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The picks at Wimbledon: Monday, July 10

July 9, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Stefanos Tsitsipas over Christopher Eubanks

The hard-running Greek Tsitsipas is finally playing very well, outstanding when he beat Andy Murray in five wonderful sets. He has been there before, but the American Eubanks has suddenly become much better. Over the years, he could not beat the top players, but this year, he has become much more powerful. He is the only American who has made it into the second week at Wimbledon. When they started to play at the event, they thought that they had a chance to go very deep, but they all went down, day after day. But not Eubanks, who is thinking on court, and really to go for it. However, he might be aggressive. Tsitsipas will push forward, and change it up with his massive forehand and his potent backhand. Tsitsipas will win it in four stellar sets.

Petra Kvitova over Ons Jabeur
The two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova is barreling again with a tremendous confident. On the hard courts, she can look wonderful, but she can also play awful. But, not now, as she is running all over the place. She can be so rugged, and she will scream after she just slapped a terrific winner.

Jabeur finally began to guess on the court again. Clearly, she has so much variety, and she also loves to hit drop shots. She also likes to spin it and fool her opponents. However, Kvitova knows exactly how to play against her. Yes, she can mentally check out, but right now, she has checked in. As she said: “I love playing on grass, for sure,” said Kvitova. “When my serve is working I love it even more. I don’t think it was the case today but somehow I found a way, which I’m very happy with.” Kvitova will win it in three demanding sets.

Madison Keys over Mirra Andreeva
The 16-year-old Andreeva came up really fast, as she knocked out Anastasia Potapova to reach in the fourth round. Some people knew that she can swing away, and she can sprint side to side. Clearly, she has a lot of work ahead, but she is very focused, even at her age.

“Honestly, after Paris I just had quite a long talk with myself, just me and myself, and that’s it. I talked to myself. I just talked,” Andreeva said. “I don’t know, just in my head I realized some things. I took some decisions that I think are now important for me.”

She might, but Keys really likes to shorten points on the grass. When she puts it in her first serve, then she sets with the points. She has been around for a while, and she has become hurt,physically, but when she is healthy, she can go very deep, like when she did at the Australian Open and the US Open. Keys is hard to read, but at least over the past eight days, she is secure again. Therefore, Keys will beat the young player in two tight sets.

Carlos Alcaraz over Matteo Berrettini

This is almost a standard analysis that the Spaniard believes that he can win every match. Even if he misses some odd points, when it can go for a few hours, he will change it up and not to try and nail down the line all the time. Alcaraz is growing, not just that he runs so fast, but week after week, he can see what he is really doing.

The Italian Berrettini can be darn hard opponent, and his backhand can also be strong as he bashes it down the line. However, he was hurt a lot this year, and while he has had a few very good wins here, he is not ready to rise up, yet. Alcaraz will win it in three physical sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks at Wimbledon

Andrey Rublev over Alexander Bublik
Iga Swiatek over Belinda Bencic
Novak Djokovic over Hubert Hurkacz
Elina Svitolina over Victoria Azarenka

Matt’s picks from Wimbledon

7 out of 9. 77.7% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Carlos Alcaraz, Christopher Eubanks, madison keys, Matt Cronin, Matteo Berrettini, Matthew Cronin, Mirra Andreeva, Ons Jabeur, Petra Kvitova, Stefanos Tsitsipas

Chris Evert’s Wimbledon predictions and Rybakina’s chances

July 2, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

At 2022 Wimbledon, the aggressive Elena Rybakina won the tournament. During those two weeks, she was totally focused, and she dove on the lines. Her forehand and her backhand were very heavy, and she was also powerful. She finally understood what she had to do and not think about the pressure.

She is not the only one. Petra Kvitova just won a tournament and the Czech grabbed The Championships trophy twice. Iga Swiatek just won the 2023 Roland Garros and Aryna Sabalenka took it at the 2023 Australian Open.

But can Rybakna win it back to back in London? The former 18-Grand Slam champ Chris Evert says that Rybakina has to be more flexible.

“I think any time there’s an injury this close to Wimbledon, it gives anybody pause. You definitely have to be 100% physically to play seven matches and to do things with your body that you’re not accustomed to doing versus a hard court or a clay court,” Evert said. “You have to be adaptable, flexible, you have to be able to move on some slick courts. It all kind of screams you better be careful with your body and you better have that good balance.”

Not too many women have won it back-to-back. Venus and Serena Williams have done it, as has Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, among others. Evert did win it three times on the grass, as she was so steady, especially with her terrific backhand. She knows that when you had won at the Slams, in the next year, it could be totally different.

“[Rybakina] has going against her, it’s always tough to defend your title. I just feel like she’s shown a little vulnerability this year,” Evert said. “She’s got the perfect game for grass when everything is working, but everything has to be working. She played a great, great match when she won the tournament, but at the same time I don’t know if she’s at that top form right now. I see [Aryna] Sabalenka and Iga [Swiatek]. I only see the other players getting better and better. I wouldn’t put her on the top of my list, even though she’s defending champion. I wouldn’t put her on the top of my list. At the same time there’s a little bit of an unknown as to what her health is, what her fitness is like. I really can’t make a definitive statement on that.”

She is probably correct. This year, Rybakina won Indian Wells and Rome, and also reached the final at the Australian Open, but she lost in a few key matches, including verses Sabalenka.

There are other people who can very deep, such as Kvitova and the 2017 Roland Garros champ Jelena Ostapenko, who is playing great again.

The No. 1 Swiatek has yet to win at Wimbledon, but her forehand and her backhand are phenomenal. Yet she has to re-think what she is going, to be more patient on the grass. Evert things that she could be vulnerable.

“It’s her best Wimbledon result I believe was the fourth round. She’s won tournaments on hard court,” Evert said. “Swiatek won tournaments on clay courts, Grand Slams, majors. She has such great court coverage in the sense of she can slide, her legs are very crucial, the court coverage is very crucial in her game. In order for her to really get set for the ball, she has to know how to move and she has to be very comfortable and her footing has to be solid. Footing is not necessarily solid on the grass. Plus the fact with that extreme western forehand, when I’ve been watching her on grass, anybody has trouble with. Even Coco Gauff has trouble with that low slice forehand when you have that extreme grip to hit up on the ball. It’s very awkward.”

When she was talking, she discussed about Gauff, as the American is very good, but the young player still has to work on the court.

“I think that Coco, and Iga for that matter, like the waist high balls and the balls around the shoulder with that western grip. But the short ones will give them trouble. So I think that and the fact that she can’t really at this point feel super confident on the grass. I think she feels confident. She’s No. 1 in the world, the best player in the world, but this surface may take away a little bit of her strength, which is her moving because of the sliding.

“Also I think if you’re going to win Wimbledon, you’ve got to have a big serve, you’ve got to win free points off that serve. The players have been attacking her second serve a little bit. She doesn’t have that big Sabalenka, Rybakina first serve. I’m nitpicking here because she’s No. 1 in the world and she’s great, and I think she can win Wimbledon, don’t get me wrong. But there’s some little nuances in her game that might hurt her a little bit on the grass court that don’t affect her as much, that help her actually, on the other surfaces.”

The big basher Kvitova certainly can win it for the third time, and yesterday, Madison Keys won the Rothesay International beating Daria Kasatkina, which was huge.

You can throw in who have a chance to reach into the quarterfinals, like Jessica Pegula, Caroline Garcia, Barbora Krejcikova, Ons Jabeur, Karolina Pliskova and Donna Vekic. They can win in all, or fall down. As Pliskova said, “If you believe in yourself, you can beat anyone.”

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Aryna Sabalenka, Chris Evert, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Petra Kvitova, wimbledon

The Wrap: Madrid ruled by Sabalenka

May 10, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOTES

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

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Aryna Sabalenka, Belinda Bencic, Iga Swiatek, madrid, Matthew Cronin, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, wta, Zhang Shuai

The Picks in Miami: Saturday, April 1

April 1, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

The last time that Petra Kvitova won a tournament is when she conquered on the grass at Eastbourne. Yes, that was very good, as she won Wimbledon twice, but on the hardcourts, she faltered at times. She thought that soon she will retire. But right now, she came back up, reaching the final in Miami.

The left-hander can execute when she is feeling good. She has to in order to bump down Elena Rybakina, who is also on a blaze. Kvitova is a potent person, and she can react immediately with her power. She wants to push her opponents way in the courts, and when she has a chance, she can scream on it.

But now Kvitova has to deal with Rybakina once again. At the start of the year Kvitova beat her in Adelaide in two tough sets.

But Rybakina did not go down mentally, and she reached the 2023 Australian Open final. Of course she lost to Aryna Sabalenka, but she could tell that when she plays well, she can hop on the ball. She knew that back at the 2022 Wimbledon, there were times when she miss some silly shots, but in the next point, she could really concentrate with her very rugged stokes. Her first serve is enormous, and her return is elephantine . She just won Indian Wells, and when that has happened, many people are tired, physically, and then in Miami, they can lose early. But not with the prime players, who want to win it all the time.

As Kvitova said, “It’s 1-1 so we can see who gonna take it. She’s playing very good, winning Indian Wells, returning here in the final. For sure it’s a great achievement. She’s a big hitter, big server as well. I’m the same. It’s depends really how we are gonna handle the pressure from the opponent.”

Yes she is, and for sure, there is always pressure. Kvitova wins in three neat sets, and that will be she will win 30 tournaments, a wonderful achievement.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Elena Rybakina, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, miami, Petra Kvitova

The Picks in Miami: Friday, March 31

March 31, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Daniil Medvedev over Karen Khachanov
Will Khachanov raise up early, and counterattack as soon as he could. He has had a fine tournament, saying that “Since last year’s U.S. Open, semifinals, I think this was a bigger change and bigger step forward, which gave me the current results which I have right now. I would say the confidence and self-belief and all these things, they appear stronger. Now I’m happy that I can show that level constantly and more consistently.” Oh, real? Well that is good, yet the powerful person has had a good year, but not phenomenal. Yes, he looked pretty good at the Australian Open when he reached the semis, but other than that, he has lost against with a variety people, such as Medvedev, who beat him in straight sets in Adelaide. Yes, Khachanov can poke the ball, but can he out-thing with Medvedev, who is there every second? Probably not. Those two Russians are good friends, but on court, it is totally different. Medvedev will control him, and he also knows how to play him. Medvedev will win in straight sets.

Petra Kvitova over Sorana Cirstea
What a great tournament by Cirstea, who said this year, she became more intense, and to throw different shots. Her serves are still isn’t to great, but she is very quick, and her forehand and her backhand has more diverse. However, the Czech Kvitova is finally feeling it. When she returns, she bends down, and if she can hit it, then she will punch it, deep. The lefty does not run that fast, but with her forehand and her backhand, she can recreate it, and mix it up, too. Last year she talked about retyring, but now she is back in the game. Cirstea wants to win badly, and she will try hard, but Kvitova will slug past her, and win the match in three romp sets.

Carlos Alcaraz over Jannik Sinner
This should be a terrific match between the two men. The young players have played each other five times, with Alcaraz just beating him at Indian Wells. He also edged Sinner at the 2022 U.S Open in five sets that went on almost forevers, with some unreal shots. Also,, Sinner chopped him down at the 2021 Wimbledon. There rivalry is growing. “He is playing a great level,”Of course I am sure that we are going to play for big things in the future,” Alcaraz said. “I can’t wait to see our [improvement].”

The Spaniard can sprinting with his forehand and his backhand, outstanding in so many different places. The No.1 can hit the ball super hard, and also, he is a darn good player at the net.
The Italian Sinner is also improving at the tournaments. Yes, he can mentally break down, when he makes some mistakes, but he has to raise his chin. Right after that, instead of becoming upset, the the 21-yea-old Italian can just move on, ready for the next point. Here is the point, though. Sinner knows how to attack, consistently, and fool him. Alcaraz also knows that he can track it down, move it around, and change. This will be a very close match, but in the end, the Spaniard Alcaraz will win in it in three tough sets.

Thursday picks

Correct: Elena Rybakina over Jessica Pegula
Correct: Daniil Medvedev over Christopher Eubanks
Correct: Karen Khachanov over Francisco Cerundolo

Matt’s Miami picks

17 out of 26: 65.3% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Carlos Alcaraz, daniil medvedev, Jannik Sinner, karen khachanov, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, miami, Petra Kvitova, Sorana Cirstea

The Picks in Miami: Wednesday, March 29

March 29, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Aryna Sabalenka over Sorana Cirstea
She is on cruise control, and while her serves can be spotty, but her forehand and her backhand are mind blowing. Sabalenka is very loud, and she can swing super hard, and she goes for the lines almost immediately. Cirstea has had a terrific tournament, with some solid depths. She can throw it around, and also, she can fool you. However, while she has been a very depth player, but she is aging, so while Cirstea will stay for a little while, she frankly is not as good against the No. 2 Sabalenka. At least Cirstea will win a set, but in the third set, Sabalenka will win it, stepping on her.

Jannik Sinner over Emil Ruusuvuori
The Italian Sinner seems to be more thoughful on court, not becoming very upset, as the 21-year-old knows that he is not playing well, but eventually, he can push it up. He did have a solid tournament at Indian Wells, taking down Taylor Fritz in the quarters, and while he lost the semis against Carlos Alcaraz, he knew that he is right there. The Fin Emil Ruusuvuori had a solid year in 2022, but this season he has not play well at all, except in Miami. Perhaps he started to add some new things, or to focus every second. Even if he does, Sinner will punch the ball, super cruel. Sinner will win in two easy sets.

Petra Kvitova over Ekaterina Alexandrova
The Czech Kvitova is one of the most powerful people in the past 10 years. Her first serve, her return, and her forehand and her backhand are huge. She did win Wimbledon twice, but that is on the hardcourts, and while she can also be intense, she does not run that fast, and she eventually get very tired.
Alexandrova is rising gradually again, when she thinks on court, thinking about what to do, during the points. She can be fitting, and she can also try to whack on the lines. However, the veteran has never gone deep at the Slams, and believe it or not, the 28-year-old has never made it in the second week. Maybe she can do it eventually, and perhaps she can go further at Miami, but Kvitova is healthy right now and she will win it in two hard-hitting sets.

Carlos Alcaraz over Taylor Fritz
Carlos Alcaraz hit some amazing shots, and so much variety. He beats Tommy Paul sprinting in the backcourts, and touching at the net. The American Paul played pretty good, but he has to continue to get better. That is not with Fritz, who did reach the top 5 before Indian Wells, his first time. He could not win it again, but here at Miami, he is playing pretty darn good, with his first serves, his return, and with his grim forehand. It will be very close again, yet the No. 1 Alcaraz has a tremendous firepower, and in the third set, he will rush the net, and put it away, frequently. The Spaniard will beat the American Fritz, pumping in the air.

Tuesday picks

Correct: Carlos Alcaraz over Tommy Paul
Correct: Jessica Pegula over Anastasia Potapova
~~Stefanos Tsitsipas over Karen Khachanov~~

Matt’s Miami picks

13 out of 21: 61.9% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Emil Ruusuvuori, Jannik Sinner, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, miami, Petra Kvitova, Sorana Cirstea, Taylor Fritz

No. 1 Iga Swiatek is looking upward

March 15, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

There are times when Iga Swiatek starts to miss it. Not a lot, but here and there. When she misses and with an easy shot, a few years ago, she would be frustrated, and then point to point, she could lose it.

But not now, even though when you walk on the court, when she is practicing, or in the matches, your rackets can disappear. But she does try to problem-solving. The No. 1 has to, especially when she is losing.

“Well, most of the times I feel like I have improved, but there are some matches where I feel like a little bit in chaos, and I don’t know which way to go that it’s gonna work. But honestly, it’s not happening often. In more cases I kind of choose the right solution, and then I’m playing better,” Swiatek said. “Then the momentum changes and, yeah, I just go with the flow.”

Swiatek has won three Grand Slams, and exactly a year ago, she won Indian Wells, beating Maria Sakkari in the final. She then won Miami, Stuttgart, Rome, Roland Garros, the U.S. Open and San Diego, and this year, in Doha. That is a lot, but over the past two and a half months, she looked pretty good, but not flawless. She still has work to do, and she knows that.

“After Australian Open [when she lost against Elena Rybakina], honestly I did a lot of work to not feel like I’m playing not to lose. So right now I don’t feel that way. Well, just reminding yourself, getting rid of the pressure a little bit, reminding yourself that you’re there to run, to play those longer rallies, and not to expect that you’re going to make every shot perfect because you’re doing it in practices. I just change my mindset, and I was really like digging into everything tennis-wise, so it kept my mind busy from all the fuss that is around to the rankings and everything.”

She has a huge first serve, her forehand and her backhand are gigantic, and she is full tilt. Immediately, she can attack, and then when it is right, she can bash it, into the corners, or down the line. As long she has a chance to win the match, then she can be patient and thoughtful. In her last match, she edged over Bianca Andreescu, who was playing almost as well as she could, but Swiatek out hit her. She was smarter.

On Wednesday, Swiatek dominated again and took out 2021 US Open champion, Emma Raducanu 6-3, 6-1.

Before the match, Swiatek said, “I just know how her shots feel on the racquet, because before I haven’t even practiced with her. So it helps that way, but on the other hand, it’s great because we are playing on hard court, and there was clay, but actually this surface is slower. So I think I have to, like, really take care of the tactics anyway, and we’ll see. Honestly, like every day is different. Stuttgart match was like almost a year ago. So long time ago.”

NOTES
Aryna Sabalenka edged Barbora Krejcikova 6-4 in the third set, in a very good match. The No. 2 Sabalenka finally won a Slam at the Australian Open, and she was always very mighty, but her serve was spotty, and she threw together so many faults. But now, she figured it out, at least mentally, and if she continues to be stable, then she will eventually be No. 1. Or not. But this year?

On Tuesday, the wind kicked in at Indian Wells, very hard, and it was difficult to control it. However, there were three, long matches, and when it finished, and Coco Gauff , Karolina Muchova and Petra Kvitova came through. Even if they did not play great, they didn’t droopy.

That was a dramatic match, although there were some many errors, but Kvitova beat Jessica Pegula 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(11). The two time champion Kvitova can hit the ball so hard, and she can put it away, but she can also disappear. But not today, during the heavy wind, she waited until she could made a terrific shot. That was fine win.

How he managed to win, when Daniil Medvedev won it 6-7(5), 7-5(5), 7-5 over Alexander Zverev even though he got hurt in the second set. But he has now won 16 in a row. He is on fire, again.

Frances Tiafoe continues to move on. On Tuesday, after a slow start, then he was much more consonant . However, each day it will get tougher, and he will face off a solid player, Cameron Norrie. That would be a three setter. As he said, “I think I was much more raw, kind of just went out and played. I think now you overthink it a little bit and now you’re older and your perspective and, back then I was just playing and enjoying, but you don’t really understand the magnitude of things.”

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Aryna Sabalenka, Emma Raducanu, Frances Tiafoe, Iga Swiatek, Matthew Cronin, Petra Kvitova

Jordan Thompson stuns Stefanos Tsitsipas

March 11, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

INDIAN WELLS – Players can overjoyed, especially they are hitting their shots very deep from both sides. Also, strong returns and the ability to chip it when you are going into the net can be a big assets on these courts.

Jordan Thompson did, upsetting Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5) in the third set. Tsitsipas missed two key shots, and the Aussie Thompson finally rose.

“I have been on a bit of run of matches. I felt confident, even playing against a top-10 player I felt comfortable in my own skin and what I was doing, and just snuck out a win,” Thompson said. “It feels unbelievable.”

The first and second rounds can always be tricky. Players who have not played yet at this tournament can be unsure of the surroundings. However, many of the players have done it for years and years and know you have to adjust, and fast.

Three veterans won on Friday: Jelena Ostapenko, Barbora Krejcikova and Petra Kvitova. They hope they can bang into the second week. They all have won a number of big events, but they can also be ineffective if they are not feeling right.

Kvitova and Ostapenko will face off in the round of 32. The last time they played was on the Eastbourne grass last year, with the Czech veteran winning easily. But in California on hard courts, Kvitova will try to hit big immediately, with her first serve, backhand and forehand. However, her foot speed has dropped a little bit.

Kvitova said, “I think you can expect quick game, one, two shots max. We played final of Eastbourne before I lost on the hard court from the match point against Jelena. We practiced few times as well. We know each other pretty well. Yeah, it will be quick game for sure. I will not have a time to think where I’m going to put my ball. Any times I gonna feel it I will go there.”

There are some amazing matches already in the desert. On Thursday night, Sofia Kenin somewhat easily beat Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-1 late at night. Kenin was very good — finally — bending down and blasting her forehand and backhand. A few years ago, the former Roland Garros champ Stephens was so steady, but now she is mentally down, and she has yet to add a few more shots. She went from being steady, but currently she is so erratic.

Emma Raducanu, who beat Danka Kovinic, is trying to get back into the top 10 this year. She looked very decent, and she is more aggressive, yet she does need to get a string of victories.

American Emma Navarro took down Caty McNally in three sets, when it was very late and cold. She was steady, while McNally was frustrated.

On the court, Ben Shelton is so enthusiastic and he celebrates all the time. When he is on, then he can attack, and he can be steady. He crushed Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-1. However, in the next round he has to play Taylor Fritz, who won the tournament last year. On the big stadium, in the afternoon, the sun will be very warm, and they will sweat hard in what should be an excellent matchup.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Ben Shelton, indian wells, Jordan Thompson, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Petra Kvitova, Sofia Kenin, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Fritz

TennisReporters.net’s top 32 in 2022: women 20-16

December 19, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

No. 20: Liudmila Samsonova
In the summer the Russian began to take off, winning Washington Cleveland and Tokyo. She didn’t beat a lot of the top 5 players, but she edged out Emma Raducanu Kaia Kanepi and Garbine Muguruza. The light switched it is on. She can real hustle, and she can also whip her backhand. Her forehand is mighty, but sometimes she can misses it. If she can add more variety to her first serve and at the net, then next year she will a chance to reach the top 10. To do that, she really has to learn to grind in tough matches.

No. 19: Ekaterina Alexandrova
The veteran Russian had some very good tournaments, winning Korea this fall on the hardcourts in the Netherlands on grass in the summer. She was hurt at the beginning of the year, so it took her some time resume at a high level. She has won three titles, but not the biggest events. Her forehand is mammoth, and her backhand can be reasonable. However, in the Slams, she has never reached the second week, ever. She needs to find a consistent mindset. The positive thing as when she lost, almost all of them were three-setters. Yes, she lost, but at least she was trying super hard. Next year, maybe she will turn it around.

No. 18: Jelena Ostapenko
When she won ‘17 Roland Garros, it seemed like she was going to win a bunch of Grand Slam titles. She attacked constantly, went for the lines, especially crosscourt and with her returns. But after that, she started to be messy, and then she was not listening. Sure, she won a few other titles, but at the Slams, she made too many errors. She rose to reach ‘18 Wimbledon in the semis. But after that, she only made in the second week one time in the Slams. There was nowhere to go. This year, she was pretty decent, winning Dubai, beating three very good players. However, that was in February, and after that she lost early. In order to reach the top 10 again, she will have to re-adjust. Just try some new stuff.

No. 17: Anett Kontaveit
When she is thinking really well, then she was very respectable, winning in Russia and she reaching the finals in Doha, Hamburg and Estonia. So that was good, but she lost some other early matches. A couple years ago, she was not only fit, but more focused and determined to hit winners. Now, she does not know where she is going. Does she want to be aggressive or be patient? Should she mix it up, or punch the ball? Somehow, when she is in to it, she looks terrific, but other times, her head begins to slide. She just have to focus again and fast.

No. 16: Petra Kvitova
Years ago, she won Wimbledon twice with her hard, flat ground strokes. It was all about one strategy: attack. She also won some other big events on the hard courts. While she can waiver, she can be locked in at times. She went deep at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, which was unusual. She is a terrific person, talkative and thoughtful. However, to win another Grand Slam, that would be surprising. The 33-year-old can reach into the second week, but the younger players think that she is slowing down now. But look, she has won 29 titles, a very strong career. In 2023, Kvitova has to show that she is still compete at a high level.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Anett Kontaveit, Ekaterina Alexandrova, jelena ostapenko, Liudmila Samsonov, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Petra Kvitova

Saturday pix at the 2022 US Open

September 3, 2022 by Matthew Cronin

Garbiñe Muguruza vs Petra Kvitova
This should be a classic match given that both of them have won two Grand Slams – Muguruza at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and Kvitova at Wimbledon. They can be brilliant, or they can be irritated on court. However, when they play each other, and they are into it, then they can break down break down each other’s forehands and backhands. Yes, the Spaniard can be bloody, but they have played each other six times before, and the Czech has won five times. Apparently, Kvitova knows how to defeat Muguruza and she will win it in two wild sets.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Jenson Brooksby
The Spaniard thinks that if he can be more consistent, and also listen to what he should be doing, then he can beat anyone. The young man has beaten so many very good players, while still having some ups and downs. He really likes to bang it around, and slam it, but so does Brooksby, who had a fine match two days ago. The American really is in a position to control rallies, and within a second, then he will put it away. Alacraz can run into the net and be an effective volleyer. Alcaraz is still deciding what he can do, before he starts in the match, and then on court. In this match he will dance around the American, and he win in four savage sets.

Andrey Rublev vs Denis Shapovalov
The Russian has been close to be into the top 4, and maybe he can win a Grand Slam, for the first time. He is super consistent, and he is also more determined as he hits harder and harder at the lines. There are times, week after week, when he gets a little pissed off, and then he can lose. Yet Rublev has learned that he needs to be calm. The Canadian plays all the time, and her travels everywhere. Shapovalov has a lot of moxie and with some cool variety. He has won some jolting sets, but he has also had some mediocre days. Rublev will fight in this Grand Slams and has been a little bit more honest with himself, at least this week. He will win it in five crunchy sets.

Danielle Collins vs Alize Cornet
The entire world on Friday wanted to see Serena Williams. But in the third set, she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic . So that it is, and she has retired. Obviously, she is one of the great players ever. So now, the fans will be focusing on other good players like Collins. At this year’s Australian Open, and she reached the final, upsetting the now No. 1 Iga Swiatek. In the final, she was pretty close, but the current No.1, Ash Barty slightly hit her. Then, Barty retired, which was a shocker. The American had a terrific tournament here and hopes to take out Cornet, as she did in the Australian Open quarters. On Saturday, they will play each other again, toe to toe. The Frenchwoman has been playing very well over the last months, and she can really bring it, using her serves and mix it up everywhere. But, if she does not, then Collins will blitz her. Yes, Cornet is very confident, but Collins wants to play much better than she did over the past five months, when she was sloppy. This time, Collins will win with some hard volleys in three sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Alize Cornet, Andrey Rublev, Carlos Alcaraz, danielle Collins, denis Shapovalov, Garbiñe Muguruza, Petra Kvitova, us open