Dominic Thiem – TennisReporters.net

The Picks on clay in Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters: Wednesday, April 12

April 12, 2023 by Ron Cioffi

Stan Wawrinka over Taylor Fritz
The American returns to play on the dirt, and while he really likes the hard courts, he had improved a lot, but during the clay last year, he has been so-so. Now it is time to measure up. Fritz can hit with his fast forehand, and his bashing backhand. He can also be patient, but others time, he can be to distracting.

Clearly, the 38-years-old Wawrinka is aging, but the Swiss has played some amazing matches, on clay, when he won the 2015 Roland Garros, stunning Roger Federer. His one-handed backhand is so heavy, with huge spin, and his forehand is also hard, and at times, when it is flat. However, he is little bit slower, and he has lost a number of matches. But with that, now in the spring, he will make a huge effort to show the fans that he can actually turn it on. Yes, Fritz is the better players on the hard courts, but on the clay, it is still Wawrinka, who will win in three, jarring sets.

Holger Rune over Dominic Thiem
This is super interesting that Thiem played his best match this year, easily beating Richard Gasquet. The Austria grew up leaning how to play on the clay, and gradually, he improved his heavy forehand and his backhand. However, he was hurt, and he lost control. Yes, he is darn smart, on the court, but the former 2020 U.S. Open champion started to push the ball, rather than making the attempt to hit it close to the lines.

The 19-year-old Rune has not playing well, hardly at all. He has won some decent matches, but he has not reach into the final in 2023, losing early at Indian Wells and Miami. The good thing is that last year in the fall, he was on fire, when he won Paris, stunning Novak Djokovic. This week, he has decided that even if he loses, at least he can make some different strokes, and to be much more focus. Rune is trying to be confident again, which means that while he knows that Thiem can grind it, all over the place, he can out hit him. The No. 9 Rune will win it in two brutal sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Novak Djokovic over Ivan Gakhov
Correct: Stefanos Tsitsipas over Benjamin Bonzi

Matt’s current week picks

2 out of 4: 50% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Dominic Thiem, Holger Rune, Matthew Cronin, monte carlo, Monte-Carlo, Stan Wawrinka, Taylor Fritz

The Picks on clay in Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters: Monday, April 10

April 10, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Andy Murray over Alex de Minaur
At one point will Murray rise much further again? This year, his first serve, his forehand and his return has improve a good amount, and his backhand has always been nearly perfect. Yes, after he almost retired due to his wrecked ankles, he came back, and while he is not as fast as he once did, but currently, he is more controlling. For Murray to win another Grand Slam is debatle, but he still wants to grab another ATP 1000.

He will keep trying again, as de Minaur wants to win a huge event. He is currently ranked No. 24, which is pretty good, as he has beaten a number of the good players. However, will the Aussie continue to add some terrific shots, and also, to push himself when he has to knock down the tough opponents. He did win Acapulco on the hardcourts, which was tremendous, but then he lost in the first round at Indian Wells and Miami. It looks like he is straining. Murray reached the final in Doha, and he was stringing along, but then he fell down at IW and Miami. Really, it is toss-up, for both of then, and while Murray doesn’t love on the clay, he will grind de Minaur in three exhausting sets.

Richard Gasquet over Dominic Thiem
The veteran Frenchman won Auckland, New Zealand, in the first week in January. He is 36-year-old, and he wants to play all the time. He does think that when he is on with his heavy, one-hander backhand, he can win more matches. He does that, here and there, but when he goes against the terrific players, then he will lose, much of the time. Gasquet still really likes with the famous clay, and he has won some tough tournaments, but the same thing with Thiem, who won the 2020 U.S. Open. He is still struggling, partially because with his injury, and while he has won just one match this year, he is trying to bring back his phenomenal spin. He started to climb up, on the clay, winning a variety of people, with his super strong legs, and his tremendous variety. However, he is still lost, mentally and physically, so while Gasquet can be his to short, he still will be able to crack Thiem in three sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Alex de Minaur, Dominic Thiem, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Monte-Carlo, Richard Gasquet., With Andy Murray

2023 Australian Open favorites

January 15, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

The women

With the women, clearly, the favorite is No. 1 Iga Swiatek. But, she has never won in Melbourne. She can be very aggressive on the hardcourts. Last year, Ash Barty won it and then retired. However, one of the Americans, Sofia Kenin, won it in 2020, but then she went straight downhill. Maybe she will get going again but she has to turn thing around quickly, because she has to face Vika Azarenka in the first round. Azarenka won it twice in 2012 and 2013. Now she is playing decently, but she is not great right now. Both of them are super fierce and then they can go for the lines. Sometimes they miss it, the other times they can control play in the backcourt. But, to win it, that would be very surprising.

Three American women should reach the second week or to get into the final: Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, and Danielle Collins. But 18-year-old Gauff, who reached into the final at Roland Garros, would have to beat Świątek in the quarters if they both advance to that round.

Keys is a former US Open finalists and Collins reached that level at the Australian Open. No one won, but at least they played were tough outs all the way to the finals. Maybe something occurred, either they were too nervous, or maybe they were not strategic.

Another veteran, Jessica Pegula, is ranked No. 3, which means that she has been much more assertive with her ground strokes. She won Guadalajara in the fall and that was her best tournament ever. However, she has yet to go deep at the Slams, so this will be a huge challenge for her to show she can dominate in a major.

There are others who can win a Slam for the first time: Caroline Garcia, Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari, Daria Kasatkina, Belinda Bencic and Amanda Anisimova. The big question is: Does anyone here have a real shot?

The men

To win the Australian Open, you have to be super patient and also mash the ball. Novak Djokovic has won it eight times,and Rafa Nadal grabbed it twice. Serena Williams also won it many times, but she retired last year. Naomi Osaka, took it twice, but now she is not playing because she is pregnant.

There are some people who can win a major for the first time. How about the men? Yes, Djokovic and Nadal, who won it last year, are the favorites,. But, there are more than a few who can win it for the first time like Nick Kyrgios, Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini and Americans Taylor Fritz, Sebastian Korda and Frances Tiafoe.

Here is what is odd: among active men only Djokovic, Nadal and Stan Wawrinka have won Aussie Open in the past 25 years. Repeat: no one managed to grind it and nail the shots. Plus, those three really understand what to do during the matches. Plus, their strokes, serves and returns are fantastic. Medvedev managed to reach the final against Nadal last year. He was so coherent all the time, but in the finalps fifth set, Nadal threw some astonishing shots and he beat him 7-5. The Russian can look so steady, but after that he was mentally down. If he rises again, then perhaps he can be much more solid.

The Aussie Kyrgios is one of the hardest hitter on court. He can slug his forehand, he can clip his first serve and he really likes to be creative during the points.

There are some who have a real chance to control matches and go deep at the Slams, such as the basher Andrey Rublev, the thoughtful Casper Ruud, the hustling Felix Auger-Aliassime and the Mr. Variety Matteo Berrettini. Now there are three American men who are seeded and can go deep too: Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Sebastian Korda. Fritz won Indian Wells last year, upsetting Nadal. At the ATP Finals, he looked very good, but it will be different at the Slams. Tiafoe reached the 2022 US Open semis and he was spinning around, and he hit some unreal shots. So if he can go into the semis, then perhaps he can take the gloves off. Korda’s dad, Petr, won the 1998 Australian Open. So, if Sebastian can lock in early, then without a doubt, he can reach into the second week — or further.

Three players have outside chances to the final at Melbourne, such as Andy Murray, Marin Cilic and Dominic Thiem. They have all won a Slam — not on the Australian Open — but they have took it on the hardcourt. It is possible that they can win more than a few matches, but to win it all, that would be almost shocking.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Andrey Rublev, Andy Murray, Casper Ruud, coco gauff, Dominic Thiem, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Frances Tiafoe, Iga Świątek, Jessica Pegula, Marin Cilic, Matt Cronin, Matteo Berrettini, Matthew Cronin, Novak Djokovic, rafa nadal, Sebastian Korda, Taylor Fritz

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

October 14, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carlos Alcaraz: ‘I try to keep learning, keep adding experiences’

July 22, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Even with a standout year with few losses, Carlos Alcaraz is still learning. He is so quick, and he is super aggressive. Here and there, he can be frustrated. But he is 19-years-old, and when he is on, he can pound the ball.

This season, ranked No. 6, he upset Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic. On Friday, he is back on the clay, after Wimbledon. This week, he is in Hamburg, ready to win another title. So far, he is 23-2 on the red clay, and this season, he won Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona and Madrid. The teenager is a little bit surprised.

“The truth is that a little, yes,” Carlos Alcaraz said. “I have had surprising results this year, I did not expect to evolve as fast as I did, but I work for it. As I always say, hard work pays off, although in my case it was all a bit quick and surprising. I try to keep learning, keep adding experiences and always try to give my best version in each game. I feel that I play for myself, for my team and my family, I don’t focus on the expectations that people may have. I just push it away.”

On Thursday, he crushed Karen Khachanov 6-0, 6-2 . He punched the ball, side to side. He whacked it, with 21 winners and only seven errors.

“I played unbelievable today, probably one of my best matches this year,” said Alcaraz. “I’m training every day to be solid and at the same time to be aggressive. That is my game.”

The Thiem comeback

Dominic Thiem won the 2020 US Open, but the 26-year-old really got hurt, and he had to stay away when he suffered his right wrist tear in June 2021. He tried a couple times, but he couldn’t play. Finally in April, he was good enough to walk on the court.

The former World No. 3 started playing on the clay, and he was very good, but on the hardcourts, the 28-year-old had to re-think when he hits the ball. He can spin it, and he can mix it up all around. However, when a player returns from a long layoff, they are rarely comfortable. Each week, he remembers. Here, he won it on Friday in Gstaad, Switzerland, and now he has to face the talented Matteo Berrettini.

“Dominic has had an unbelievable career,” Berrettini told the ATP. “He is a Slam champion and he got injured, but he is coming back. I saw some of him today and his level is coming back, so it is going to be a tough match. We always play great matches, so tomorrow will be a good one.”

Yes it will be.

Injury stymies Petkovic

Guess what happened? The veteran Andrea Petkovic won in the first round at the Hamburg European Open, but she said that she hurt her aggravated elbow injury during Wimbledon. And yesterday, she had to retire, after eight games. The 34-year-old did reach the at No. 9 in 2011, but currently, she is No. 67.

“It’s absolute horror. It’s completely gone in some cases, then a ball jumps wrong and the tendon is squeezed and I want to die,” Petkovic said. “It’s a very unpleasant pain, but it doesn’t go away even with rest. If I turn pale or start crying.”

The big-hitting Petkovic still plays a lot, almost every week, even with a bum elbow. The German wants to play, even though her arm can be sore. This year, she upset the two-time Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza.

“But I play well, so it’s something I accept. At some point you have to take things like that with a sense of humor, what else can I do,” she said with a laugh. “If I turn pale or start crying, it’s probably because of that.”

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Carlos Alcaraz, Dominic Thiem

TennisReporters.net 2021 year-end review: top 15-11, the men

December 26, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

15. Dominic Thiem
There are days when he can be move the ball around, with heavy spin, with his forehand and backhand. He is presto and can run quickly. He has improved a lot over the past few years, understanding what he had to do, and to push the opponents to the back wall. Yes, he was hurt much of the year — playing only 18 matches — so that is why he dropped down into the top 15. But next year, if he is healthy, he will punch back into the top 5 and maybe, he can win another Grand Slam. It is all about the perfect health.

14. Denis Shapovalov
The Canadian kept playing all the time, when he was very good, and so-so when he was tired. Clearly, he wants to play a lot, almost each week, and he can mix it up. His forehand and backhand are very solid. He is young, but he has been here for a few years. If he wants to reach into the top 5 next year, he will have to grow even more. If he can improve his return and come to the net more, then the lights will be bright. But first, try to reach a ATP 1000 final for the first time.

13. Diego Schwartzman
The Argentine is efficient. He also likes to spin it on the clay courts, and he punches into the net. Over the years, he also started to read his strokes on the hardcourts, hitting even harder. In reality, while he is very good, it will be difficult for him to reach a Grand Slam final. To reach that level, the 29-year-old has to play almost perfectly. In 2022, maybe he can try to hit the ball, very deep, and dive into the net.

12. Cameron Norrie
The Brit finally added to his game, and he could see that in order to win much more, he had to make changes. Now he knows that when he wasn’t playing well, he would find a a way to throw in a few winners. After that, he became more disciplined and then he would fire away. He did that at Indian Wells this year, winning an ATP 1000, perhaps his best two weeks ever. Now he thinks that in 2022, and he continues to improve, he will be better, month after month. However, to upset the top players, he has to focus every second.

11. Felix Auger-Aliassime
Another Canadian had a dusty year, adding to his strokes and becoming smarter. He is very rugged, and he can bang the ball. He can chip it, here and there. He is another young player who is rising, and he has said that he certainly wants to win an ATP 1000, or a Grand Slam. Given that he has reached eight finals, and he has lost all of them, the 21-year-old seems to find a path through his nerves. Like all of them, to go there, Auger-Aliassime should improve his serve and his decisions when he is playing. He has to practice very hard, and then in 2022, he will win even more.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Cameron Norrie, denis Shapovalov, Diego Schwartzman, Dominic Thiem

Who will play the Olympics? Not enough

July 17, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

Will play: Djokovic, Zverev, Berrettini, Barty, Osaka and Kenin.

Won’t play: Nadal, Thiem, Federer, Kerber, Azarenka and Serena

Who doesn’t like to watch the Olympics? Many of us do on TV, not only tennis, but gymnastics, swimming, basketball, soccer, or track and field. It will start next week at the 2021 Tokyo, and it should be a blast to watch, but there will be no fans. That could be bizarre.

On July 16, 23 of the ATP top 50, will not play in Tokyo, including Nadal, Thiem, Federer, Shapovalov, Raonic, Evans, Opelka, Isner, Fritz, Kerber, Azarenka, Serena, Halep, Kenin, Andreescu and Konta.

Novak Djokovic is in, which is terrific, as the Serbian has won three Grand Slams this year. He was victorious at Wimbledon and now he has 20 Grand Slams, like Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. At the US Open, Djokovic has a big chance to win it all four. Assuming they will be healthy, the Big Three could have some fascinating matches, long ones, some tough ones. In the second week, they will begin to bash the ball. They were confident, and ready to go even further.

Which ones? It is early, six weeks away, so we don’t know who is playing healthy and excellent on the court. I won’t guess, but today, here are more players who will reach the second week with Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Matteo Berrettini, Denis Shapovalov, Sebastian Korda, Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep, Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza, Sofia Kenin, Bianca Andreescu and Iga Swiatek.

In Newport, this week, Jack Sock won a singles match and then he lost against Kevin Anderson. The American went way down, in singles, and in 2017, he was a career-high No. 8. And in doubles, in 2018 that was another positive signs, his a career-high No. 2. So when he is healthy, and in good shape, he can gradually go up the ladder, but very slowly. He is ranked No. 231, which is way out there, but this season, he played a lot, especially on the USTA Pro Circuit. Clearly, he really wants to try. Good luck.

Wimbledon finalist Anderson got hurt two years ago, and now, he is close to reach the top 100 again. Yes, the 35-year-old may not reach a Slams final again as he did at the ’17 US Open and ’18 Wimbledon, but the tall man hits his huge serves and forehands. Remember, in 2018, he was ranked No. 5. He was darn good. When you watch him at a match, he can be so respectable, or more so. He does believe that in the next year, he will reach the top 20. But beyond that, he will have to prove it. That is life.

By the way, Sock will play Atlanta next week. Also, his friend, Nick Kyrgios, will also play, singles and doubles.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Alexander Zverev, angelique kerber, ashleigh barty, Dominic Thiem, Matteo Berrettini, naomi osaka, Novak Djokovic, olympics, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sofia Kenin, Tokyo, victoria azarenka

Two-time finalist Thiem out of Roland Garros

June 1, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

On the first day at the Grand Slams, the emotions are high or low. At the 2021 Roland Garros, it can be sunny or cold. Or maybe in the middle. Before they start, the players are generally charged up. “Let’s play, let’s sprint, let’s nail the winners and aces.”

But they never know until they began to play. Some can be very nervous, others are calm. On Sunday, there were dozens of matches. “What time is it, where exactly is it, is the clay soft or fast?”

Here are two players who lost and won.
.
Dominic Thiem, who reached RG in the final twice has not had a great year. He lost against Pablo Andujar in five sets. Going in, then former 2020 US champ thought he could pick it up. But in the fifth set, he missed some key points. Thiem was unsure.

“I was not struggling at all with my motivation, but the game was just not there today. Like all the shots are missing power,” he said. “They are not accurate enough. I’m moving not well enough, so everything in my game there are some percents missing. Actually, I don’t really know why, because since I stepped back on court it’s already two months, and I was really practicing well, super intense as well. Shots were there in practice and it got also better in Madrid and Rome. But Lyon [who lost in the first round] and here, the shots and all how I moved and everything was just not the real me.
It’s just not good enough at the moment. It’s very tough situation.”

Aryna Sabalenka is ranked No. 4, winning Madrid a few weeks ago. Mentally she has finally poised. Of course, she is a gigantic hitter, but now she is concentrating more. And she won’t being angry as much when she isn’t playing well.

“I have a lot of experience in these kind of matches. I mean, emotionally,” she said. “That’s why sometimes I scream, ‘Come on, or let’s go,’ because, this character inside of me and that I have to keep trying and don’t waste my energy. In some point, I understand that it’s too much emotions, like bad and good, so I kind of have to start thinking about what should I do to win this match? Put my focus in another place. It’s help me to find this, calmness?

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Dominic Thiem, french open, roland garros, roland-garros

2021 Roland Garros: 8 men to reach the quarters

May 27, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

While he’s No. 2, Danill Medvedev doesn’t like clay, so he could go down in the first week. Roger Federer is just starting again, and while he is very intelligent, he needs another month to be totally respectable.

Here are eight players who will reach the middle of the second week.

Novak Djokovic
Yes, the consistent, smart and his phenomenal backhand might make him the best player ever. His serve can be a weapon, he can bend down at the net for winners and put it away and hit ground strokes with the best. Even though he likes clay, but he his better on the hardcourts. He has won RG only one time, which is good, but not great. To beat Rafa Nadal on the dirt, the No. 1 will have to reach the heights. Maybe he will never win again in Paris.

Rafa Nadal
The Spaniard as won it 13 times, which is one of the sports most amazing records. His forehand is very hefty, he can spin it, and shatter it. He can knock it crosscourt, down the line, and in the center right at the chest. His serve is cold-blooded and he can twist it to the left, and to the right. Over the past month, he looked decent, but not great. Still, Nadal is a huge favorite once again.

Dominic Thiem
The Belgian really thinks that he can win it for the first time in Paris. He reached the final twice. He can be confident, but Nadal beat him and can do it again. Over the last couple years, he certainly became substantially better. He added with more game. He could win this event, but he has to play 100 percent in the final to bag it.

Stefanos Tsitsipas
The Greek has become thoughtful and more focused. This year, he has beaten some excellent players, ponding then with his heavy strokes. He is alert, he can be locked in, and he finally likes to slide. He really believes that he is one of the best players currently. Maybe he will be, eventually, but to become No. 1, he has to win a Slam or two.

Alexander Zverev
You never know how well the German will play. He can be phenomenal, and then, he can be ticked off when he isn’t playing well. From the backcourt, he can run for a long time, and he can be super consistent, and he can punch for a winner. He did that when he won in Madrid a few weeks ago. Yes, he was close to winning a Grand Slam when he fell to Thiem at last year’s US Open and he has won a few ATP 1000s. So, in a sense, he is right there. Eventually, he can win a major soon, but at RG in June? Not quite yet.

Andrey Rublev
The Russian was on fire in the first three months, but in April, he beganto skit. He became more aggressive and stronger. But, he can be very good, and bad, winning and losing. He is only 22 years old, so he is trying to be more consistent. He probably will, as long as he can find a more complete game. And learn.

Matteo Berrettini
The 25-year-old Italian has become a very terrific player, upsetting Thiem, Rublev and Gael Monfils. In 2019, he won a lot of matches, on the clay, grass and the hard courts . The No. 9 is very tall and he can rip the ball, but he needs to step it up a little bit. On clay at RG, if he wants to go deep, he has to take more chances.

Casper Ruud
The Norwegian just won Geneva. The week before in Madrid he lost in the semis, to … guess who? Yes, Berrettini. That is very close. Once again, he is only 22 years old, and he likes to hustle, and he is pretty consistent. To go much further though, he has to push himself more.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Dominic Thiem, French Open; Roland Garros; Novak Djokovic, Matteo Berrettini, rafa nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas

California rising, in Indian Wells

May 21, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

To start, California’s Indian Wells will play in October, which is fantastic. Over the years, in March, hundreds of thousand fans came out and watched some thrilling matches during the day and night. Last year and early this year, they couldn’t play due to coronavirus. But they waited. Last week the owners decided to push into October when many more people will have taken the vaccine. So now, it is time to try again, with the players and the fans. Go for it.

Roland Garros will start in May 29. Here comes the Grand Slams again. But, this week, who will rise up and play fantastic? Who is playing great, who is mediocre, or someone who is playing bad?

Here is the first one. Casper Ruud believes that he can reach the second week. He has had a good year, taking down Diego Schwartzman, Pablo Carreno Busta, Fabio Fognini and Stefano Tsitsipas. Ruud is playing this week in Switzerland. The 22-year-old has much more aplomb.

”I’ve shown myself that I’m up there at the high level of clay court players and I can compete well with pretty much any player on clay,” Ruud said. “I’ve been winning a lot of good matches against good opponents. So, it gives me a lot of confidence going into the Roland Garros and I have to say I’m hoping to be in Paris for the second week of the tournament. That’s my goal.”

Ruud did mention that his forehand and his backhand are strong, but he needed to improve his return, so he worked on it a lot, and now, it is better.

As he said, later, he might be playing terrific, but he is not there to knock off the big boys: [But] “I’m not a rock star in Norway yet,” Ruud said.

This was a stunner last Sunday. During the final in Rome, Karolina Pliskova lost 6-0, 6-0 against Iga Swiatek. Yes, who would believe that? The 19-year-old Swiatek won the 2020 RG and, when she plays on clay, she is incredibly good.

The 29-year-old Czech Pliskova has won some big wins over the years, reaching the final at the 2016 US Open, winning Rome in 2019, and grabbing other titles, such as Cincinnati, Doha and Brisbane.

But Swiatek was on fire in Rome, every game.

“[Swiatek] didn’t give me anything, but sometimes I just tried to make it a bit difficult just to put the ball in. I just was feeling horrible out there,” Pliskova said. “She really made it extremely difficult for me to do any point. She was playing super fast. I thought she was just going for it. She had amazing day and I had horrible day. She’s really extremely confident on clay,”

Swiatek is powerful, and more than that, she can mix it up and it is hard to read where she will go. She does like to adjust.

“She can just redirect so well and she can play even faster, and especially on clay. Because she has so much spin, it’s super tough to do something from it,” Pliskova said. “She had amazing placement of the ball. Everything was super, like, deep and just like close to the lines. She was serving quite big. She has a good serve overall. I think she didn’t have really any — I think overall she didn’t really miss anything today. Even though I was not playing great, but she was having maybe a moment of her life,”

Swiatek can win it again to win another Slam. On the other hand right now, Pliskova is in the cloud.

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Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Casper Ruud, Dominic Thiem, Iga Swiatek, indian wells, Karolina Pliskova, Parma, roland garros