Archives for April 2023

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

The Picks in Madrid: Thursday, April 26

April 27, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

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.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story

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, Munich: Sunday, April 23

April 22, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Stuttgart
Iga Swiatek over Aryna Sabalenka
You have to wonder how the No. 1 Swiatek became so excellent, again. Maybe it is during this week, when she is in the amazing clay, as she did win Roland Garros, twice. However, this year, she has been up and down, with her hard strokes.

She does know that against the 2023 Australian Open Sabalenka is mighty with her forehand and her backhand, that she can kick down anyone. However, on the hardcourts, she can control what she has to do, and she can also decide if she wants to switch it. At times, she can, but while she knows on the dirt for years, she would over hit, with a lot of errors. Sabalenka has certainly improved her serve, but it is mediocre. That is why Swiatek will be more patient, and also, she will hit some ridiculous shots. The Poland person will win in two, long, sets.

Barcelona
Carlos Alcaraz over Stefanos Tsitsipas
The Spaniard just said that he is feeling great, on court, and he is playing so steady. Alcaraz grew up when he first started how to play on clay and on the hardcourts, and it took him a while, but he did it very quickly. He is just so fast when he is running, and he can do almost everything, with his forehand, his backhand, his serve and at the net. Yes, Alcaraz will likely become No. 1 again, but he still isn’t perfect, yet. Maybe in a few years, but he is young, so he still has to conclude exactly the right shots.

Tsitsipas is playing darn well, and he can look great, but then he hits some odd errors. However at least he really concentrates, and he can also seriously alloy it with his one-handed backhand. His forehand is very sturdy, and his first serve is rap good.
However, Alcaraz has beaten him all three times, including in Barcelona last year, winning in three sets. He will do it again, in another three sets, when Alcaraz hops in the line and put it away, again and again.

Two quick pics
Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Andrey Rublev over Dusan Lajovic
The Serbian veteran Lajovic has had a surprising week, but apparently, he is playing wonderful ball. However, the Russian Rublev is much more secure again, and he will win it in straight sets.

Munich
Holger Rune over Boticvan Van de Zandschulp
That could be a very long match, and while Rune has played insane over the past two weeks, yet he is still not playing as well as he can. However, he is rising quickly, but Van de Zandschulp also playing very devout, taking down against Taylor Fritz. The Netherlands seems to think that he can chop him down, but Rune will out steady him in a bizarre three sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Iga Swiatek over Aryna Sabalenka
Correct: Carlos Alcaraz over Stefanos Tsitsipas
Correct: Holger Rune over Boticvan Van de Zandschulp
~~Andrey Rublev over Dusan Lajovic~~

Matt’s picks this week

15 out of 18: 83.3% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left Tagged With: Andrey Rublev, Aryna Sabalenko, atp, barcelona, Carlos Alcaraz, Dusan Lajovic, Holger Rune, Iga Swiatek, Munich, Stefanos Tsitsipas, stuttgart, wta

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, Munich, Stuttgart: Thursday, April 20

April 20, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Picks written on Wednesday, before play started.

Barcelona

Daniel Evans over Karen Khachanov
This is somewhat surprising that Evans has a 3-0 head to head, not because that he can be so steady, but also, he found away to trouble him. Khachanov is ranked No. 11, and he has gone somewhat deep at the big tournaments on the hard courts, but he cannot figure him out on the clay. They have played only on the hard courts, so this time, it will be on the dirt. Because of that, there will be long rallies, and while the Russian can crush the ball, he can fall down. With that, the veteran Evans will win it again, with two, odd, sets.

Munich

Alexander Zverev over Christopher O’Connell
You never now how the German stands up, on the court and off. There has to be thousands of fans, watching Zverev, on the court, hitting some tremendous shots, and throwing in a number of winners. Yes, he can be angry when he is not playing well, but now he is more patient with his thoughts.

The Australian O’Connell has had a mediocre year, losing a lot, but at least he upset over Roberto Bautista Agut in Doha, and then believe it or not, in Dubai, he beat Emil Ruusuvuori. Then he tried to shock Zvereva, but he went down 7-5, 6-4. Not so bad, but it was gone. O’Connell can be steady, yet Zverev really knows how to play, and he will win in two, simple sets.

Stuttgart

Coco Gauff over Anastasia Potapova
The American Gauff somehow came over from the ocean and apparently, she wasn’t tired, so in the court, she won it 7-6 in the third set over Daria Kasatkina. She is a teenager, so she rarely gets tired, but this time her legs can start to crumple, but not that time. She did reach into the 2022 Roland Garros final, and then she lost, but her backhand was tremendous.

The 22-year-old Potapova is rising, as each month, she is improving her volley. Last year, she had some solitary matches, but on clay at Istanbul, Turkey, she won it all, not against the great players, but good enough. The Russian is so intense, on the court, and while at Indian Wells and Miami, she lost against Jessica Petula, twice, but it was super close. This is a toss up, as they are both want to win a gigantic tournament, yet right now, Gauff will edge her in three, very long, sets.

Elena Rybakina over Beatriz Haddad Maia
The Russian Rybakina played a terrific tournament, winning Indian weeks, and at Miami when she reached the final, beating Jessica Petula in the semis. She did lose in the final, but she played so hard with some incredible strokes. She never really became tired, which means she is incredible shape.
However, even though Rybakina won at the 2022 Wimbledon, she has yet to understand on the clay, when you have to totally change it up.

Believe it or not, the Brazilan Haddad Maia beat in Abu Dhabi in February, in the quarters, in three crazy sets. Maybe Rybakina was mentally tired, but Haddad Maia had some insane shots. She is fast, and steady, but there are times when she becomes confused. Because of that, Rybakina wants to revenge her, and she will win it in three, fun, sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Marcos Giron over Alexander Ritschard
Correct: Novak Djokovic over Luca van Assche

Matt’s current week picks

7 out of 7: 100% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Alexander Zverev, atp, barcelona, coco gauff, Daniel Evans, Elena Rybakina, Munich, stuttgart, wta

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 Barcelona, Banja Luka, Stuttgart: Tuesday, April 18

April 18, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Barcelona Open Banc Sabadel
Cameron Norrie over Pavel Kotov
The Britain is always playing and he rarely loses very early, as over the past two years, he changed a lot of his strokes. He is very strong, and he can thud his forehand and his backhand. Norrie had a fine year, upsetting a number of good people, yet right now, he has been up and down, very good, or so-so.

However, when he is playing solid, then he should be able to out-think Kotov, who is fairly young, and the 24-year-old did just reach into the semis in Morocco, upsetting Benjamin Bonzi. Clearly, he is rising a little bit, but he is out of the top 100, so he still has to really improve his shots. Norrie will beat him in two, somewhat easy, sets.

Denis Shapovalov over Jozef Kovalik
Is it time for the Canadian to stand up? Shapovalov can look terrific, with his leaping backhand, and smashing his forehand. His first serve is solid, but not fantastic, while at the net, he still needs to improve. Without a doubt, last year, he knocked out a number of very good players, but in 2023, he has done very little. This week, he will try to wake up.

The Slovakian Jozef Kovalik is 30-years-old, and in the singles, he has yet to take down the excellent players. That is why he is ranked No. 155, which mean that he is struggling to stay in the ATP. Maybe he can one day, but not now, as Shapovalov will beat him in two sets.

Banja Luka
Novak Djokovic over Luca Van Assche
Maybe it looks like that Djokovic will crush him, but Van Assche is only 18-year-old, so in the next five years, he can improve himself a tremendous amount. The Frenchman has won two small events this year, and while they did not beat any players outside of the top 100, but still, just to win it all, he certainly is rising, fast. On clay, he can mix it around and vault on the ball. While he must be so psyched to play against the 21 Grand Slam winner Djokovic, but he will likely be nervous, so the No.1 Serbian Novak will win it in two decent sets.

Stuttgart
Iga Swiatek over Qinwen Zheng
The No. 1 Swiatek has not had a great year, but she has been hurt, physically, so this week, assuming that she is healthy, she will be ready to re-set her life. Both her forehand and her backhand are so hard, and almost immediately, she will attempt to nail a winner, fast. At times, she can go too early, and she can also become upset when she cannot hit it in the right way, but if she can breathe, then eventually, she can turn it around.

Zheng is only 20-years-old and already, she is ranked in the top 25. That is not easy for anyone, so while she has not had a great 2023 season, at least last year, she upset a number of good players, such as Paula Badosa and Veronika Kudermetova. The problem though, it that while she is superfast when she is running, but at the 2022 Roland Garros, Swiatek beat Zheng in three sets. Currently, it is all about the clay, ever though in Germany, it is indoors, so it will be faster. Regardless, Swiatek will beat Zheng in three sets, just like they did in Paris.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Banja Luka, barcelona, Cameron Norrie, denis Shapovalov, Iga Swiatek, Matthew Cronin, Novak Djokovic, 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 Rolex Monte-Carlo, Sunday, April 16

April 16, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Andrey Rublev over Holger Rune
That was quite a day on Saturday, when Holger Rune out-lasted Jannik Sinner 7-5 in third set. He could have folded, as he had early in the year, but on the court, he is playing so physically. Rune can run for hours, and he can also mix it some terrific forehands, and his backhands. He also can crack his first serve, and he can also read when he is returning. Last year, all together, Rune was rising up, much faster, but in the start of the year, he lost his way.

Rublev did beats Taylor Fritz in the third set, when he began to smack the ball, very deep, and he would also be extremely consistent, finally. The Russian tries to mash the ball, pretty quickly, but now he can a victim. In the third set against Fritz, he decided to knock him out in the third, and he kicked his chin.

But Rune said, “I expect for myself to push full. It’s the last push, it’s the last match of the tournament. Obviously [Rublev] had three sets today as well, so he must be feeling the legs a little bit, I hope. It’s going to be great. We played each other twice. It’s 1-1 head-to-head, so it’s going to be interesting, for sure.”

Yes it will be. Without a doubt, Rune is playing very wold, but on Saturday, he had to play around three hours. That could be too much, and Rublev will win the tournament in three bashing sets.

Matt’s picks

Correct: Andrey Rublev over Holger Rune

Matt’s current week picks

10 out of 16: 62.5% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, monte carlo, Monte-Carlo