Archives for October 2022

Weekend winners: Félix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev

October 31, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

By winning in Basel Félix Auger-Aliassime has taken three crowns in a row. He has been hitting some terrific serves. Last year, when he was serving, the first serve was effective, but the second serve proved to be pretty flat and predicable. But now, he understands how to vary speed and placement. During his winning streak, he knows which way to go.

His confidence is soaring. Now, he has a solid shot to make the ATP Finals in Turin.

Imagine that? The 22-year-old is convinced he finally understands the combinations and how to succeed with his big forehand, consistent backhand and hard returns hard into the corners. Plus, he can thrown in lot of spin, and he change it up. Also, he is very fast.

Perhaps the Canadian can beat all of the top players, eventually. But, right now, the challenge is to win an ATP 1000 or a Grand Slam. He has not done it yet, even though that he upset the No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the semis in Switzerland.

“It’s been an amazing week,” said Auger-Aliassime. “Once again in the final, not getting broken all week. … [It’s been] a long year, a long stretch of wins, and it’s not over. So hopefully I can keep going, but right now I’m feeling all the good emotions that come with winning a tournament.”

Medvedev takes Vienna

The former 2021 US Open champ Daniil Medvedev won again, this time he grabbed the ATP 500 Vienna Open, stepping past Denis Shapovalov in three sets. The Russian has had a strange year, winning and also getting upset. So it is still hard to say that when he arrives in Paris, will he be pumped up or a little bit wild on court?

However, last week he was locked in. When he is mentally sound, then he can pound the ball all the time. He can sprint, he can nail it down the line, and he can dominate cross court with both wings.

Medvedev does not smile that much, on court, but when he hits an amazing winner, then he cheers, with the fans. The No. 3 is growing up.

“I like to play indoor hard courts at the end of the season,” Medvedev said. “I feel that I do a great job with my team not to arrive burnt out. I am looking forward to the last two tournaments of the year which are really important and I usually play well.”

Last year in Paris, he lost in the semis to Novak Djokovic. The Serbian will play along with Rafa Nadal, too. But if Medvedev goes deep indoors he could go up against Auger-Aliassime. That could be a fantastic match.

The only U.S. man who have change to play on the ATP Finals is Taylor Fritz. But it is almost impossible to pull it off unless he plays lights out and wins Paris. At least he has a very good year.

The American men are in Paris are Frances Tiafoe, Sebastian Korda, Brandon Nakashima, Tommy Paul, John Isner and Maxime Cressy. They are all in the top 51. That is good, but for many fans, they want all of them to crack into the top 10. Next year, they hope.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: atp finals, Basel, daniil medvedev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Taylor Fritz, Turin, Vienna

Jessica Pegula finally wins a huge tournament

October 25, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Who would have known five years ago that Jessica Pegula would win a tournament — any tournament. She was steady at times, but she was not blasting the ball. She had chances, yet she would back off, and she would hope that her opponent would miss it.

Pegula knew that if she beat some excellent players, then her confidence would help reset her career.

Finally this year she won a huge event for the first time, winning the 1000 Guadalajara and beating Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 in the final. During the match, she knew that if she attack with her ground strokes to different areas, then she could eventually prevail. That she did. Also, her return was excellent. Not only that, she also beat Elena Rybakina, Bianca Andreescu, Sloane Stevens, and Vika Azarenka, four Grand Slam champs. Whether she had to go for it soon, or just be patient, and she had it all.

Currently, she is No. 3 for the first time, and she is close to pushing past the No. 2 Ons Jabeur at the WTA Final, which will start on Saturday in Fort Worth. She will not be able to pass No. 1 Iga Świątek. But if they play each other, maybe Pegula can find a path to victory. They played each other this month in San Diego and the Pole out-hit her in three sets. To win the match, Pegula will have to be super assertive, because Świątek slams the ball all the time.

Auger-Aliassime rises

Last year, Felix Auger-Aliassime looked super when he was playing well. Plus he can be very enthusiastic. But he could not win the tournaments, falling in the Stuttgart and Melbourne finals and in Marseille this year.

Then, all of a sudden, he changed. His serve became more harmonious, his backhand was going deep and his return was finally thoughtful.

On Sunday, he beat American Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-4 in Antwerp. In 2022, Auger-Aliassime has won three titles, and the Canadian is up to No. 9, and he has a real chance to play in the ATP Finals. The biggest thing will be in the Paris Masters, which will start in October 31. There will be serious pressure.

During the last two weeks, Korda finally came up, and he reached into finals twice. The 22-year-old decided to be more patient and, when he had a real opening, he shattered the ball. His father, Petr, won the Australian Open,in 1998, would also be patient but then he would rush into the net. Maybe the No. 33 Sebastian will do the same.

It was a bit of a surprise when Holger Rune took down Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 to win Stockholm. However, the Dane is only 19 years old, so he can really hit it. He still isn’t perfect, yet, but he did have a fine run at 2022 Roland Garros beating, believe it or not, Tsitsipas.

Another youngster, Lorenzo Musetti, upset Matteo Berrettini 7-6(5) 6-2 in the Naples final. This season, Musetti did not win that many matches in the hardcourts, but the teenager is getting smarter each month. He was aggressive in the match. But, to move up the rankings, his serve and his return needs to grow and blossom.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Antwerp, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Guadalajara, Holger Rune, Jessica Pegula, Lorenzo Musetti, Matteo Berrettini, Sebastian Korda

The American men: ‘Turn on the lights’

October 21, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Sebastian Korda won today in Belgium. He is ranked No. 36, which is very decent. But like everyone, he wants to go much higher. He plays a lot, and he can be super consistent, and he can also mix it up, a lot. Just like his father, Petr, who won the 1998 Australian Open, who was an aggressive player. He rose to No. 2 but wasn’t quick enough to stay there.

The younger Korda is faster on the court, but at times he is not aggressive enough. He is only 22 years old, and should be able to make up for the lack of power by being much more thoughtful on the court.

The American men can be very good, but they have yet to win a Grand Slam yet. Taylor Fritz is ranked No. 9 and he has a solid shot to play in the ATP Finals. He did win Indian Wells over Rafa Nadal. He can be in-your-face with his outstanding forehand and backhand. He can get frustrated and get upset, but now he can turn it around. He finally went into the top 10, which is huge, and he has beaten some excellent players, such as Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Zverev. However, he has lost to some mediocre players.

The same lack of consistency is styming the other young American. Fritz beat Korda in 2022, and he also tripped up Frances Tiafoe, another fine American. This season Tiafoe rose higher, not only riding his big strokes, but now he can read how to combat his opponent. His first serve can be huge and he is now much better at to the net. He can be spin his groundstrokes and bash them back. He likely will not qualify at the ATP Finals, but the No. 17 can eventually rest when the year is over and realize that in 2023 he can leap into the top 10.

The fascinating thing is at some point one of the Americans will have the goods to win a Grand Slam. I do not mean the women, because Serena and Venus Williams have won 30 majors, a record for sisters. That is almost mind-blowing.

But can the American men chop down the top 5 players in the three out of five sets, such as No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas have done? In the two out of three, it is possible. Nadal and Djokovic are the smartest player perhaps ever, and their fitness is over the top.

How about this? None of these American men have reached the semis at a Slam, which means they have miles to go.

When they talk, they do believe that they can beat the odds and put together a huge amount of aces. And winners, too. This week, Mackenzie McDonald has reached the semis. Reilly Opelka has had a good year, as well as Tommy Paul, Maxime Cressy, Jenson Brooksby and Brandon Nakashima. They are in the top 50, and you can throw in John Isner, who is ranked No. 49. But the 37-year-old is sliding. He has had some wonderful matches, but you cannot stay a force forever.

At the start of 2023, they will be so enthusiastic to excel. So in January, turn on the lights.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story

The weekend winners: Auger-Aliassime, Rublev, Świątek

October 17, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

It has taken Felix Auger-Aliassime a while to be more consistent when playing finals. But this year, his experience and mental game has gained ground. The Canadian won the event in in Florence, beating American, J. J. Wolf, 6-4 6-4. A couple years ago watching Auger-Aliassime, he looked very decent, but there were times when he made to many mistakes and then he would lose. However, week after week, he began to understand what he would do. Not only could he have many long rallies, but then, when he was feeling good, he would push himself and slam the ball. He is back in the top 10 now and he really wants to play in November in the ATP Finals. That is a gigantic challenge, but he will make a galactic effort.

Wolf went to Ohio State University and starred there for three years. He won a lot of matches, and then he was ready to play on the ATP Tour. It has taken him a solid two years before he was more comfortable to do for it on court. He decided he is ready and now he is ranked No. 56, which is pretty good because he is only 23 years old. He swings super hard although he can be upset when he misses. Whether he can get into the top 32 next year and have a seed at a Grand Slam, that is possible, but you never know about anyone.

Rublev wins in Spain
Speaking of Andrey Rublev, who won Gijon, beating the other American Sebastian Korda 6-2, 6-3. Rublev was super solid, and he hit a lot of winners from the backcourt. He can be ticked off and upset, but when he was on the court, he was locked in early. When he is reading the ball, the Russian can spin it around and move it all over the place. He can also return well, here and there, getting it deep. The No. 8 is very good, but he has yet to win a huge event. If he isn’t injured, then he has to prove it. He can beat anyone either at the ATP 1000 [he has reached two finals before] or a Grand Slam. He has won 12 titles, but he has to shine on a bigger stage.

American Korda can look terrific on court but he can also be a little bit wild. He is still pretty young, and he plays a lot at the tournaments, but perhaps he should go home and practice a lot. The No. 36 can be fun to watch, but he can also look pretty spaced out.

The last American man to win a Slam has now been 19 years ago when Andy Roddick won the 2003 US Open. In 2023, that will be 20 years with no guys in the final? Perhaps Taylor Fritz can pull it off, given that he won the 2022 Indian Wells, a 1000 ATP tournament. But again, he has to improve every month, just like Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic have done.

No. 1 Świątek takes San Diego
In San Diego, Iga Świątek won another title again, beating Donna Vekic 6-3, 3-6, 6-0. In the third set, the Pole turned it on, stringing together so many spectacular winners. She is just so firm and intense on the court. Last year, she looked pretty good, but she could be erratic. Then, in February, after Ash Barty retired, she rose up with her massive forehand and backhand. She can really hustle, and she can go way down on the ground and slap it back.

Świątek has matured a lot and there is no doubt that she will continue as No. 1 until someone else trips her.

Vekic had a terrific week, hitting super hard and finally being more consistent. She has been around for a while, and yes, she has beaten some good players, but she has seldom upset the top 10 competitors. At least she did this week, when she upset the other American Danielle Collins 7-6(2) in the semifinal third set. It finally rained in Southern California (very, very rare) at night. So, they had to wait to play again until it was dry on Saturday night.

However, in the third set against Świątek on Sunday, Vekic disappeared. Maybe she was exhausted. But next time, she has to be more confident. They all do.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Andrey Rublev, Donna Vekic, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Gijon, Iga Świątek, J.J. Wolf, San Diego, Sebastian Korda

In Europe and San Diego: ‘Please, take a breath’

October 14, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

It’s already October. Over the next four weeks, some of the the men and the women will want to move up the rankings. However, each year, month after month, there are so many injuries. But that is life of a professional tennis player.

If they can go home and rest for a few weeks, then they can return and feel fresh. But if you don’t, many of them can look tired. Please, take a breath.

However, many just want to play, such as the former No. 3 Dominic Thiem. His injury knocked him down for months. Currently, he is back on the tour, working hard, but he is still struggling. The same goes with Andy Murray, who almost retired with another huge injury in his hip. Now, he looks pretty good, but not great — yet. Right now, they are playing in Europe, in Spain and Italy.

You can go on and on, about dozens of people. But, even they are hurting, when back on court, then the pain essentially goes away. Such is the case of 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal, who wins a lot, even though his body is always sore.

American J.J. Wolf played college at Ohio State University for did three seasons. When he decided to go on the ATP Tour, it took him a while to be much better. Finally, this year, he cracked the top 100 and now he is ranked No. 75. Slowly, his strokes are harder and he pushes himself to be more real on court. He does look good, but he can reach the top 50 at the end of the year. In 2023, can he eventually make it into the top 32? Also, in the Grand Slams, he will have to go into the second week, and if he does, then soon enough he will be seeded. That will be extremely exciting.

San Diego’s strong lineup
Currently, the women are playing in San Diego in a big tournament. They used to play the event up north for years in August, but eventually they shut it down. That also happened in Los Angeles, too. However, the tournament is now in the Barnes Tennis Center, which is very close to the airport. You can here the planes every few minutes. It is a good area, but it can be very loud.

There are a bunch of the top 15 players, like he No. 1 Iga Świątek, No. 4 Paula Badosa, No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 6 Jessica Pegula, No. 8 Coco Gauff and No. 11 Daria Kasatkina, among others.

Świątek will finish the year as No. 1, for sure. She is way ahead. The Pole can crack the ball with her forehand and her backhand, and they land pretty deep, too. Her first serve is lethal, and she can attack when she returns. She can beat almost everyone, but last week she lost last week to Barbora Krejcikova, who is a very good player, but she can be up and down.

Badosa can really mix it up, and she can be focused, point to point, but also, her shots can be short. If she swings harder, then she will be more effective.

Sabalenka is still figuring out how to fix her serves. She has had so many doubles faults this season, but when the rallies begin, then she can swing harder and play her power game.

Pegula has changed a lot in the last two years. Teenager Gauff is getting better, each month. Kasatkina is so intense on the court.

In San Diego, whomever wins will celebrate because she earned, it.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Dominic Thiem, Iga Świątek, J.J. Wolf, San Diego

Novak Djokovic: ‘Put on the show’

October 8, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

This has been an odd year for Novak Djokovic. When he is playing, he can be dominating, with his famous backhand. His forehand has improved over the past 15 years, and his serve is not only powerful, but he can mix it around, everyday.

However, he has missed a number of tournaments because he is opposed to the vaccine and many tournaments havenot allowed him to play. He could get a COVID-19 shot and then he can play everywhere. But he has not, yet.

Djokovic has said, “Personally, I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel. But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.”

We will see. The 35-year-old just won Tel Aviv. Regardless, there are different tournaments where the owners are fine to allow him to play. He is currently ranked No. 7, and Djokovic also won Rome and Wimbledon. That was fantastic, but he lost against Rafa Nadal in Roland Garros, and also, the current No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz, upset the Serbian in Madrid.

Djokovic has played only 10 events, going on 11, so he really wants to play. The 35-year-old wants to show that he can be the best player with anyone, if he can be totally solid.

The former No. 1 is playing in Astana and has advanced to the final. He beat Karen Khachanov on Friday, and was tied Daniil Medvedev when the Russian retired at 4-6, 7-6(6) in the semis.

Speaking of the Russian, Medvedev is somewhat struggling, match to match, but when he is being super steady, and very strong, then he can be more level headed. At the start of the year, at the Australian Open, he reached the final, and it looked like he can out-steady Rafa Nadal. He couldn’t, though, because in the fifth set, the 22-Grand Slam champ Nadal rose so high, and Medvedev could pull him back down to earth. After that, he looked pretty good, but not great. If Medvedev wants to be one of the best players again, he has to sharpen it up.

By the way, he lost twice against Nick Kyrgios this year, as the Australian was finally locked in. If they face each other again, Medvedev has to return much better. Of course, That is difficult, as Kyrgios is one of the best serves on tour. When he is happy and playing amazing, the Aussie can knock you down. He is not perfect, by any means, but when he is finding the lines, then Kyrgios and Medvedev can put on an entertaining show.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story