Archives for November 2024

What a wild match. The Americans had a chance to go on onto the semis at the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain, against the Australians, but in the third set,  Thanasi Kokkinakis wouldn’t fold. He outlasted versus Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(14). Kokkinakis saved six match points, but he together a few amazing strokes.  The young American Shelton tripped up. He was not thrilled, at all. 

That was the first match, and in the second match, the No. 4 Taylor Fritz beat

Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4.  Then in the doubles, the two Aussies Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson rose, beating  Shelton and Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4.  

“I fought my ass off, and I didn’t leave anything out there on the court, but to not get a win in one of those two matches hurts pretty bad,” Shelton said.

How about Kokkinakis, who has been around for a long time, but over the past year, he is more consistent, and also, he can changed new tactics. “I don’t know if I’ve been that pumped up in my life, I wanted that one bad, I wanted to help my team,” said Kokkinakis.

“(The tiebreak) was tough, we were both serving well, I think I only got tight on one shot… he was serving incredibly, I can’t even speak, I’m happy.”

He really was. The Davis Cup captain Bob Bryan made a choice, to use Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in the doubles, but opted to use Tommy Paul and Shelton. They couldn’t do it. 

“We were expecting the other pair, but we knew they’ve got incredible players who can play doubles,” said Ebden. “We were ready. A slight adjustment obviously. More huge serving singles players than the doubles craft, maybe, but it was just as big a challenge as any. Out here, final live match, just to play with Jordan here was real fun.”

The Australian will face  against Italy,  including the No. 1 Jannik Sinner, on Saturday.

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It is pretty unusual that Carlos Alcaraz will face off against Alexander Zverev in Turin. In order to advance into the semis. t

The Spaniard has to win, and not into the third set. He lost against Casper Ruud in straight sets, so if Ruud beats Andrey Rublev, then he will advances. It is very complicated, no?

Anyway, Alcaraz and Zverev have played each other 10 times, and it is split, 5-5. Early on,  in 2021, the Spaniard was getting started, but then he came very big. However, at the ATP Finals one year ago, Zverev took him down in three, tight sets. This year, the German beat him at the Aussie Open in the quarters. Six weeks later, at Indian Wells on the hardcourts,  Alcaraz destroyed Zverev. They know each other very well, and they have also to really mix it up, and smash it, when they can. They also really like to rally, and try to jump on the second serves. Also, they can try to nail it, down the lines.

“My chances of qualifying are still there, so we’re going to go all out. He is one of the toughest players in the world for sure,” Alcaraz said. “I think I return pretty well but he has a really big serve and plays unbelievable from the baseline, which makes him a really tough opponent to face. I don’t like to face him because of his serves and shots, but I am trying to find the beauty of playing him.”

He has three Grand Slams, and he could do it once again, next year, but it is critical to snare it in Italy. 

The No. 2 Zverev has never won a Slam, but he has won it many times, 23, including at the ATP Finals, twice, and some at the ATP Masters. 

“I’m happy with the win. Maybe it was even better than my first match, even though the first match was quite good as well,” said Zverev. “I’m looking forward to Carlos now on Friday. “I’m missing a little bit the differences in surfaces because before there was a clear difference between a clay court and outdoor hard courts. Some were very slow like in Indian Wells, but some were very fast, like Canada was always very fast, Shanghai was always very fast. And indoor hard courts. I think we lost that a little bit by trying to make all the surfaces very similar and almost the same.”

Both Taylor Fritz and  Jannik Sinner won, today, and they will advance into the semifinal. Against who, now one will know, yet.

Over the past 20 years ago, very few Americans have made it into the ATP Finals. But this season, Taylor Fritz qualified among the eight players. Fritz started very well, beating Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-3. He played terrific, but the Russian went crazy, throwing his racket, again and again. In the end, he was totally frustrated. His anger went mad. Hopefully, Medvedev will recover, so he can show with the fans in Italy. Or maybe not. 

Fritz has had an interesting season, playing mediocre, and then, he can turn the lights, reaching the US Open for the first time. He lost to Jannik Sinner, but there were some games when he was darn close, but not enough. 

On Tuesday, Fritz will have to do it again, as the No. 1 Sinner is so solid now. He is incredibly powerful, from both sides, to nail his first serve. He beat Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday at Turin with some tremendous shots.

It should be a fascinating match between Fritz and Sinner, whether they will change it up or try to crush it, early, on the hardcourts. Medvedev will face Minaur on Tuesday.

Carlos Alcaraz is sick and hurt on the court and off, and then he lost versus Casper Ruud 6-1, 7-5. Ruud can look amazing finding the corners, plus he does like to rally. However, the three-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz also likes to throw it all around, and he is very fast. But he is still young, and he can become upset when he thinks about it. Plus, he has to recover, or he will be out.  

“It can be a bit tricky,” said Ruud. “I knew he was dealing with a bit of a cold. I saw him sniffling in the back area and with a tissue for his nose, so that’s a sign that maybe physically he won’t be necessarily at 100 percent. Of course, that is sad, and not good for him, but at the same time it is part of the game… but it’s definitely one of the best wins of the season for me.”

Alexander Zverev is playing much better now. He is getting stronger, beating Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4. It was someone close, but the Russian wasn’t returning well, so to out-hit Zverev, he had to bring it back and hit it very hard down the lines. Yet he didn’t.

“I thought it was a very solid match from my end,” said Zverev. “Against anyone here, you have to play your best to have a chance, you have to be solid [and] mentally strong.”

Zverev will play against Ruud in what should be a thrilling match-up.

It has been an odd year, but the young player, Coco Gauff, has finally risen, and in the semis at the WTA Finals, she was so solid and powerful. The American stunned Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(4), 6-3. She was right there, backhand to backhand, and she could nail her improving forehand, down the line. Yes, Sabalenka has won three Grand Slams, and she is incredibly powerful, but very good opponents can confuse her, and this time, Gauff did. At the net, she is already very smart, bending down, and she can put it away. 

A few years ago, the current 20-year-old still couldn’t improve her second serve, but now, it is much better. Plus, if a player decides to pay attention month after month, she will eventually be much better. At the 2023 US Open, she won it. 

This week against the terrific other players, she is right there, or even better. Also, Sabalenka made way too many errors. “I’m happy with the way I played,” Gauff said. “I know that coming up against Aryna, she’s always going to be a tough match. She is world No 1 for a reason.”

Eventually, she might do it next year. But in the final, she has to face Zheng Qinwen, who has had a fascinating year, when she beat Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 7-5 in the semis, out-hitting her with deep, hard strokes. She can run very fast and go for it early. When the Chinese player can lock it in, Qinwen can try to dominate it. In the summer, she won the Olympic gold medal. She must be convinced that when she can smash her forehand, then she can explode. “I think I’m more explosive compared to the [2024] Australia Open final [which she lost]. Even though I was in the final I never met any seeds on the way,” Qinwen said. “This was the tricky part. I would say I move faster and then my ball goes faster, my serve goes faster, and my endurance improved a lot.” 

Both of them have to walk onto the court and see whether you are very nervous. Still, they know that to see which way to go, trying to be patient or go for it early. On the hardcourts,  in front of the large crowds, they have to be consistent, as well, and to find the lines.

“Zheng is playing great tennis too, but I just need to play confidently. That will help me win. I’m not nervous,” Gauff said. “Being here is a reward for the season I’ve had.”