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The picks at Roland Garros; Tuesday, May 30

May 30, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Picks were written before matches started.

Victoria Azarenka over Bianca Andreescu
At what point will the two time champion Azarenka will make it back into the semis at a Grand Slam? The former No. 1 has two gigantic shots, with her forehand and her backhand. She is darn aggressive, and she can make an attempt to hit it on the lines. However, she has slowed down during the last couple years, and she still becomes injury, pretty frequently. It is difficult to see if Azarenka can be healthy, through out during the event. The same goes with the Canadian Andreescu, who was playing much better, but then she fell down, and she could not get up as her leg was almost busted. She had a full tear of two ligaments in her left ankle.

But Andreescu returned this month, so perhaps she will continue to become better. Four years ago, she beat so many terrific matches, winning at the 2019 U.S. Open. It looked like that she would continue to rise, but she did not and that was the last time she won another tournament. Is it possible that she can win a huge event, again? Maybe, but it is uncertain. This contest will be very close, but in the third set, Azarenka will hit some deep shots, and she will win it, with a big smile on her face.

Gael Monfils over Sebastian Baez
Years ago, the Frenchman reached into the semis at Roland Garros, with some heavy strokes. He is one of the fastest runner, ever, and he can go way beyond the courts, and bring it back. However, his forehand can be titanic, but his backhand is so-so. He is decent with the return , and at the net, too, but the reason why he has never won an ATP Masters 1000. However, at least he made it into the finals, three times. Maybe the 36-year-old can do it one more time? I doubt that, even though he is a super nice person, off court, but on court, he has been injured so many times. But as he said, “It will take time and I’m willing to be patient and persistent.”

This might be the last time next year at Roland Garros, but the most important is to stay for a few days, as long as Monfils can out-hit Baez. Last year, the Argentine put together some phenomenal shots, but this year, the 22-year-old has not won two many matches against the very good players. He can be steady, and he can nail his forehand, but his serve and his return has been marginal. He does know that on the main court in front of the fans that he will have to pound it for hours. Baez looks a little better now, but Monfils will be thrilled just to be on the court. He will, and Monfils will win it in five tough sets.

Shelby Rogers over Petra Martic
Yes, Martic can be very solid, and she can bash her backhand, but she is slowing down. The American Rogers is a massive player with her forehand, but at times. she misses a lot. However, on clay, she will beat Martic in three, sizable, sets.

Taylor Fritz over Michael Mmoh
The American men have known each other for a long time, but they have played only once, back in Memphis, indoors in February. That was seven years ago, so it is totally different. Mmoh had his best event of all time, upsetting Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open. He lost after that, but he was so thrilled. However he is ranked No. 123, so he still has more work to do. Fritz is still struggling on the clay, but he seems to feel that he can turn it around. Fritz will win it in three light sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Sloane Stephens over Karolina Pliskova
Correct: Elina Svitolina over Marina Treisan
~~Brandon Nakashima over Denis Shapovalov~~
~~Felix Auger-Aliassime over Fabio Fognini~~

Matt’s picks from Roland Garros

5 out of 8, 62.5% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: french open, Gael Monfils, Matthew Cronin, paris, roland garros, roland-garros, Shelby Rogers, Taylor Fritz, victoria azarenka

The picks at Roland Garros: Monday, May 28

May 28, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Brandon Nakashima over Denis Shapovalov
The Canadian has looked decent this year, but he is certainly struggling a lot. Shapovalov has a lot of spin, and he can also attack early, but at times, he isn’t concentrating enough. The young American had a fine year in 2022, but over the past five months, he has been disappointed. He can be proper, and he does like to sit in near the baseline and swing it, at times, hard. However, his serve is mediocre , and his return is OK, but they aren’t harsh enough. Last week he did reach in the semis in Lyon, so perhaps his pride is rising.

Shapovalov is ranked No. 32 and last year he was a charmer, but this year he has done almost nothing. Maybe he is hurt, on the court, or perhaps he is thinking about whether he can add some new shots, or stable. Eventually, he will, but who knows when? This is a huge toss-up between the both of them, but at least Nakashima had a good week, so then he will win it in five brutish sets.

Felix Auger-Aliassime over Fabio Fognini
This should be a blast in Paris. The Italian Fognini has played so many clay courts matches, for many years, and he has won so fantastic matches. He has a lot of roll, and he can also chop it, here and there. He can return, and he can touch with the the drop, shots. But at the Slams, he has been OK, but he has yet to reach the semis. Maybe this week, he can coup so high.

But I doubt, that. The other Canadian Auger-Aliassime, had a tremendous year in 2022, beating a number of the very good players. He is a colossal
hitter, and he is fast when he is running. He can slap his forehand and his backhand, and he can crush it down the line. But this year he is another player who is really struggling. Even with that, though, Auger-Aliassime will start to twirl, and he will win the match, with some gigantic forehands.

Sloane Stephens over Karolina Pliskova
The American Stephens has had a tough year, but she plays constantly, and while she has lost some odd matches, there are times when she can lock it in. The former 2017 U.S Open champion was so steady, from the backcourt, and she could really mix it up with her solid backhand and her forehand.

She may never win another Grand Slam again, but if she wants to push herself one more time, then maybe she can do it.

The Czech Pliskova can look tremendous, beating anyone, with her massive first serve and her forehand. She came so close to winning the U.S. and Wimbledon, but in the third set she misses a few critical shots. However, when she is feeling good, she can put it together with so many winners. Stephens has beaten Pliskova four times, including at the 2021 French Open, and while she can check out, at time, she will do it again, in three, wild, sets. As she said: ‘I think now I’ve kind of picked up some momentum. The clay-court season is always nice. And being able to win matches and collect a lot of points is always good. So just been trying to keep the momentum going from here.”

Elina Svitolina over Marina Treisan
They have not played with each other before, but the Ukranian is on fire again, as she just won another event, 19 all together. Svitolina is such a competitor, and she can hit some phenomenal strokes. She just returned, as she had a child, so now it is different, when you run, but already, she is much more snug. The Italian Treisan said, “I’m living in a dream.” Well that is good, except a few days ago, she became injured. She can skid it side to side, but if you are not 100 percent, then against Svitolina, she won’t be able to bring her down. Svitolina will win it in two sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Sebastian Korda over Mackenzie McDonald
Correct: Camila Giorgi over Alize Cornet
Correct: Jessica Pegula over Danielle Collins
~~John Isner over Nuno Borges~~

Matt’s picks from Roland Garros

3 out of 4, 75% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Brandon Nakashima, Elina Svitolina, Felix Auger-Aliassime, french open, Matthew Cronin, paris, roland garros, roland-garros, sloane stephens

Roland Garros, Day 12: Novak Djokovic versus Rafa Nadal

June 11, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal will face off on Friday night at Roland Garros. It is amazing that those two have clashed in 57 matches. If you really like to watch the great players, how about 58? Sit down and watch TV and you can stay there foreve
On court, they totally know each other – their strokes, their attitudes – and they can go for big shots when they see openings. There have been so many winners, hundreds of them. In their first match back in 2006, Nadal beat Djokovic, who retired in the Roland Garros quarters. The Spaniard eventually won the Slam for the second time in Paris, and while the Serbian began to win the majors, Nadal continued to beat him, six times at RG. But know this: Djokovic has taken down Nadal a lot,on the hardcourts. In a sense, they are even.

Djokovic has the overall edge 29-28, but in last year’s French final, Nadal smoked Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5. That was a blow out, but yesterday, the super consistent backhand Djokovic said that this week, he is feeling terrific. “I’m confident. I believe I can win, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. Let’s have a great battle,” he said.

There were other finals, and Djokovic could not find the solution. Back in 2013, the only time, Djokovic nearly upset Nadal in this tournament. The Serb was toe-to-toe, however, the Spaniard fought and fought and he finally won, 9-7 in the fifth. That is clearly one of their classic matches.

“l probably pick Rafa as the biggest rival I’ve ever had in my career. The anticipation for the match against him, any match, any surface, any occasion, is always different from any other,” Djokovic said. “His match had it all: falls, crowd, break. It was a lot of intensity. I just felt under tension the entire time. I felt like I missed some of the chances to end the match in the third set. I didn’t want to give him too much opportunities to dictate the match. That’s why it was just super, super stressful to constantly be under pressure on my service games because his service games were quite smooth with the big serve. Yeah, the reaction in the end was just me liberating that tension that was building up for the entire match.”

Nadal has a phenomenal forehand … Djokovic has a better very deep backhand … they are almost tied with the serves. But, with the second serves, the Serb hits it harder. Once again, they are tied with the returns, but Nadal is more comfortable at the net. No matter Nadal’s incredible success on clay, Essentially, they are even.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Novak Djokovic, rafa nadal, Rafael Nadal, roland garros, roland-garros

Roland Garros, Day 11: Tsitsipas & Zverev on pressure

June 10, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev have reached the semis at Roland Garros and both of them have said that right now they believe that they can finally win a Grand Slam.

In Paris, Tsitsipas had a terrific win, beating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-5. He was very patient, hitting the balls deep. When he has a chance, he went for the winners. He didn’t do that at every opportunity, but he knew he could pound it.
“I feel privileged that I’m in that position, and I feel obviously I’ve put in a lot of daily hard work has been a key element of me being here. But my ego tells me ‘I want more.’ ” Tsitsipas said.

Last year at the 2020 U.S. Open final, Zverev was close in the fifth set, but he could not find the finish line against Dominic Thiem. The German backed away from going for his shots while the Austrian was fearless and won. This time in the quarters in France, he easily won 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

The 24-year-old Zverev has won some big titles, taking numerous ATP 1000s and ATP Finals. He has won on clay and on hardcourts. But, holding him back was getting angry at himself. Now, he is so much smarter.

“Obviously, the Grand Slams are the tournaments that we want to win the most,” Zverev said. “Before, maybe, the last few years, I was putting too much pressure on myself. Before Medvedev and Tsitsipas arrived, I was seen as this guy that was going to all of a sudden take over the tennis world. I was not very patient with myself, which I feel like now, maybe, I learned how to deal with the situation a little bit better.”

Tsitsipas is 22 years old and now knows he is more comfortable with his forehand and his returns. His backhand can be flat, or he can swing very hard. He really likes his progress.

“I’m playing good. That will show by itself,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a player that thinks they can’t win the tournament. I’m pretty sure that they all can play well. If someone could grant them the tournament, I don’t think that’s a thought. Of course, I’m playing well. I think if I can keep repeating the process, the everyday hustle that I put in, for sure there’s going to be a reward, why not?”

Why not, that is for sure.

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How about this? Usually at the Grand Slams, in the semis, there have been at least a couple women players who were in the top 10, or how about No. 15? Not now, this week. All four are in their first major semifinal.

Yes, all four players have looked excellent during the matches, but before that, none of them have won a huge tournament. So, on Thursday, it will be the No. 31 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova versus the No. 85 Tamara Zidansek; and then the No.17 Maria Sakkari against the No. 33 Barbora Krejcikova.

Going into Paris, many people, the journalists and the fans, would have thought that the top 10-ers would have reached into the semis, such as Iga Swiatek, Ash Barty, Naomi Osaka, Sofia Kenin, Serena Williams, Elina Svitolina, Karolina Pliskova and others. But they lost or withdrew [Osaka]. So, now it will be the new, new players.

Will they be calm, or super nervous? All of them — Pavlyuchenkova, Zidansek, Sakkari and Krejcikova — will be shaking early, but when they can attempt to go for it, and read it, then they can be competitive. Two of them who wins it will start thinking about the final at Roland Garros on Saturday. Maybe they won’t sleep, but take a nap, and dream before they start. A good dream.

Thursday update: Pavlyuchenkova advanced to the final when she took down Zidansek 7-5, 6-3.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Alexander Zverev, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Maria Sakkari, roland garros, roland-garros, Stafanos Tsitsipas, Tamara Zidansek

Roland Garros, Day 9: Federer and Serena are gone

June 7, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

On Sunday, two of the best players ever who have won so many titles, are out as Roger Federer withdrew and Serena Williams lost. They are good friends, but as I have written this so many times now, they are aging. When they hit 39 years old, they are much more mature, but have slowed down. They both know what to do, and they can see it, but trying to sprint, very fast, that is a tough ask.

Federer decided to end his Roland Garros after he beat Dominik Koepfer in four sets because it was a very long match. His body said it is time to go back home. He hasn’t played much over the past 17 months, because his legs were messed up. As Andy Murray said about Federer, another good friends, “I’d argue that it’s quite risky to play multiple 4hr matches in a row in your 2nd tournaments back in 18 months so to me it makes sense to be reactive based on how your body feels, length of matches.” True.

Let us see during Wimbledon. Hopefully, his body will be in better shape. He has to because he really wants to win London.

Serena is pushing, and she looks pretty decent, but in order to get much better, then maybe she can attack early, and get it done ASAP. She lost to Elena Rybakina 6-3 7-5 — a good player who is up and down — and Serena couldn’t hit the ball from the backcourt and fumbled with a lot of errors. So in England, she has to hit it deep and mix it up more.

If she practices a lot, and I think she will when she arrives in England, then she will have her last chance to win a major. Serena will have to be totally into it, and be really aggressive on the grass.

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Two of the very good players will face off on Tuesday with Daniil Medvedev versus Stefanos Tsitsipas. That will be a fantastic battle, with some huge swings. Seems like every predictor had Medvedev getting bounced in the first round. Now, he is into the second week.

Who knew that Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has finally reemerged? It had taken her for a decade. She is playing decent, but not wonderful. But, over the past few months ago, she woke up and smellrf the roses. Now she is much smarter on the court. Do it again. Prove it.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, daniil medvedev, Elena Rybakina, paris, Roger Federer, roland garros, roland-garros, Serena williams

Sorana Cirstea: ‘I found the joy of playing, the freedom’

June 5, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

The delightful Sorana Cirstea has always been very nice, when she talks off the courts. However, the 31-year-old has been around for 13 years, and why she has had some terrific wins, she never went very deep into the Grand Slams. She can hustle, and she is pretty fast. But, what keeps her stymied is throwing in so many error.

That is why she has never reached the top 20. But she was close. Currently, she is No. 54. Maybe she can climb into the top 30s again, or even into the top 20s, but it will be very tough.

However, she has improved, and she seems to be thrilled about her life. Finally, she likes the dirt

“It’s funny because going into clay I was not very happy. I felt I was playing quite good towards the end of the hard court season,” said Cirstea, who beat Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-2. “Now when I’m getting the rhythm on hard court we have to switch on clay? But it’s been good. I haven’t changed much. I went through the same mindset like on the hard court, and I think it took me a little bit by surprise this clay court season, because I did not expect to come out so strong, first tournament winning Istanbul. I’m definitely enjoying it. I would not say clay is my favorite surface, but I’m definitely enjoying it.”

At the 2009 Roland Garros, she reached the quarters, upsetting Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic. She was playing wonderful but she lost to Sam Stoser.

She remembers that year, but she has changed and more mature.

“It’s funny, because I have a different mindset. Because if you think too much in the past or too much in the future, you will get frustrated,” Cirstea said. “If you ask me 12 years ago if I would still be playing today, I would definitely say no. I just go with the flow. I’m healthy, I’m enjoying myself, I’m playing at a very good level, probably one of the best I have been. I’m very mature. I’m taking it day by day, I’m not going too far ahead with my mind. I’m actually enjoying all this process. Definitely I’m enjoying much more I think this comes with maturity.”

Cirstea did have many ups and downs, moving around, finding the lines, but also, she did not understand where she was going, and what could she do? It looks like she thought about it, and right now, she thinks a lot.

“I would say, everyone has their own rhythm and their own path. You can’t compare yourself with anyone,” she said. “At the beginning of my career, I had this a lot, people comparing me to other people my age or comparing me to different players. So now, looking back, I feel that’s absolutely useless, comparing yourself with other people, because everyone has their own path and their own timing and their own route in life, their own way.

“Also, do not look left and right but look left and right for lessons, for positive things. It took me a long time to understand this and not get frustrated, because there were people my age or younger doing better. It plays a little bit with your head. But the moment when I realize that I’m playing for myself, I have my own career, I have my own path, my own life, things started to change and I found the joy of playing. I found the freedom of playing. I found the joy again.”

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Kei Nishikori finally didn’t have to play for many hours again, as his opponent, Henri Laaksonen, retired. Now he has to face Alexander Zverev on Sunday. What a banger. The German said: “This is the main goal of my tennis career, to win Grand Slams and I feel in the past year-and-a-half I am on a very good [path] again and I hope I can continue.” Let’s see.

Victoria Azarenka crushed Madison Keys on Friday. Maybe Azarenka can stay around because she can be darn good.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova sort or stunned Aryna Sabalenka. Pavlyuchenkova is a little bit more mature. Sabalenka looked great this year, until at RG, she collapsed.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Anastasia, paris, Pavlyuchenkova, roland garros, roland-garros, Serena williams, Sorana Cirstea, Victotia Azarenka

Roland Garros day 5: American men has little chance

June 3, 2021 by Matthew Cronin

Notes on a draw sheet:
Every day in the Grand Slams first weeks, there will be some really long matches and some darn good ones, too. There are marathons that can be fantastic, but also, it could be lousy and with so many errors.

Over too many years, American men rarely reach the second week. Here and there, but the last time was Andre Agassi, who won it in Paris, grinding and cracking the ball. He won it in 1999. He was so brilliant.

Now, it has been 22 years ago and probably, no American will win the 2021 Roland Garros. But, to reach the second week, that would be something.

On Wednesday, John Isner, Reilly Opelka and Steve Johnson won their matches. Isner has always been played very well on the hardcourts. The tall, young man Opelka is smart and he is committed to his game This year, Johnson did very little until this week, so maybe he can be self-assured again. Let’s see come Monday.

The Japanese Kei Nishikori has been around for a long time, and when he is healthy — and that is rare — he is muscular and he has a great set of wheels. He just won two five-setters. So, eventually, he will be sore in the third round. His legs will be very fatigued. But, to win another match … unlikely.

Chilean Cristian Garin won a five-setter. When the tournament ends, he will be ranked in the top 20. He is stellar stuff.

Serena Williams won in three sets, downing Mihaela Buzarnescu. She has always been great, but she is still on and off. Gradually, though, she will be more compatible

Aryna Sabalenka also won. For sure, she has a chance to win it all, but only if she is continues to stay calm. Victoria Azarenka and Madison Keys will clash. That will be a barn-burner.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: andre agassi, John Isner, paris, Reilly Opelka, roland garros, roland-garros, steve johnson

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