Archives for May 2023

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: Thursday, May 18

Daniil Medvedev
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Daniil Medvedev over Yannick Hanfmann
The Russian has been a very solid year, especially on the hardcourts. Before, at times, Medvedev would be erratic, and frustration, but currently, he finally changed a few things in the court, on clay. So now, he was very pleased. “Yeah, play definitely some more spin. Especially the sliding, I think the sliding was always a problem,” he said Medvedev.  “After Madrid, after I lost, a couple days I practiced there I tried really a lot to focus on the sliding, on the movement. I felt like I improve in these couple of days.” He has, in Rome, when he can attack, but also, he has to really go for it when he has a chance.

Hanfmann has yet to go very  deep at all, and believe it or not, the 31-year-old is ranked No. 101. His highest rank is No. 92, period. That is pretty low, but maybe he finally became mainly  better. He did win a bunch of matches, in Houston, and Madrid, so he must be totally into it. Even so, Medvedev usually feels serene, and he can throw it into the corners. He will win it in two, interesting, sets.
 
Borna Coric over Stefanos Tsitsipas 
The Croation has not had a great year, yet, but he has beaten Tsitsipas three different times, on the hardcourts. He won it at Cincinnati, in the 2022 final, and he played so sharp. He is pretty smart, on court, and he really likes the rallies, especially with his strong backhand.  It is very hard to understand how well he can play, day after day, as in certain weeks, he loses pretty early.
Tsitsipas is a little more often, but again, he can check out, with his strokes. He is fast, and he can swing darn hard, but he can also return too short. On court, they know how they play, as in 2022, Coric beat him 7-6 in the third in Vienna, Australia, but at the beginning of the year, in the United Cup Australia, Tsitsipas won it 7-5 in the third on the hard courts.

But today, it will be in the wet clay, so both of them have to change it up, a lot, and wait for a long time until they can try to split the ball. Coric has had a mediocre year, losing a lot, but at least two weeks ago, he reached the semis in Madrid, so his confidence is coming back, again.   The Croatian will grind it for over two hours, and in the third set, Coric will win it 7-6. 

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: Saturday, May 13

Madison Keys
Mal Taam/MALT photo

Victoria Azarenka over Madison Keys
They have played each other for a long time, as they are not so fast, running, but the reason why is because they have gone deep at the big tournaments. They totally crush the ball, with there forehand and there backhand. They can be very consistent, at times, and they also can whack it when they are returning.

Azarenka has won two Grand Slams at the Aussie Open, and Keys reached into the 2017 US Open, also. Clearly, they both think that if they are healthy, then they can try to go deep again, but they will have to prove it, now. On clay, Azarenka can slip when she is trying to nail her forehand, but she can always try to stand up and nail it with a winner. Keys can also crush her backhand, but she still becomes injured, a lot, so because of the, Azarenka will win it in three, sizable, sets

Alexander Zverev over David Goffin
The German has played so many marathons, when he is being so patient, and also, when he can change it up. Zverev has gone very deep a lot, on the hardcourts, especially, and also, he has been more than respectable on the clay. Yes,  he is not played very well as he has, because he ruined his leg, so to come back can be very difficult.

However, he will continue to battle, and so does Goffin, who will continue to play until he has to finally stop. The former No. 7 is a master at times, with his top-spin, as well as he can flat it out, and drive it. He is pretty good in the slow clay courts in Rome, so he does like to rallies, and he also can smash it, close to the lines. However, Goffin is sliding down, and because of that, Zverev will win it in two brutal sets.    
 
Coco Gauff over Marie Bouzkova
Each day, it is hard to understand how well the American is going. She can look terrific, and it appears that she is improving each week, but then she falls backwards. It is a conundrum. Gauff has a marvellous forehand, and she is also very sufficient at the net. She also is pretty decent with her return. The Czech Bouzkova can be decent, when she is locked in, but that is rare. Yes, last year she won Prague in July, and it appeared that she would go far. But after that, the current No. 38 didn’t go deep at all, so while she wants to move up the latter, that doesn’t mean that she can go further in Rome. Gauff will win in three, super long, sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Novak Djokovic over Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Stan Wawrinka over Grigor Dimitrov
Sebastian Korda over Roman Safiullin

Matt’s picks from Rome

4 out of 10, 40% correct

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: Thursday, May 11

Taylor Townsend

Aryna Sabalenka over Sofia Kenin
She just won the tournament in Madrid, and now she has to compete again. She did say after she won that she never gets tired, and that she can practice a lot. Sabalenka is a huge hitter, and she can bash her very strong, forehand. The American Kenin is playing a little bit better, and she really needs too, because a few years ago, she won the 2020 Aussie Open. After that, she went down, somewhat fast. She will be very aggressive, and she certainly likes to attack, but she is not the right place, yet, so Sabalenka will win it in unreal  two sets.

Jessica Pegula over Taylor Townsend
The 27-year-old  Townsend plays a lot, in the singles and the doubles, and at times, she can win some solid matches, but other times, she cannot seem to be to nail it very deep and true. Maybe later, or in a few years, she can advance her tactics, and her forehand, but still, she can be so-so in the singles. However, she is fun to watch.

Pegula is usually pretty darn close, against everyone, and there are days when she returns well, and also with her solid backhand. She is there week after week, and when she is playing stunning, then her confidence grows. Pegula knows all about Townsend, and how she will plays, so she will be comfortable, and she will win it in two, simple, sets.

Marie Bouzkova over Caty McNally
The still young American McNally thinks that each month, she will be more improved, with her solid forehand and her backhand. She can throw it around once in a while, and she can also plays  very loyal. This year, though, she had some strange losses. Perhaps she needs more time to deduce what she has to do. The Czeck Bouzkova has had a erratic years, as she barley won a number of matches. Last year, she did push herself into the top 40, but now, she is falling back. Maybe she is ready to put together in the court and play  either way.   This is essentially a guess, but this time on the slow courts in Rome, she will edge McNally in three, long, sets.

Caroline Garcia over Ana Bogdan
The Frenchwoman Garcia has some great shots, with her spin, her flat shots, and her drop shots. Years ago, she confused herself, and her shots went to short. But now, even though when she gets frustrated, she is much more of-a-piece, match after match. Bogdan has had some interesting matches, but the 30- year-old can’t seem to go very deep. At least in February, she won four matches in a row in Dubai, so on the hardcourts, she must have played with her fit  backhand. She slapped a bunch of winners. Still, though, she isn’t great enough. Because of that, Garcia will win in two, plain, sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Gregoire Barrere over Brandon Nakashima
Andy Murray over Fabio Fognini
Jaume Munar over Thanasi Kokkinakis

Matt’s picks from Madrid

1 out of 3, 33.3% correct

The Wrap: Madrid ruled by Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Each couple weeks, you can play fantastic and win it constantly, but in another few weeks, you can collapse, or play poorly. That is all about the tennis, on the court, and off. They can be happy, or sad. It is not just playing, but also, many of the players are learning what they can do. In order to practice all the time, to eventually  reach at the WTA or the ATP, it is rare that they can go to school. Or even if they did it, by high school, and you sit there for hours, five days a week, then they have to deal with the excellent players, and often, you will love. It is  very rare.

Also, mentally, you can see that a few of the players are upset, and worried. You can look at Amanda Anisimova and Garbine Muguruza, both just decided to take the time off. On court, they are bored, or frustrated. Hopefully, soon enough, they will come back, eventually, but to do very deep at the big events and the Grand Slams, that is a legitimate question.

However, Aryna Sabalenka had a terrific tournament in Madrid, beating Iga Swiatek  in three, super intense sets. She had lost five times with the Polish person, Swiatek,most of it on the clay, but this time,  Sabalenka decided not just to crush the ball, but to react. A few years ago, she did not love clay, but now, she is finally much more core.

“I really enjoy playing on clay, because I have extra time. It’s not super fast, so I can go for my powerful shots, because I have not so many but I have a lot of time here,” Sabalenka said. “Yeah, that’s why I really enjoy clay, because it’s longer rallies. It’s like not just bomb, bomb, you know. You have to work for every point, and that’s really amazing.”

She now rarely gets tired, as she can run for ever. Even when she plays, at an event, she knows that if she can consistently as much as she can, then she will gradually remedy. As she said,“I was working really hard in my fitness, so I’m able to play these long rallies and play these long matches and not getting really tired.  So I was feeling fine.”

Swiatek and Sabalenka and are No. 1 and  No. 2. Last year in Rome, Swiatek destroyed Sabalenka 6-2, 6-1. Now it will be totally different, on clay. They might play in the final in Rome, or maybe not. Also. Roland Garros is also coming up. There will be some nervous at times, but both of them know that if they play great, then they feel that they can beat anybody.

NOTES

Petra Kvitova,  Belinda Bencic, Zhang Shuai and  Simona Halep, whom we don’t know who will return. She is waiting, soon. … Other than Sabalenka and Swiatek, there are some who will reach into the quarters, at least. Here are 15 more people who can win a few matches and then, in Rome, they will be pumped up such as Ons Jabeur,  Jessica Pegula,  Carolina Garcia, Coco Gauff,  Elena Rybakina, Mayar Sherif, Victoria Azarenka (who won the doubles) Paula Badosa, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Martina Trevisan , Beatriz Haddad Maia, Anastasia Potapova, Barbora Krejcikova, Sorana Cirstea, and the  — the last one, who finally began to rise with Zheng Qinwen.  She is coming up.

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: Sunday, May 7

Carlos Alcaraz
Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Carlos Alcaraz over Jan-Lennard Struff

Remember at the 2021 Roland Garros in the third round when Struff had to face Alcaraz, a new 18-years-old player. He was good, but the Spaniard had to work, all the time. There, in Paris, Struff beat him in three, interesting, sets. Then next year at the 2022 Wimbledon,Alcaraz began to rise, and he edged  Struff  6-4 in a classic, five-setter in the first round. It was a great match, but then the German knew that he could see that soon enough, the teenager would become excellent. And he is now, as he has now won 20 matches in a row. Not many people have done that before.

“We played in Roland Garros when he was 18. For a young player like him, he changed so much in this time. When we see what he achieved in this last two years, it’s just amazing,” Struff said. “I managed to beat him in Roland Garros. From the matches as well in Wimbledon, it was very intense match, he’s a complete player. He has a lot of weapons. He’s serve and volleying, playing strong from the baseline, serving well, he has a dropshot. He’s very fast. He’s a great athlete. … I have to go for it otherwise I will have no chance. I will try my best to beat him and win my first title.”

Struff is a huge hitter, and his confidence is finally rising again. Will that help against the Spaniard?

Alcaraz can smash his forehand and his backhand. He can throw in different shots when he serves, and for the millionth time, he can charge into the net. Even more than that, his dropshot is amazing.

Alcaraz may be the favorite, but Struff took down Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No. 3, in the quarters. Then he really showed himself in the semi against Aslan Karatsev. However, just like the multiple champion, Rafa Nadal, Alcaraz is pretty darn good on clay. Because of that, Alcaraz  will win it once again, kicking down in two, tough, sets.

Matt’s yesterday pick

Iga Swiatek over Aryna Sabalenka

Matt’s picks from Madrid

8 out of 14, 57.1% correct

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