Jessica Pegula – Page 2 – TennisReporters.net

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

The picks at Wimbledon: Tuesday, July 11

July 10, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Iga Swiatek over Elina Svitolina
Surprising, they have only played each other once, two years ago in Rome, and Swiatek beat the Ukrainian 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinals. Swiatek has changed a lot when she improved a tremendous amount, with her massive strokes. She is very quick and she can bash the ball with her forehand and her backhand. The No. 1 has a fabulous first serve, and she can be creative. Finally, she is now convinced that she can motor on the grass.

Svitolina barely won when she upset Vika Azarenka. Before that, she lost five times, but she kept going hitting her hefty forehand and her backhand. But this will be even harder, as the Pole person is locked in. The four-time major champion hasn’t won Wimbledon yet, but she can do it this year.

“Every day my love is getting bigger,” Swiatek said. “Hopefully, I’m going to have as many days as possible to stay here and play on this court, because for sure, this is my best year on grass. I feel really kind of motivated, because I know that even when you’re not feeling 100 percent, (the) hard work is paying off. So I’m happy I did that work and I can stay here.”

The former No. 3 Svitolina will dig in, but Swiatek will it in three wild sets

Novak Djokovic over Andrey Rublev
The rising Russian has put together some excellent shotmaking. Rublev can strike it down the lines, and he can also pound it when he thinks that he can mash it crosscourt. However, at the Australian Open on the hard courts, Djokovic bullied him 6-1 6-2 6-4. That was really quick, as the Serb elevated his game early and outhit him, with his brutal serve and his forehand. He only made a few errors.

In order to shock Djokovic on the grass, Rublev is going to have to totally redefine his approach. He is also going to take big risks all the time. When he returns, he has to thump the ball. Djokovic has won Wimbledon many times before, and this year, he has looked very good, but he has lost a few, odd matches. Regardless, Djokovic will win it in four unreal sets.

Jessica Pegula over Marketa Vondrousova
The Czech has had a decent year, and she has been pretty consistent, but she has not reached into the finals this year. If you look at Vondrousova, she did manage to reach the final at the 2019 Roland Garros, but on the grass, she struggled. Apparently though, over the past nine days, she looked smarter. Her backhand is very stable.

Pegula has struggled at the Slams, but at least she is trying to push herself and not be so nervous. Fortunately, she has reached into the second week at Wimbledon for the first time. Clearly, her forehand and her backhand are harmonious. The reason why is she also plays a lot of the doubles, sprinting so close to the net. She can put it away, solidly.

At the Grand Slams, the No. 4 has yet to reach the semis, but this time she has a real opportunity to do it. Pegula will punch Vondrousova to win it in three competitive sets.

Jannik Sinner over Roman Safiullin
They have only played with each other once and the Italian took it 7-6(6), 6-3 on hard courts. Yes, Sinner is a huge hitter, and he can nail it, but he can also throw in some strange errors. He also can be very competitive and he can swing away with some phenomenal shots. Sinner has won six titles, but he has not won an ATP 1000,or even one of the Slams. Yes, he is 21-years-old, but as he once said, “I have my own path and my own way to go.” Then go a little harder or faster.

Safiullin has had a terrific tournament, but the Russian had never won an ATP event. At least he is feeling very good now. Perhaps he decided to change it up. He will have to try hard, but Sinner has a better forehand and when he returns well, too. The Italian will win it in three quick sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks at Wimbledon

Madison Keys over Mirra Andreeva
Carlos Alcaraz over Matteo Berrettini
~~Stefanos Tsitsipas over Christopher Eubanks~~
~~Petra Kvitova over Ons Jabeur~~

Matt’s picks from Wimbledon

9 out of 13. 69.2% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Andrey Rublev, Elina Svitolina, Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner, Jessica Pegula, Marketa Vondrousova, Novak Djokovic, Roman Safiullin, wimbledon

The picks at Roland Garros: Wednesday, May 31

May 30, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Jessica Pegula over Camila Giorgi
The hustling Italian Giorgi can slap the ball with her backhand, her flat strokes, and her spin. She is quick, she can angel, and she tries to hit it deep, here and there. However, she doesn’t smash the ball constantly, and Giorgi will throw some key errors. She hasn’t not won a Grand Slam, or ever she has never reached into the semis. This time she wants to try again, but there are a number of excellent players who can go deep at the majors.

Pegula is also trying, too. The No. 3 has had a very decent year, as she beat a number of very good players. However, she has gone deep a lot, but she has also lost in some key matches. She is very steady, and she can really hustle. In the doubles, her returns and at the net, she has improved a lot. However, she only has won just one title, so clearly the veteran wants to win a major, but she needs to do it pretty soon. Pegula is aware that she needs to be patient, until she breaks her down. The American, Pegula, will win in two extended sets.

Andrey Rublev over Corentin Moutet

Here at Roland Garros, the Frenchman Moutet played a very good season in 2022, winning a number of contests, on the hard courts, and in the clay, too. His backhand is somewhat solid, and he can mix it up, a lot. He still is trying to bash his forehand, and with his first serve, too.

The powerful Rublev plays a lot, during the events, and when he LOCKS it in, he can chuck a lot of winners. He has won 13 tittles, which is terrific, but the current No. 7 has yet to reach into the semis at all of the Grand Slams. Right now, he believes that when he is stable, then he can shatter the ball on the lines. Rublev will win it over Moutet in three routine sets.

Leylah Fernandez over Clara Tauson

The Dane Tauson is very young, but this year she is starting to beat a number of good players. She has a lot of work to do in the summer, but she has been practicing and playing almost everyday. She can be steady, and she can also swing pretty hard, with both sides.
In 2021, Fernandez reached the US Open, and she was totally locked in. But after that,while she can still be loyal, but on court, she can become confused. This year, she hasn’t beat anyone in the top 30. She won a few decent contests, but she has to re-set and add some new shots. Tauson is ready to win another match, and Fernandez will win it in three bizarre sets.

Novak Djokovic over Marton Fucsovics

The Hungarian is aging, but over the past few years, he has changed his tactics. His forehand is more powerful, and his backhand is deeper. However, how can he stun Djokovic? The Serbian has won 22 Grand Slams, and he has beaten everyone, with his phenomenal backhand, his return, and his terrific serves. When he is on, he will rarely miss it, but this year, he has cut some odd strokes. But he does want to win Roland Garros for the second time, so he will be charging hard. Djokovic will win it in three comfortable sets.

As he said, “I want to believe that I am ready. Grand Slams are my priority; they motivate me the most. The best possible news is that I don’t have any physical issues, knock on wood.”

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Gael Monfils over Sebastian Baez
Correct: Taylor Fritz over Michael Mmoh
~~Victoria Azarenka over Bianca Andreescu~~
~~Shelby Rogers over Petra Martic~~

Matt’s picks from Roland Garros

7 out of 12, 58.3% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Andrey Rublev, french open, Jessica Pegula, Leylah Fernandez, Matthew Cronin, Novak Djokovic, paris, roland garros, roland-garros

The picks at Roland Garros: Sunday, May 28

May 28, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Roland Garros has started already, in 15 days, with a lot of competitors, 256 men and women in the singles. That is a lot. It would be impossible to walk over at the event, sit down near the chair, and match for three games, and then, go to another one, and another, and another, and another… Possibly, in Paris, you could see 24 matches, but not much. Try it out. Or words…

Match predictions were written before start of play.

John Isner over Nuno Borges
The older American has gone deep on the hardcourts and the grass, too, but he has really beaten the excellent competiteors on clay. Yes, the tall man has 14,222 aces, the most ever, but he has yet to win a Grand Slam. His forehand is huge, but his backhand is marginal. Now, he has to turn it on, and he did reach into the fourth round three times, but he could not crack into the quarters. To do it again would be surprising, as he is 38-year- old, so pretty soon, he will retire.

Borges has had a mediocre year, even though the Portugal can be consistent, and with some solid spin, but he has yet to win a match at the French Open, ever, so Isner will grab it in five, long, sets.

Sebastian Korda over Mackenzie McDonald
This is a toss-up, as Korda is just returned, and McDonald has put together a few excellent matches at the beginning of the year. He is very consistent, he is quick, running around, and he can smack his backhand. But over the past two months, he did not win hardly at all.

Korda can hit both sides, with his heavy forehand. He can really run, and he can returns pretty decent. Korda can trip up, but he wants to go into the top 20 this year, so in the first round, he will win it in three, simple sets.

Camila Giorgi over Alize Cornet
Will this be the French woman retire next year? You never know, as last year, she thought that this will be the end, but she stayed on, and because of that, she is still pretty good. She is not great, though, but she still puts together some wonderful winners. On the hardcourts, she won some wonderful matches, but she travels all the time, so when she is confused, on court, she can lose pretty early.

The same goes with Giorgi, the Italian can split the ball, and she can play with some hard shots, but she can also hit into the middle, and not deep enough. However she has had a few tournaments this year, really trying how to figure it out and really go for it when the time is right there. It will be a very close match, but Giorgi will edge Cornet in a dramatic, three sets.

Jessica Pegula over Danielle Collins
She has certainly better over the past two years, and Pegula has decided to really meld it up, and attack if she feels that she can put it on the lines. She is a true submarine, and she can also rush into the net, and put it away. There are times when she back off, and that is why that she has not gone deep at Roland Garros. Maybe she is ready to do it right now.

Collins can looks be brave, and she can slam at it almost immediately. Her forehand is big, and her backhand is pretty solid, but she will miss a lot of errors. She has had a medicare year, and they last time that they met, in Miami, Pegula beat her in two, tough, sets.

Perhaps in the second week, the No. 2 Pegula will fine reach it into the semis at Roland Garros for for the first time. As she said, “That would be another amazing result for me, especially on clay, I think to go further, I think you have to get to those points first and you have to just keep playing your game every single match. And I think that that’s what helps build confidence and takes you through the later rounds.”

This is Pegula’s time to shine and she will win in two close sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Alize Cornet, Camila Giorgi, french open, Jessica Pegula, John Isner, Matthew Cronin, paris, roland garros, Sebastian Korda

The Picks in Rome: Thursday, May 11

May 10, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

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

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Aryna Sabalenka, Caroline Garcia, Jessica Pegula, Marie Bouzkova, Matthew Cronin, rome, Serena williams, Sofia Kenin, Taylor Townsend, wta

The Picks in Madrid: Wednesday, May 3

May 3, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Carlos Alcaraz over Karen Khachanov
Here and there, the Spaniard is already playing as well as he could, crushing Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2. He is already so good, crushing his forehand and his backhand, and he attacks, even with his return.
Khachanov has had a fine event, putting together with his massive shots, and also, he can rip the ball. However, while he knows that he has to almost attack him, early, but how can he bend down and get into the rallies? He can do it for a while, but the Spaniard Alcaraz will drive him close to the net and put it away. The soon to be No. 1 Alcaraz will win it in two, long, sets.

Jessica Pegula over Veronika Kudermetova
In Madrid, Pegula has finally understand what she knows how to be more honest, on the court, and in the dirt. Not only has she played for years in the singles, but now over the past couple years she has also plays the doubles, and that is became with her special shots. She reactid, all the time. Kudermetova also can react, with her hard forehand and her backhand, somewhat deep, and close to the corners. She can miss some solitary shots, but she can also to be truly center. This will be a long match, point after point, but at the end, Pegula will grab it in the third set, with her new optimistic game.

Iga Swiatek over Petra Martic
The No. 1 is rolling again, with her huge, deep shots. Swiatek jumps very quickly, and she will mash her vicious forehand and her backhand. There are moments when she dumps the ball, but after words, she reacts. Martic is still fast, and she goes to try with the rallies. She also can mix it up, and fool her opponents. However, Swiatek is overthrow again, and she will out-hit her, so Martic won’t see what to do. The Polish Swiatek will win it, in two, fast, sets.

Borna Coric over Daniel Altmaier
He played more than three hours, and clearly he will be tired, but finally, he is playing much better than he did three months ago. Coric can be so steady, and he can also engage in the rallies. He can also mix it up, and when he is feeling good, then he can strike. The German Altmaier rose last year, winning a bunch with small events. However, the 24-year-old has pushed himself, going early, and bang close to the lines. He will try to exhaust Coric, which is a good idea, but as long as he doesn’t retire, with an injury, the Croatian will win it in two, exhausting sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Carlos Alcaraz over Alexander Zverev
Correct: Aryna Sabalenka over Mayar Sherif
~~Taylor Fritz over Zhizhen Zhang~~
~~Irina-Cametia Begu over Maria Sakkari~~

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: atp, Borna Coric, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, madrid, Matthew Cronin, wta

The Picks in Monte-Carlo Masters, BJK Cup: Saturday, April 15

April 15, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Taylor Fritz over Andrey Rublev
That was a tremendous match with the American, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in two, smart sets. Now Fritz will have to beat against Andrey Rublev, who also is playing very real, and leaping on the ball.
Fritz has never won an ATP 1000s on the clay, and yes, he did that on the hardcourts at the 2022 Indian Wells, so in orderer to do it this weekend, he must play fantastic, most of the time. On the hardcourts, he can play phenomenal, but in the dirt, he has to be very patient, The same goes with the Russian, who is extremely strong, but while Rublev has beaten so many excellent players, yet he has not won a gigantic at the Grand Slams, or the ATP 1000s, although he has been close, twice. Both of them want to do it this season, that is for sure.

“He is a great player and a good friend and I am excited for the match,” Fritz said. “He is tough.”

Yes, they both are. They can turn it on, going toe-to-toe with there hard forehand and there backhand. They can return pretty good, and they also can throw it around. This time, Fritz will beat on the lines, and he will take down Rublev in three, wild sets.

Jannik Sinner over Holger Rune
The Italian Sinner is becoming elegant, on the court, and before, he would get a small opportunity and try to slam a winner. At times, he did that, but he made many errors. The reason is because that when they are very young, most of them have years to go, to figure out what they have to do. Constantly, playing in the match, Sinner will be thinking how he should stay aggressive, or just to be super steady.

Rune is finally better now, as before that, he was second-rate, at best. But the young competitor climbed up this week, and his strokes became more fitting. He does like to do it on the clay, and chuck it around. His backhand can be steady, and nail it into the corners. However, Rune still needs to re-adjust his attitude, so Sinner will win it in two, brilliant sets.

Billie Jean King Cup
USA over Austria
In Delray Beach, Coco Gauff easily won over Julia Grabher, while Jessica Pegula also took it over, but the match was a little bit close against Sinja Kraus. Pegula will start on Saturday and the world’s No. 3 will certainly play better and frustrate Grabher.

France over Great Britain
Right now in Coventry Building Society Arena in Great Britain, France has two very good players with Caroline Garcia and the fine veteran with Alize Cornet. They are up 2-0, but Katie Boulter played extremely well, nearly upsetting Garcia 7-6 in the third. On Saturday, Garcia may or may not play to start, but either way, Harrie Dart will try to shock him. She does have a chance, and if she does that, then Boulter has a fine chance to slug it down with Cornet. However, France will win the tie on Saturday.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Coco Gauff over Julia Gabher
Correct: Jessica Pegula over Sinja Kraus
Correct: Taylor Fritz over Stefanos Tsitsipas
~~Daniil Medvedev over Holger Rune~~

Matt’s current week picks

7 out of 11: 63.6% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Andrey Rublev, Billie Jean King Cup, Jannik Sinner, Jessica Pegula, Katie Boulter, Monte-Carlo Masters, Taylor Fritz

The Picks on clay in Charleston and Estoril: Saturday, April 8

April 8, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Jessica Pegula over Belinda Bencic
A few years ago, she was outside of the top 60, and she was somewhat consistent, but she was not aggressive enough. Then she had decided that win or lose, this time, when she has a real chance to jump on the ball, she would go for the lines. But that can be risky. Pegula is going to have to do it, because the Swiss Bencic can be outstanding, and then, she will make some crazy shots. Bencic will bring into the third set, and she will really run, but Pegula will beat her with her consistent backhand.

Ons Jabeur over Daria Kasatkina
You can say that many of the players are struggling, physically, but in a sense, it always happens to almost everyone. The Russian Kasatkina has had a few fantastic wins this year, but once again, she is strugging in 2023. However, when she is on, she can punch the ball. This is the same thing with Jabeur, who almost won a Grand Slam, but she lost in the final at the 2022 U.S. Open, and after that, she just stopped on the court with some wacko shots. Hopefully, the No. 5 Jabeur will wake up and smell the roses. It is time, and the Tunisia Jabeur will cut down Kasatkina in two long sets.

Casper Ruud over Quentin Halys
This is not a good year by the Norway, who is ranked No. 5, but he has won a few matches. Of course when he is locked in, he can dive near on the ground, and throw in some wonderful strokes. Last year, he was so authentic, but currently, he might be panicking. Ruud will eventually calm down, if he really wants to. The Frenchman Halys has yet to reach into the top 60, and there is no doubt that he is desired to finally go into the top 50. He is 26-years-old, which is a perfect time to make a huge move. He might be able to do it, as he played very well in Miami. Halys is enthusiastic, but Ruud will knock him down in three sets.

Miomir Kecmanovic over Marco Cecchinato
Kecmanovic can lose, but last year, he really improved a lot of the past year and a half. He is fit, his forehand is pretty darn good, and his backhand is decent, but in order to eventually reach into the top 20, then he has mix it up more. Also, his second serve is marginal. He has not played well this year, and he has lost a lot, but the No. 40 wants to turn it around. Four years ago, the veteran Cecchinato reached No. 16, looking very good, but currently, he was just two matches this year. Apparently, he was hurt, but the Italian Cecchinato is mentally straining, so Kecmanovic will win in two sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Belinda Bencic, Casper Ruud, charleston, daria kasatkina, Estoril, Jessica Pegula, Matthew Cronin, Miomir Kecmanovic, Ons Jabeur

The Picks on clay in Charleston and Marrakech: Friday, April 7

April 7, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Jessica Pegula over Paula Badosa
Every week, the American is trying to plan whether should she be more aggressive, or stay back until she can nail a difficult winner. She is almost very consistent, and on court, she can really think, until she can figure her opponents. This time, though, Pegula does know who Badosa is, and her specific style. Both of them love to do the rallies, and where down the opponents until she becomes exhausted. The Spaniard Badosa needs to decide that if she wants to go into the top 10, then she has to improver her serves, and at the net, too. However, in the past year, Pegula became a terrific doubles player. Pegula will win in two tough sets.

Belinda Bencic over Ekaterina Alexandrova
Without a doubt, this is a toss- up. The Swiss is so into when she is feeling good, and the Russian can feel that if her forehand is locked in, then she can beat anyone. Bencic is still trying to win another huge event, which she did a 2015, when she won in Toronto. Just like last year, she won Charleston, and she is close to be in the top 3, but the great players can out hit her. Alexandrova beat Bencic at Indian Wells, in a close match, but she was more stable, and she really mixed it up, too. The match should go into the third sets, with some huge rallies, and and this time, Bencic will bash the Russian, tired or not.

Lorenzo Musetti over Alexandre Muller
The young Italian had a fine year in 2022, but this year, he has done absolutely nothing in the past three months. Of course they want to rise up again, and at Naples, he won the tournament, beating Matteo Berrettini in the final during the fall. And then, Musetti upset Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz, so when he started in 2023, it appeared that the current No. 21 would go further. But he did not, perhaps because he started to be confused. He is going to have to turn it around, as the Frenchman, Muller, had a couple very good week, reaching the quarters in Doha, before he lost against Andy Murray. Muller has yet to be in the top 100, and he certainly wants to, but he is not there, yet. Musetti will win in it in two sets, finally.

Andrea Vavassori over Daniel Evans
The Brit is another person who has lost so many matches this year, even though in 2022, he put together some fine wins. But in 2023, he has won three matches and nine losses. Maybe Evans is physically tired, as like a number of people, he plays constantly, week to week. He is very consistent, and the 32-year-old can throw in a number of terrific shots. However, when he is out of sorts, his backhand and his forehand can be short. Vavassori did have a wonderful win when he upset Taylor Fritz at the 2023 Australian. The fans where screaming for him. The Australian from Sydney appears to becoming better, gradually, and the tall person will knock out Evans in three sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Ons Jabeur over Caroline Dolehide
Correct: Ekaterina Alexandrova over Julia Grabher
Ben Shelton over Dominic Thiem
Hubert Hurkacz over Bernabe Zapata Miralles

Matt’s current week picks

6 out of 10: 60% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Andrea Vavassori, Belinda Bencic, Jessica Pegula, Lorenzo Musetti, Marrakech, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin

The Picks in Miami: Thursday, March 30

March 30, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Notes: Due to the rain, yesterday, most of the women’s matches were canceled. Assuming that the rain will stop, we already wrote about Petra Kvitova over Ekaterina Alexandrova, as well as Carlos Alcaraz over Taylor Fritz, http://www.tennisreporters.net/archives/20281 – while Jessica Pegula will face Elena Rybakina today.

Elena Rybakina over Jessica Pegula
Yes, Rybakina won the 2022 Wimbledon, totally crushing the ball, she returned terrific, and she put it away, early. In January, she also reached the final at the 2023 Australian Open, and she lost in three dramatic sets against Aryna Sabalenka. She was sad, but within a couple days, she rose again. At some point, she will become No. 1, if she is healthy, and also, she just won Indian Wells, and off course, jumped on Sabalenka for the first time. “It’s not only physically but also kind of like experience, because even being not fresh, you still need to push yourself to find these moments in the match where it can turn around, which is not easy to always to do, but I think for now I’m managing.” Yes she is.

Now, Rybakina can slip, here and there, but she keeps chugging. However, she has to face against Pegula again. They have played just two times, and the American won it, at Miami two years ago, and also, at the end of the year. Pegula beat her 4-6 6-3 7-6(2) in Guadalajara. In Mexico, Pegula eventually won it, and the 29-year-old has pocked it just two times. At that point, it looked like at some point that she could actually win a Grand Slam, but not yet. However, her forehand and her backhand are massive when she is on, and she will mix it up a lot. As she said, ‘She’s been playing some great tennis. It’s going to be a great test and I think a deserved semi for a tournament like this.” Yes it will, but this time, Rybakina finally hoped it down and she won it in three wild sets.

Daniil Medvedev over Christopher Eubanks
The American Eubanks almost came out of nowhere, upsetting the very good players. It took the Atlanta man for years to improve, and now, his backhand is much better, and also, with his return, too. However, Medvedev has been playing great over the past two and half months, beating almost everyone.
The Russian won three events in a row, in Rotterdam, Doha and Doha. At Indian Wells, he reached the final and finally, he lost, going against the No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz. But here, he is there again, into the quarters. Medvedev has said that when he isn’t playing great, he can just be more stable, and move it all around. His backhand and his forehand are almost perfect when he is playing terrific, and he rarely makes a lot of errors. This is a great day for Eubanks, and the fans will be cheering for him, but the American will be confused during the match. Because of that, Medvedev will win in straight sets.

Karen Khachanov over Francisco Cerundolo
Karen Khachanov upset Stefanos Tsitsipas with some massive strokes, and while the Greek appeared was a little bit injured, the Russian hit the balls very deep and hard. Maybe he is turning it around, as he did reach the semis at the 2023 Australian Open. However, he is ranked No. 16, which is good, but he certainly wants to go into the top five this year. They all do. He can blast the ball, but his return is still so-so.

His opponent, Cerundolo, has had a so-so year, not going deep, until he landed in Miami. The Argentine was struggling, all the way back in July, and he reached the semis in Hamburg, but after that, he did not do it again, in eight months. Cerundolo is only 24- year-old, so he did say that currency, he is going to have to try to rip the ball, when he can, and he did upset Felix Auger-Aliassime in Miami. Now he is calm, and leaping on the ball. Maybe he will, to return a lot, and serve into the corners, so he can out-last Khachanov on the hardcourts. This really is a toss-up, but deep in the third set, in a tiebreaker, Khachanov will nail him and win it.

Wednesday picks

Correct: Jannik Sinner over Emil Ruusuvuori
~~Aryna Sabalenka over Sorana Cirstea~~

Matt’s Miami picks

14 out of 23: 60.9% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Christopher Eubanks, daniil medvedev, Elena Rybakina, Francisco Cerundolo, Jessica Pegula, karen khachanov, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, miami