Archives for August 2023

US Open picks: Thursday, August 31

August 31, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Andy Murray over Grigor Dimitrov
A long time ago, Murray won the U.S. Open, before he grabbed Wimbledon, twice, which was a huge deal, in London. Yet before that, on the hardcourts, he was young, and super steady, and he also was intense, all the time. Yet eventually, his body broken down, and he almost retired. But while he is aging, he still looks pretty good. He is not perfect, but he can read how to do it the right way.

However, after three hours, he gets a little bit tired. The same goes is that the Bulgarian, Dimitrov, who has been playing for a king-sized time, but one point, he beat a number of the great players, and he could really mix i up. His one-handed backhand can be a blast, and his forehand can also smash it deep. But while he did reach into the Grand Slams semis, he has not been able to jump into the final. He probably won’t do it, but he does have a chance to go deep into the second week. Murray knows that he doesn’t have a real chance to win the U.S. Open, but he can certainly have a great show. As he said: “I’m at my highest ranking since I had the metal hip put in so I’m happy with that,” said Murray. “It’s not been an easy journey and obviously I’d like to be ranked higher. This is the best I’ve played consistently since probably 2017.” On Thursday, Murray will take it in five, long sets, around 6-3, one break.

Andrey Rublev over Gael Monfils
The Frenchman has had a fine summer, winning a bunch of matches. He is older, and Monfils can get hurt a lot, but he has improved his second serve and his backhand, which were mediocre, year after year. He has changed, slightly, and also, he is more forceful.

However, the Russian is more powerful, with his hard forehand and his first serve. He is quicker, and he does like to move the ball around. Rublev has won a number of matches this year, and while he has know to freak out, he can re-think it. His coaches will tell him to be calm, as the crowds will be cheering for the popular Monfils, but in the fourth set, Rublev will take it 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).

Madison Keys over Yanina Wickmayer
The American usually starts early, looking very good, swinging hard, and she will nail a number of winners. But gradually, at least the last couple years, she gets hurt, and then she looks slow on court. Keys will also miss a lot of errors, and then she will disappear. Hopefully she won’t at the U.S. Open, but there is along way to go.

Believe it or not, Wickmayer was in the top 12, back in 2009, when she reached into the U.S. Open semis. She could outlast in the matches, with some fine strokes. However, she went down, and while she continues to win some good matches, at the small tournaments, she still has yet to knock down the best players. Therefore, Keys will win it in two, decent sets, 6-3, 6-3.

Sofia Kenin over Daria Kasatkina
Two days ago, Kenin looked sharp, winning a match with more than a few difficult shots, into the corners. She still is trying to get better, day after day, and the 2020 champion be confused, but she can focus. The Russian Kasatkina has had a very decent year, beating a number of people, but not against the top 10 players. She can be proper, and she does like to mix it up, but at times, her forehand can be too shorts. This is a toss-up, but Kenin will climb up, and win it 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Andrey Rublev, Andy Murray, daria kasatkina, Gael Monfils, Grigor Dimitrov, madison keys, Matthew Cronin, Sofia Kenin, us open, yanina wickmayer

US Open picks: Wednesday, August 30

August 30, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Dominic Thiem over Ben Shelton
In 2020, , Thiem won the tournament, with some tremendous shots. His forehand and his backhand with some heavy spin, and with depth. But he became hurt, and it has taken him in the last year to recover, physically. Now it look like that he is slightly better. He is not 100 percent, but at least 70 percents.
Shelton is only 20-years-old, and he is already pretty good. He can nail on the lines, across and down the line. He can run very fast, and attack the ball. However, he still has a lot of work to do, especially with his serves and at the net. There will be so many rallies, side to side, and while Shelton will put on some great points, Thiem will rise again, and win it in five, tough sets.

Frances Tiafoe over Sebastian Ofner
Yes, the nice and funny person Tiafoe really loves Flushing Meadows, and he has had some phenomenal matches. However, there are times when he over thinks, especially during the rallies. Yes, he is very swift, and he can get it back, but also, he goes for it too early. But in a sense, when he playing terrific, then he can beat almost anyone.

He should be able to beat Ofner, who has yet to reach the top 50, but he did have some fine tournaments. At Roland Garros, the Austria qualified, and then he won three more matches before he lost against Stefanos Tsitsipas. He was more than loyal. They are the positives things, and at the start of the year, he was ranked No.193. Months later, he is ranked No.58, so apparently, he is playing much better. However, Tiafoe has a better backhand, so he will win it in four, muscular sets. As Tiafoe said: “New Yorkers love great entertainment,” says Tiafoe. “Everyone is tapped into tennis. The energy is second to none. Some people are made for it. Some people aren’t. I feel like I can make that stadium shake.”

Elena Rybakina over Ajla Tomljanovic
In Rome, Rybakina won the title, and it seemed like that when she is on, she can step on anyone. But after that, she looked decent, but not skilled. In March and April, she won Indian Wells and she reached the final in Miami, on the hardcourts. She was so powerful, and nailed her backhand, down the line.
Tomljanovic has been playing for a long time, traveling a lot, and tournament after tournament. She is 30- years-old, and when she is on, she can be somewhat fit, but other times, she can back off. She does like the spotlight, but when it is quiet, she can disappear. Tomljanovic will challenge Rybakina, but it won’t be enough. Rybakina will win in two fun sets.

Danielle Collins over Elise Mertens
Collins beat her in Doha, but it was close. The American likes to hop on, and swing very hard, with both sides. She did have a good week in Montreal, taking down a few good players. However, the next week, Iga Swiatek crushed her, so Collins has to be much more devout. Yes, she is a huge hitter, yet she needs to mix it up more.

The Belgium Mertens plays a lot, each month, everywhere. She can be faithful, reaching the semis at the 2018 Aussie Open, and twice at the quarters at the U.S. Open. She does like to change her tactics, but her serve, and at the net, are so-so. Collins will beat Mertens in three, close sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Collins, Mertens., Ofner, Rybakina, Shelton, Thiem, Tiafoe, Tomljanovic, us open

US Open picks: Tuesday, August 29

August 28, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Jessica Pegula over Camila Giorgi
The American has yet to reach the semis at the U.S Open, ever, but she does have a chance to go deep. But that is to be really important, and try to go for it, rather than to just play steady. She is much more mature, on court, but so is the Italian, Giorgi, who has decided to push herself, in the matches. They are both veterans, and they have played week after week for years, and they seem to know what to do. Yes, Giorgi really mixes it up, but she can also be very predicable. It will go into the third set, and it will continue to battle. At the end, Pegula will take it 6-4 in the third set.

Sofia Kenin over Ana Bogdan
At the 2020 Australian Open, Kenin played amazing, and she won it, but then she started to slide, pretty fast. She put together so many errors, and she was confused. Currently, though, she looks a little bit better, stunning Coco Gauff in the first round at Wimbledon. She was better, at least on one day.

Bogdan is 30-years-old, playing very decent, but not fantastic. However, last month she won Iasi, Romania, an excellent week. She can be basher forehand, and she can also return to different areas, but her forehand is mediocre. She can be fun, though, to watch, when she is on, yet the American will jump early, with some very hard shots. Kenin will win it 6-4, 6-3.

John Isner over Facundo Diaz Acosta
This will be the last time that Isner will play at another tournament, as he will retire after it is over. He has had some wonderful matches, from the ATP 250, the 500, the 1000, and some of the Grand Slams. The very tall man has done just about everything, but not all of it, as while his first serve is a record, but his backhand and his return were mediocre. Yes, he has never been to a Grand Slam final, and he likely won’t do deep at the U.S. Open. . However, he can win a couple matches, like against Facundo
Diaz Acosta, a young Argentine who is certainly rising, but he still has to be more sharp, and improve her serves. If this was another place, Isner would lose, as he has gotten slower, when he is running, but he will want to cheer with the fans. Somehow, he will win it in four, tough sets, 76, 67, 67, 76. It has always been with Isner, the famous 7-6.

Karen Khachanov over Michael Mmoh
The Russian has been a solid season, beating many against the other players outside of the top 30, but at least he took down two top 10 players with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev. Khachanov is a big guy, and he can smash the ball, side to side, but he can over hit it. However, on court, he is pretty smart.

The American Mmoh has improved over the past year, and he became more thoughtful. His forehand is more consistent, and at the net, he can bend down and put it away. Yes, he can win a set, but Khachanov will jump him early, and he will win it 6-3,6-7, 6-3, 7-5.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story

US Open 2023: Which men will reach the quarterfinals?

August 26, 2023 by Ron Cioffi

First Quarter
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won the tournament last years in New York, but he couldn’t play at the Australian Open, due to an injury, but now he is back, with his phenomenal strokes. The No. 1 does think that he can win it again, and maybe he will, but he has to be rock solid, almost each match. He should be fine, into in the quarters, when he might have to face against Jannik Sinner, who has played much better this summer, and possibly against Alexander Zverev, who once reached here in the final in 2020, but he has been up and down, week after week. Grigor Dimitrov can look terrific with his fun one-handed backhand, but it is hard to say that he is really locked in. In the quarters will be Alcaraz versus Sinner.
Dark horse: Tallon Griepspoor

2nd Quarter
Is it possible that Daniil Medvedev will play excellent ball and win it again, when he won the 2021 in Flushing Meadows? Yes he is so consistent, and he can move it all around, but he has had some tough matches in the summer, losing when it was very tight. He could possible do it again, but he can go back of the baseline, rather than rushing into the net. It will be up to him, and yes, he can reach into the quarters, but he could face against Alex de Minaur in the fourth round, who is so much better then he is really on. However, the reason why is that the Aussie has yet to reach in the top 10, as he slips, here and there. It should be a very close match, but the Russian will beat him in five sets.

Andrey Rublev should get through, or maybe he will not. If you watch him, he can look very good, and then he disappears, but in the first round he has to beat Emil Ruusuvuori, a pretty good player. Somehow he will, but then he might have to face versus the veteran Gael Monfils, who has had a terrific summer. That match will be a blast, on court, as the Frenchman can really celebrate. Rublev will take it, though, but in the fourth round he will lose against Hubert Hurkacz, as in the summer, he became much more aggressive, and he put it away. This time, he will reach into the quarters, the first time at the US Open.
Dark horse: Nicolas Jarry

3rd Quarter
Will Casper Ruud rise up again at the US Open? He did that in 2022, reaching the final here, and he did also when at the 2023 Roland Garros. He lost, both of them, but before that, he can be so fantastic, with some stunning shots. However, this year he looked very good at times, but he can also drop down, especially with his serve and his return. He has to play fabulous, early, as he might have to face against three different people, with Sebastian Korda, Adrian Mannarino, and Frances Tiafoe. The two Americans want to do very deep in the second week, here. Tiafoe has reached into the semis two years ago, and when he is on, he can split the ball, but he has not played well in the summer. Korda just came back due to his injury, and he looked pretty good this week, but he can win a few matches, yet he still needs more time. The veteran, the Frenchman, has so much variety, when he plays, each week, and there are other times when his strokes are not there. Essentially, Ruud will reach into the quarters.

How about Holger Rune? He has had some fine matches, in Monte-Carlo, Rome, and Wimbledon. He is still pretty young, but he might face the American, Tommy Paul, who has had a very good year. But in the fourth round, against Rune, will he be there? I would think, yes, Paul will, in five brutal sets.
Dark horse: Ben Shelton

4th Quarter
It is almost so obvious that when Novak Djokovic is on top of it, he will put on a show, just like when he out-lasted against Alcaraz in three hours, 49 minutes. That was won of the best match this year. But this is different, three out of five, rather than two out of three. But Djokovic is used to it, as he has won the U.S. Open many times. Even in the first three matches, it will be pretty easy. Maybe he can play against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round, but that Canadian is really straining. How about against Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti?Close, but no cigar. Stefanos Tsitsipas could reach into the quarters, but he has not played well during the summer. He might be out. How about the other American, Christopher Eubanks, who has had a superb this year, but to beat the top players is questionable. Djokovic will be there in the quarters, as will be Fritz, but then he is going to have to play incredible to go into the fifth set. Try to do it.
Dark horse: Milos Raonic

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Carlos Alcaraz, daniil medvedev, Matthew Cronin, Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, us open

US Open 2023: Which women will reach into the quarterfinals?

August 24, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

1st quarter
The current No.1 Iga Swiatek won the tournament last year, and she has had a very good year, but not perfect. When she starters rolling, then she can smash the ball, side to side. However, when she is not playing well, she can get very frustrated. However, she will reach into the quarters, unless Jelena Ostapenko rises up immediately, then the contest will be very tight in the fourth round. Assuming Swiatek will win, then she will face against the No.6 Coco Gauff, who just beat her two weeks ago. The American has really improved with her forehand, and her return, too. She should get there into t he quarters, but while the terrific person Petra Kvitova has never liked the heat in New York, she can play tremendous, so she could hit some huge winners. But not this time as Gauff will out hit her, forehand to forehand.

2nd quarter
In July, Elena Rybakina won Wimbledon and she looked terrific, bending down, and putting it away with some massive shots. She is very quick, and fast, but a couple weeks ago, she hurt herself. If she is healthy next week, she will be right there, grabbing the title. But she has to prove it, as Karolina Muchova came up playing very consistently, and she is also fast, side to side. They should face each other in the quarters, but there are two others can beat Rybakina, including Vika Azarenka [who still retires a lot], and Belinda Bencic, who loves to rally. At the end, though, she can miss some key shots. The Czech Muchova will upset Rybakina in three wild sets.

3rd quarter
Jessica Pegula has yet to reach the semis at the U.S Open, ever. Now the No. 3 seed is much more mature, on court, so this time, she will be jumping up and down in the second week. She hopes, as in the third round, she likely will have to play against Elina Svitolina, who has had a very good summer. Is that a toss-up? Yes, but Pegula will trip her down, in a very long contest. Other than that, the No.7 Caroline Garcia is not playing well at all, which is too bad, because early this year, she has been so thoughtful, but not now. The current reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova is playing more than decent, currently, as does the young, good player, Anastasia Potapova. Vondrousova did beat Pegula in three, savage sets on the grass, but this time, on the hardcourts, the American will beat her in two, delicious sets.

4th quarter
Aryna Sabalenka did win the Aussie Open, this year, and she can pulp her forehand and her backhand, and also, she can slap it, when she returns. But she can throw some odd strokes, and then she can lose. Yes, she certainly can win it, but she will have to play great in the second week. She could face the No.5 Ons Jabeur, who reached here in 2022, when in the final, she tripped up. Perhaps she will try to do it again, but it really looks like that Barbora Krejcikova will chop down Jabeur in the fourth round.
Sabalenka can be strange, on court, but she is maturing a lot, so yes, she will reach into the quarters, but there are two people who will challenge her, such as Donna Vecic and and Daria Kasatkina . Good luck for both of them. Sabalenka will win it in two sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story

Novak Djokovic: “Each point is a battle…going for it, brave.”

August 22, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

The Cincinnati final was one of the greatest matches of 2023, when Novak Djokovic edged Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4). The Spaniard was so close to win it, but the Serbian rose higher and higher, and while he was struggling early in the becoming in the second set, but right in the end, he put together some incredible shots.

So the the 20-years-old, and he was so close to winning, but he did make a few mistakes, and he lost. Alcaraz has beat him before (in Madrid), and the No. 1 could do it again, but if he manages to play against Djokovic in the U.S. Open final, then he will change a little bit, and to be more patient. However, he is so darn good, then he will go for it, all the time, with his huge forehand and his backhand.

They played for 3 hours and 49 minutes, a record in the ATP 1000. That was tough for both of them.

“Exhausted. No, I feel proud of myself, honestly. I talking and I don’t know why I was crying because I fight until the last ball,” Alcaraz said. “I almost beat one of the greatest of all time from our sport. Well, yeah, today was really, really difficult playing against Novak. I mean, he always put almost five, six, seven balls in every point. So fighting and running from one corner to other one every point is really tough to deal with it almost the whole match. I try to stay there, to stay good physically, but it was tough. I left everything on court.”

Djokovic has won so many excellent matches, against all comers. He has beaten the fine Grand Slam players, such as Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, or even more. But he actually likes it, on court, a lot, playing great, or mediocre. All of his shots are very good, or tremendous, depending on the day. In Cincinnati, in the final, he was not perfect all the time, but he kept going, with his up and down serve, and his spotty forehand. But it went on for so long, and during the points, then it can change it. Close to the end, he hit some odd shots, that he missed, but he chunked again, and he hit some phenomenal shots, crosscourt, and down the lines.

He did say that Alcaraz is very, very good.

“It doesn’t surprise me any more. It was surprising me maybe, I don’t know, end of last year or beginning of this year, what he was doing, the way he won big matches, big tournaments,” Djokovic said. “So impressive. I mean, coming out in important moments, going for it, brave. You just have to put your hats down to a guy like that, that plays so maturely, handles the pressure so well for a 20-year-old. We cannot forget how young he is. That’s something that is so impressive about him.”

It was, but the Serbian never gave up, at all. Even if he was about to lose, he just thought to focus, and re-think it. He can be slightly ticked off, yet in a few seconds, then Djokovic can chop him down, again.

“When I lost service game, he broke back 5-All, again 15-40, again another two advantages. Mentally this affects you big-time. But I’m very proud of how, after not using all these match points on 5-4, 5-3, all these break points on 5-All, I’m very pleased with the way I served out the next game to get into the tiebreak,” Djokovic said. “Played a really, really solid tiebreak. Yeah, just overall an incredible match with some really highs and really lows.”

They might to face each other in the final at the U.S. Open, but to do that, they will have to win six matches. Even if they are the two best players, currently, they never know if another terrific person can play unbelievable and upset them. That is the history at the U.S. Open.

There are other players who can reach into the quarters, other than those to, so in a few days, we will put it up.

The terrific women also had some splendid matches in Ohio, such as the young American Coco Gauff won the title. She beat the Czech Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4 and she looked fatigue, but Gauff has improved her forehand over the past two months, which is why she is plentiful and more consistent. Her backhand is excellent, and also, at the net. She still has to upgrade with her return, but she is coming along. Perhaps she want win the U.S. Open for the first time. She also upset the No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semis, so that was critically important. She is trending, with all the parts of her strokes.

“Just embracing it but also just focusing on your linear path. I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned is that everybody’s path for you is not what’s true, it’s not what’s going to happen,” Gauff said. “Even the path that you want for yourself may not happen. I believe you give it your all. That’s all you can do. I’m going to give it my all in US Open. If things go great, that’s exciting. If not, I go back and work hard and get ready for the next one. That’s kind of the mentality you have to have.”

If Muchova can stay healthy and if she does, she can go deep again at the U.S. Open and try to emulate. It is not just these three players, but also Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina. None of these have won U.S. Open with the exception of Swiatek, who won it last year. Perhaps someone else can do it, in the big trophy, Perhaps.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story

The picks at Cincinnati: Friday, August 18

August 18, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

There has been a lot of rain, in Cincinnati, and also, the same thing last week in Canada. It is odd in August, during the heat. Every year, the players pull out when they are injured, because they played so many matches, on the clay, at Roland Garros, on the grass, at Wimbledon, and now they started to play on the hardcourts. It can be brutal. However, some of the excellent players can control what they are doing, and not play every second. Many of the Slam winners have learned within him or her bodies, just like Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek, for the most part. They are playing this week in Ohio. They can actually win the event. Here are four matches on Friday.

Karolina Muchova over Marie Bouzkova
Believe it or not, Swiatek edged Muchova in Montreal a week ago. It was darn close, so right now, if the excellent doubles player can play wonderfully, the No. 17 can go very deep at the tournament. She did reach into the final at Roland Garros, so when she is healthy, she can beat anyone. The other Czech, Bouzkova, is very decent, and she does have some interesting defense, point to point, but she has yet to be in the top 20. Maybe she will do it, eventually, but not now. Muchova will win it in straight sets, around 6-4, 6-3.

Carlos Alcaraz, over Max Purcell
Alcaraz edged Tommy Paul 6-4 in the third set. He could have lost, as in the second set tiebreaker, he threw so many errors, which is very unusual. But the young Spaniard re- composed, and he was more consistent. When he attacks, he can crush the ball. Purcell is a very good doubles player, but currently, he is trying to hit some bigger shots, in the singles. However, he did have a very good year in the singles, the small ones, so it looks like his forehand and his backhand are stronger. Yet Alcaraz will push him back, into the wall, and he will win it in two sets.

Alexander Zverev over Adrian Mannarino
The German had a terrific match on Thursday when he beat Daniil Medvedev in three, brutal sets. Yes, Zverev can be super steady, and now he can really mix it up. As he said, “But at the end of the day I did what I had to do. I kind of fought it out and I’m happy to be sitting here as winner.” He can belt it, into the corners, but as he has said, he still is not 100 percent after he became hurt last year. Mannarino plays almost everyday, and he is older, but he just keeps moving on, on the court, consistently. He does like to mix it up, and change it around, but on Friday, Zverev will be tired, but he will go for it, early. Zverev will win it in three sets, 6-4.

Iga Swiatek over Marketa Vondrousova
Almost once a month, Swiatek can turn it on, and then she can rush forward, to hit some massive shots. His first serve is very big, and she can return and hit it very deep. Yes, though, she can become frustrated, and over hit, it. Vondrousova is skill full, and she can aggrieve. Her backhand is powerful, and her forehand is improving a lot. She can upset Swiatek, as long as she can be super consistent, and really go for it, into the corners. However, Swiatek is on fire again, so she will win it in three sets, 6-3.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Alcaraz, Bouzkova, cincinnati, Karolina Muchova, Mannarino, Purcell, Swiatek, Vondrousova, Zverev

The finals in Canada: Jessica Pegula, Jannik Sinner, Alex de Minaur

August 12, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

The American Jessica Pegula has been around the block, for a very long time, but finally, she is very intense, and when the match is almost done, then you have to really go for it. Or, if she is very steady, during the points, when she is feeling it, then she can hit it harder, and really mix it up.

Over the past few days, in Montreal, it looked like that Pegula could fold, but she has been so confident. She edged two of the fine players, taking down her good friend, Coco Gauff 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, and on Saturday, she out-lasted Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-7, 6-4. Those were two huge events, as she has yet to reach into the semis is the Grand Slams, but at the 2023 U.S. Open, maybe she will finally do it for the first time.

However, right now, it is the most important event. “It’s just kind of trying to execute it at the right times and as best as possible,” she said.

Unfortunately, in Montreal, it was raining at night, so they had to cancel between Elena Rybakina and Liudmila Samsonova. They will play on Sunday.

The Aussie Alex de Minaur also said that he really can go further. He beat the former 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, and then he blasted Alejandro
Davidovich Fokina in the semis. Over the past few years ago, he would miss a lot of shots. He could back off, and he could become frustrated. Now he understands what really works. If he is way down on the court, he can continue to battle.

“I’m not going to give up at any stage. Yeah, just at those stages, I managed to put the ball in the court, play a couple good points,” de Minaur said. “And then, all of a sudden, I got my chance and was able to turn that around. So it’s often how tennis goes. It’s huge momentum swings. So you always got to stay in the present.”

He is currently ranked No. 18, and he does say that this year, he will finally reach into the top 10. The 24-year-old has won seven titles, but none in the ATP 1000s, or at the Grand Slams. But at least he won two ATP 500s, including in early March when he won Acapulco, on the hardcourts. He also reached the finals in London/Queen’s Club and a week ago, in Los Cabos, Mexico.

As he said, very soon, he wants to get into the tough top 10.

“Yeah, 100%. That’s been the goal for me for a couple years,” de Minaur said. “It’s no secret that, I haven’t really been content where I am, and I’m always trying to find my way to push more. I’ve always felt that I’ve got the level to break into that top 10. But it probably wasn’t until end of last year where I was able to get my first win against a top 5, which was Daniil in Paris, that I really was able to have that breakthrough moment of really believing in myself. And I think from that moment onwards, it’s been a completely different — it’s been a change. I’m feeling a lot better. I’ve had a great year.”

He will face against the Italian, Jannik Sinner, who beat Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4. It was close. but Sinner missed a few odd shots, but he continued to throw with some gigantic shots. In the final, Sinner will take down de Minaur in three, massive sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Alex de Minaur, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner, Jessica Pegula, Liudmila Samsonova, Matthew Cronin, Montreal, Tommy Paul, Toronto

In Canada: McDonald beats Raonic

August 10, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

This is the first time that Mackenzie McDonald has reached into the semis at the ATP 1000s in Toronto. On Thursday, he beat Milos Raonic 6-3, 6-3, who looked very good in his two matches, but then, he was a little bit flat, or he must have been to tired. But not the American, who had decided to win the match, and he had to really go for it. He looked very good, going cross court and down the line. McDonald can be very steady, but the reason why he has yet to crack into the top 45. Maybe he will, as long as he can add some strategic shots. He is 28-years-old, so this is a perfect time, on court, but you can pretend that you will survived, for years, but to go much further, he has to really push himself.

Another up and down competitor, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, won a very tough match, and the Spaniard outlasted Casper Ruud 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (4). They will play each other in the quarters on Friday.

Davidovich Fokina is still pretty young, but he has also lost some super close matches, and he lost. When he is locked in, then he can bash his forehand and his backhand. He is pretty fast, running, and his first serve and his return is decent. Yes, he did reach into one final, period, at Monte-Carlo last year. Then, when he did, he would continue to build and finally, win a tournament. He still isn’t, yet. If you look at this year, he has lost five super closes against the top players. For example, at Wimbledon, he lost against Holger Rune 7-6(8) in the fifth set. That was brutal, but he eventually has to be more calm. If he going to win a tournament, he must be sealed in. Davidovich Fokina, will win the match, 7-6, 7-6.

Alex de Minaur beat Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7), 4-6 6-1. He will face Daniil Medvedev on Friday, another difficult match, The Aussie 24-year-old is also extremely good, when he is on, and just like the former two time champion, Lleyton Hewitt, he can be highly consistent, but not all the time. This time, he will have to grind it, as the Russian really thinks out there, many times. Medvedev will win it in two long sets.

Each week, Jessica Pegula can look very good, early on, and then after that, she has to decided whether she can be damn loyal, or swing harder. It is hard to tell whether this season, she will win an event. She did easily beat Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 6-0, which was impressive, but last week in Washington, she went down against Maria Sakkari. She will face Coco Gauff or Marketa Vondrousova on Friday. That will be very intense.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Alex de Minaur, Jessica Pegula, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Toronto

Caroline Wozniacki wins first match in Montreal

August 9, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

The former No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki, is back, in Montreal, which is a little bit odd, given that she retired. It appears that she just wanted to play again and win, a lot. She has won 30 titles, which is huge and her backhand was extremely good, but the reason why she only won one Grand Slam is because her forehand was so-so, and her her second serve, too.

Today, she beat Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2, and she was thrilled, as she has not play for three and half years ago, a long time.

However, the 33-year-old Wozniacki was so consistent, and fast. But why did she decide to retire, thinking that it is time to go, forever. And then, gradually, she would think sure, I can hit the ball, have some sets, have some fun, and then go home. But one day, she would wake up, and then say, alright, now I can to win another Slam. Something that is really important.

“Can I win the US Open? I think so,” said Wozniacki, who has two young children. “Can I win the Australian Open [again]? I think so. That’s why I’m doing this. And I guess we’ll see what happens.”

I would say so, but she has only won one match this week. She has to work on the shots, gradually.

Or maybe she won’t come back into the No. 1 ever again, or even into the top 10. Look at another four-times Grand Slam winner, Kim Clijsters, who came back, but she could not win a match. On court, she was a wonderful player, but then she was just too slow. So then she retired again. That it a tough pill to swallow.

However, the former Wimbledon winner, Frederik Lochte Nielsen, said about Wozniacki, “I’ve always said, never underestimate Caroline. She wouldn’t compete if she didn’t feel she could.”

How did Milos Raonic win a match on Monday in Toronto? Yes, long ago, he looked very good, winning eight titles, and he reached in the final at the 2016 Wimbledon. Even though he lost against Andy Murray, it was possible that eventually, he could grab it, and become No. 1. But he could do it, not just because he started to be injured a lot, but also, he wasn’t that fast, running, and his return was spotty.

But now, the Canadian finally came back, and the 32-year-old look very impressive when he beat Frances Tiafoe 6-7(12), 7-6(4), 6-3. He was thrilled, but it is just only one match. Or more.

Back in 2013 in Canada, Raonic reached the final, beating Juan Martin del Potro, and then he lost against Rafa Nadal. But in Canada, he was thrilled.

“I felt I was able to do my things well,” said Raonic, who won twice San Jose, in California. “I don’t feel I’m that far off from playing tennis that was reminiscent from two or three years ago. But it doesn’t mean that those things just click and transfer to matches. I still have to continue working hard in those moments and hopefully those things do come together.”

That it true, and maybe when you are more mature, then you can adjust it when you are playing in the matches. Not only did he win eight contests, in the ATP 250s and the 500s, but he reached into the 1000’s, three times. The last time was in Cincinnati in 2020, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas before he lost against the great player, Novak Djokovic, quickly. But that is how it does.

The American men had a tough day, when Gael Monfils played terrific in the third set, when he was very confident again, beating Christopher Eubanks 7-6(3) 6-7(4) 6-1. Eubanks has had a good year, but he will has to be more efficient on court.

But Monfils looked excellent, in the third set, but the former 2008 Roland Garros semifinals became injured all the time, each year. He has never won a Grand Slam before, but he is older, so to win a Slam or an ATP 1000 would be shocking. However, in the third set Toronto, the very fast runner hit some blasting shots, including his fine forehand. Whether he can stay the rest of the year, with his sore legs, is questionable, but he had a cool at night.

“Every moment are tough. When you get on the court, it’s tough,” Monfils said. “Then when you know your tactic is not working, it’s tough. And then I don’t know what is worse, to miss completely the game when I was about to serve it out [in the second set], or when I choke with this forehand on the match point, or when I couldn’t even get this double break. So are tough. And at the end, the easiest one is when I won and I shake his hand. I never take granted any moment. So I just tried to stay the most positive that I could and try to be as cool as I can. And to be honest, it’s amazing. After 20 years, I can choke in a way. It means so much for me to win one match. And it was actually fun.”

Grand Slam before, but he is older, so to win a Slam or an ATP 1000 would be shocking. However, in the third set Toronto, the very fast runner hit some blasting shots, including his fine forehand. Whether he can stay the rest of the year, with his sore legs, is questionable, but he had a cool at night.

“Every moment are tough. When you get on the court, it’s tough,” Monfils said. “Then when you know your tactic is not working, it’s tough. And then I don’t know what is worse, to miss completely the game when I was about to serve it out [in the 2nd set], or when I choke with this forehand on the match point, or when I couldn’t even get this double break. So are tough. And at the end, the easiest one is when I won and I shake his hand. I never take granted any moment. So I just tried to stay the most positive that I could and try to be as cool as I can. And to be honest, it’s amazing. After 20 years, I can choke in a way. It means so much for me to win one match. And it was actually fun.”

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Caroline Wozniacki, Christopher Eubanks, Gael Monfils, Kimberly Birrell, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, milos raonic, Montreal, Toronto