Giron, Matthew Cronin, Munich, Paula Badosa, stuttgart

The Picks in Stuttgart and Barcelona: Monday, April 17

April 17, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Veronika Kudermetova over Coco Gauff
The Russian has not had a good year, even though she is ranked No. 13. If you look at that, you would think that she is playing fantastic, and last year, she threw in some amazing shots. However, this year, Kudermetova has lost a ton of contests, from with the very good players, or the mediocre competitors. Perhaps she is mentally down. However, she can blitz her forehand and her backhand, and she is also very aggressive. She did beat Gauff in Doha in three sets on the hardcourts, returning very well. The American did play extremely well in the Fed Cup in Florida, but she immediately had to fly across the ocean, so while she is a teenager, it can be taxing. If she can wake up, then she can crack the balls, but in reality, Kudermetova will out-hit her in third dramatic set.

click here for tennis live scores

Jelena Ostapenko over Emma Raducanu
Ostapenko is so, so up and down, there are times when she is on fire, and there are other times when she is totally checked out. The Latvia can create her shots, and she can also spring it. Ostapenko can also be very steady, throwing with some deep shots. Raducanu can also engage the rallies, and then when her backhand is right there, and she can really go for it. The problem with Raducanu is she is not deciding what she can do at the match, to be much more patient, and toss it all around. Eventually, the Britain will find herself, but the former 2021 US Open champion is losing a lot, still, so Ostapenko will win it in two odd sets.

Diego Schwartzman over Yibing Wu
Here is huge toss-up, as Wu recently won Dallas, beating John Isner. Wu is only 23-years-old, so clearly he has improving before last year, he won a ton of matches, mostly in the small tournaments, but look at this: a year ago, he was ranked No. 1749, and now, he is ranked No. 56. That is extremely good. However, Wu has to face versus Schwartzman, when the Argentine beat him in straight sets in Miami. Wu can be super consistent, but Schwartzman can mix it up a good amount. Schwartzman will win in three, long, sets.

David Goffin over Feliciano Lopez
Both of these two are aging, really fast, now. The Belgian Goffin was ranked No. 7 in 2017, playing some tremendous ball, with his terrific one-hander and with some heavy topspin. Goffin did manage to reach the final at the ATP Finals, and he did win six titles, but not the biggest ones. The Spaniard Lopez is still playing, even though he is 41-years-old, which is a little bit crazy in the singles, but many people just want to play until they pass, because they just want to go walk on the court and have another fine day. Lopezis ranked way down, 593, which is going down and down, but at least in 2015, he made a career high of No. 12 with his fun one-handed back hand, and at the net, too, That is a pretty darn good. Yes, Lopez is OK on the clay, but Goffin is still better than him and he will beat him in three, wicked, sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, coco gauff, Diego Schwartzman, Emma Raducanu, germany, jelena ostapenko, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Stuttgart, Veronika Kudermetova, Yibing Wu

The Picks in Monte-Carlo Masters, BJK Cup: Saturday, April 15

April 15, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Taylor Fritz over Andrey Rublev
That was a tremendous match with the American, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in two, smart sets. Now Fritz will have to beat against Andrey Rublev, who also is playing very real, and leaping on the ball.
Fritz has never won an ATP 1000s on the clay, and yes, he did that on the hardcourts at the 2022 Indian Wells, so in orderer to do it this weekend, he must play fantastic, most of the time. On the hardcourts, he can play phenomenal, but in the dirt, he has to be very patient, The same goes with the Russian, who is extremely strong, but while Rublev has beaten so many excellent players, yet he has not won a gigantic at the Grand Slams, or the ATP 1000s, although he has been close, twice. Both of them want to do it this season, that is for sure.

“He is a great player and a good friend and I am excited for the match,” Fritz said. “He is tough.”

Yes, they both are. They can turn it on, going toe-to-toe with there hard forehand and there backhand. They can return pretty good, and they also can throw it around. This time, Fritz will beat on the lines, and he will take down Rublev in three, wild sets.

Jannik Sinner over Holger Rune
The Italian Sinner is becoming elegant, on the court, and before, he would get a small opportunity and try to slam a winner. At times, he did that, but he made many errors. The reason is because that when they are very young, most of them have years to go, to figure out what they have to do. Constantly, playing in the match, Sinner will be thinking how he should stay aggressive, or just to be super steady.

Rune is finally better now, as before that, he was second-rate, at best. But the young competitor climbed up this week, and his strokes became more fitting. He does like to do it on the clay, and chuck it around. His backhand can be steady, and nail it into the corners. However, Rune still needs to re-adjust his attitude, so Sinner will win it in two, brilliant sets.

Billie Jean King Cup
USA over Austria
In Delray Beach, Coco Gauff easily won over Julia Grabher, while Jessica Pegula also took it over, but the match was a little bit close against Sinja Kraus. Pegula will start on Saturday and the world’s No. 3 will certainly play better and frustrate Grabher.

France over Great Britain
Right now in Coventry Building Society Arena in Great Britain, France has two very good players with Caroline Garcia and the fine veteran with Alize Cornet. They are up 2-0, but Katie Boulter played extremely well, nearly upsetting Garcia 7-6 in the third. On Saturday, Garcia may or may not play to start, but either way, Harrie Dart will try to shock him. She does have a chance, and if she does that, then Boulter has a fine chance to slug it down with Cornet. However, France will win the tie on Saturday.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Coco Gauff over Julia Gabher
Correct: Jessica Pegula over Sinja Kraus
Correct: Taylor Fritz over Stefanos Tsitsipas
~~Daniil Medvedev over Holger Rune~~

Matt’s current week picks

7 out of 11: 63.6% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Andrey Rublev, Billie Jean King Cup, Jannik Sinner, Jessica Pegula, Katie Boulter, Monte-Carlo Masters, Taylor Fritz

The Picks at Fed Cup, Monte-Carlo: Friday April 14

April 14, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

United States vs. Austria
Coco Gauff over Julia Grabher
At the Fed Cup, the United States has won 18 titles, which is so many many, starting in 1963 when Billie Jean Moffit and Darlene Hard won the title. The last time they did it was in 2017, when Coco Vandeweghe was an amazing monster and won it in Belarus. Now it has a chance again, and they have a decent chance to go deep again. They have to hope, as no one knows if they are healthy, or the are hurt. It is not just the USA, but also in Switzerland, Russia, France, and an incredibly good, the Czech Republic.

There are a different lectures, which actually to write it into a book, because there are some amazing stories, but Friday through Sunday in Florida, the Americans are pretty set.
Gauff is not playing fantastic this year, but the 19-year-old is very, very good, especially at the net. She is trying to improve her forehand, and her return. On the hardcourts, she can rip the ball, and she will attempt to knock out fast with Grabher. The Austria has had a few good matches, but she has lost against a number of people. Because of that, Gauff won in two sets.

Jessica Pegula over Sinja Kraus
The No. 3 Pegula can be so steady, and she rarely becomes nervous against the lower players, unless someone is playing some unreal tennis. Kraus is only 20-years-old, and a few weeks ago, she put together a tremendous win in Bogota, Columbia. Clearly, she is getting much choice all the time. However, Pegula really knows to jar it, and to alloy it up. Pegula will grab it, but it will take three, surprising sets.

Monte-Carlo
Taylor Fritz over Stefanos Tsitsipas (written before match started)
The No. 10 Fritz had a solid last match, and now he has to play much better, because Tsitsipas is now almost 100 percent, physically. The Greek has beaten him three times, in a wild match, when he won it 6-4 in the fifth set at the 2022 Australian Open. Now on Monte Carlo, it is on the clay, rather than the hardcourt. Fritz rarely chips it, but he can also hurl in some very hard shots in his forehand and his backhand. Plus he likes to rally in the crosscourt. Tsitsipas can also do the same thing, when he hybrid it, down the line, and in the middle, waiting to fool him. Fritz has said that now, he has learned about understanding about the clay. He certainly has to prove it, and it is cold outside in Monte-Carlo, so Fritz is going to have to ware down Tsitsipas. This time, Fritz jumped on Tsitsipas’s one-hander and Fritz won it in three crazy sets.

Daniil Medvedev over Holger Rune
The Russian played an incredible match, winning over Alexander Zverev in more than three hours. The German had two match points, but the Russian dug hard, and eventually, he shot him down. Medvedev has had the best year in 2023, and he is so enthusiastic.

Rune has not had a skilled year in 2023, but the young player really wants to show that he is a wonderful player. However, it is what you are thinking, but on the court, just re-act it, once in a while. If the rallies are going long, try to chuck it all around. When you have a chance, hop on the ball. Rune will make a astronomical effort, but once again, Medvedev knows that he has to shorten the points, because he must be tired. He will, and Medvedev will win in two chewy sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Daniil Medvedev over Alexander Zverev
Correct: Matteo Berrettini will upset Holger Rune
~~Novak Djokovic over Lorenzo Musetti~~

Matt’s current week picks

4 out of 7: 57.1% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story

The Picks on clay in Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters: Wednesday, April 12

April 12, 2023 by Ron Cioffi

Stan Wawrinka over Taylor Fritz
The American returns to play on the dirt, and while he really likes the hard courts, he had improved a lot, but during the clay last year, he has been so-so. Now it is time to measure up. Fritz can hit with his fast forehand, and his bashing backhand. He can also be patient, but others time, he can be to distracting.

Clearly, the 38-years-old Wawrinka is aging, but the Swiss has played some amazing matches, on clay, when he won the 2015 Roland Garros, stunning Roger Federer. His one-handed backhand is so heavy, with huge spin, and his forehand is also hard, and at times, when it is flat. However, he is little bit slower, and he has lost a number of matches. But with that, now in the spring, he will make a huge effort to show the fans that he can actually turn it on. Yes, Fritz is the better players on the hard courts, but on the clay, it is still Wawrinka, who will win in three, jarring sets.

Holger Rune over Dominic Thiem
This is super interesting that Thiem played his best match this year, easily beating Richard Gasquet. The Austria grew up leaning how to play on the clay, and gradually, he improved his heavy forehand and his backhand. However, he was hurt, and he lost control. Yes, he is darn smart, on the court, but the former 2020 U.S. Open champion started to push the ball, rather than making the attempt to hit it close to the lines.

The 19-year-old Rune has not playing well, hardly at all. He has won some decent matches, but he has not reach into the final in 2023, losing early at Indian Wells and Miami. The good thing is that last year in the fall, he was on fire, when he won Paris, stunning Novak Djokovic. This week, he has decided that even if he loses, at least he can make some different strokes, and to be much more focus. Rune is trying to be confident again, which means that while he knows that Thiem can grind it, all over the place, he can out hit him. The No. 9 Rune will win it in two brutal sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Novak Djokovic over Ivan Gakhov
Correct: Stefanos Tsitsipas over Benjamin Bonzi

Matt’s current week picks

2 out of 4: 50% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Dominic Thiem, Holger Rune, Matthew Cronin, monte carlo, Monte-Carlo, Stan Wawrinka, Taylor Fritz

The Picks on clay in Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters: Monday, April 10

April 10, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Andy Murray over Alex de Minaur
At one point will Murray rise much further again? This year, his first serve, his forehand and his return has improve a good amount, and his backhand has always been nearly perfect. Yes, after he almost retired due to his wrecked ankles, he came back, and while he is not as fast as he once did, but currently, he is more controlling. For Murray to win another Grand Slam is debatle, but he still wants to grab another ATP 1000.

He will keep trying again, as de Minaur wants to win a huge event. He is currently ranked No. 24, which is pretty good, as he has beaten a number of the good players. However, will the Aussie continue to add some terrific shots, and also, to push himself when he has to knock down the tough opponents. He did win Acapulco on the hardcourts, which was tremendous, but then he lost in the first round at Indian Wells and Miami. It looks like he is straining. Murray reached the final in Doha, and he was stringing along, but then he fell down at IW and Miami. Really, it is toss-up, for both of then, and while Murray doesn’t love on the clay, he will grind de Minaur in three exhausting sets.

Richard Gasquet over Dominic Thiem
The veteran Frenchman won Auckland, New Zealand, in the first week in January. He is 36-year-old, and he wants to play all the time. He does think that when he is on with his heavy, one-hander backhand, he can win more matches. He does that, here and there, but when he goes against the terrific players, then he will lose, much of the time. Gasquet still really likes with the famous clay, and he has won some tough tournaments, but the same thing with Thiem, who won the 2020 U.S. Open. He is still struggling, partially because with his injury, and while he has won just one match this year, he is trying to bring back his phenomenal spin. He started to climb up, on the clay, winning a variety of people, with his super strong legs, and his tremendous variety. However, he is still lost, mentally and physically, so while Gasquet can be his to short, he still will be able to crack Thiem in three sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Alex de Minaur, Dominic Thiem, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Monte-Carlo, Richard Gasquet., With Andy Murray

The Picks on clay in Charleston and Estoril: Saturday, April 8

April 8, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Jessica Pegula over Belinda Bencic
A few years ago, she was outside of the top 60, and she was somewhat consistent, but she was not aggressive enough. Then she had decided that win or lose, this time, when she has a real chance to jump on the ball, she would go for the lines. But that can be risky. Pegula is going to have to do it, because the Swiss Bencic can be outstanding, and then, she will make some crazy shots. Bencic will bring into the third set, and she will really run, but Pegula will beat her with her consistent backhand.

Ons Jabeur over Daria Kasatkina
You can say that many of the players are struggling, physically, but in a sense, it always happens to almost everyone. The Russian Kasatkina has had a few fantastic wins this year, but once again, she is strugging in 2023. However, when she is on, she can punch the ball. This is the same thing with Jabeur, who almost won a Grand Slam, but she lost in the final at the 2022 U.S. Open, and after that, she just stopped on the court with some wacko shots. Hopefully, the No. 5 Jabeur will wake up and smell the roses. It is time, and the Tunisia Jabeur will cut down Kasatkina in two long sets.

Casper Ruud over Quentin Halys
This is not a good year by the Norway, who is ranked No. 5, but he has won a few matches. Of course when he is locked in, he can dive near on the ground, and throw in some wonderful strokes. Last year, he was so authentic, but currently, he might be panicking. Ruud will eventually calm down, if he really wants to. The Frenchman Halys has yet to reach into the top 60, and there is no doubt that he is desired to finally go into the top 50. He is 26-years-old, which is a perfect time to make a huge move. He might be able to do it, as he played very well in Miami. Halys is enthusiastic, but Ruud will knock him down in three sets.

Miomir Kecmanovic over Marco Cecchinato
Kecmanovic can lose, but last year, he really improved a lot of the past year and a half. He is fit, his forehand is pretty darn good, and his backhand is decent, but in order to eventually reach into the top 20, then he has mix it up more. Also, his second serve is marginal. He has not played well this year, and he has lost a lot, but the No. 40 wants to turn it around. Four years ago, the veteran Cecchinato reached No. 16, looking very good, but currently, he was just two matches this year. Apparently, he was hurt, but the Italian Cecchinato is mentally straining, so Kecmanovic will win in two sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Belinda Bencic, Casper Ruud, charleston, daria kasatkina, Estoril, Jessica Pegula, Matthew Cronin, Miomir Kecmanovic, Ons Jabeur