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TennisReporters.net top 32 women: No. 32-26

December 9, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

32 Emma Navarro

The American is only 22- years-old, and finally the New Yorker/Charleston is finally understanding what to do in the court. She is somewhat consistent, and she is trying to hit against the good players. Amazingly, she has yet to reach into the third round at the Slams, so clearly, she has a tremendous work to do. She did had a terrific week in San Diego, reaching into the semis, but then she finally lost against Sofia Kenin. However, it was very close, so next year, if she can reach into the top 20, then she will have to attack early, and jump on the return.

31 Lesia Tsurenko

She is recalling aging, but she can be super appropriate, and change it up, a lot. She can mix it around, and chuck in some cool shots. However,she is not that powerful, and while she gets injured, a lot, she can hang in there. But next year, maybe she can attack on the net, more.

30 Jasmine Paolini

It took her for a long time, but the Italian changed her shots, and also, to be more stout, on the rallies. In the fall, she grabbed a few dry matches, with some impressive shots on the lines. However, she has to move forward, more, if she wants to reach into the top 15. Or better.

29 Elise Mertens

At the end of the year, she won Tunisia, which was very solid. She plays all the time, and she is pretty darn proper. Years ago, it looked like that she could very deep again at the Slams, and when she reached into the semis at the 2018 Aussie Ope, but after that, she couldn’t do it again. However, she is pretty darn smart, when she is playing slinging, with some wonderful shots. Yet really, maybe she can play less next year, and practice some different strokes.

28 Anastasia Potapova

The young Russian looked very good, during the first half, but after that, her forehand and her backhand became sloppy. She did win Linz in February, beating Petra Martic, and then it looked like that she would be comfortable at the net. However, she wasn’t thinking enough, and she grew messy. Next year she has to be more patient, and toss in some other shots.

27 Anhelina Kalinina

She is so close to reach the top 25 for the first time. The Ukrainian had a decent year, reaching into the final in Rome, upsetting a few very good players. Yet after that, in June, she did not go deep enough, over the past five months. She can be very fitting, and she can knock it around, side to side, but her forehand can fly away, out. If she wants to progress, she has to improve her serves.

26 Sorana Cirstea

That was a great year by the Romanian, and while she is aging, she put together some terrific wins. At the U.S. Open in the third round, she stunned Elena Rybakir 6-4 in the third round, then she blitz over Belinda Bencic. Finally, she lost, but it was very impressed when she can go early, even on the hardcourts. She does think that she can play even better in 2024, with her return and her forehand, so if she can pull it off, then she should win a big title. She hopes.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Cirstea, Kalinina, Mertens, Navarro, Paolini, Potapova, Tsurenko, wta

Will the American women get better in 2024?

November 27, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Next year, in 2024, there are at least five Americans players can win a huge event.

Obviously, Coco Gauff won the U.S. Open. The teenager played terrific in the summer, as her forehand had improved. Perhaps next year, she can be even better, when she returns, and she can slice it, even more. Gauff can certainly grab another Grand Slam.

When Jessica Pegula plays stellar, she can were down a lot of people. She had some cool matches, side to side, and she hits the highly balls, very deep. However, at the Grand Slams, she can back off, rather than going for it. The good thing was in the last tournament at the WTA Finals, Pegula didn’t win, but at least she made it into the final, winning four matches in a row, beating her good friend, Gauff, in the semis. That was super impressive. However, the now No. 1 Iga Swiatek crushed her, so, so fast.

As the former multi-champion Martina Navratilova, said, “That was Iga showing that, at her best, she is better than anybody. I mean, in difficult conditions, she just blew right through everybody. She gets into the points better and knows how to close the deal…Now I think maybe Gauff will pass Sabalenka for No.2. But I don’t know if either one of them can get past Iga if she has a good offseason, stays healthy, stays fresh.”

The next stage for the 29-year-old Pegula can finally reach into the semis at the Slams. Somehow, someway. She plays a tremendous amount, but this time, she should practice more, and change it up, rather than just flying each week.

Madison Keys is up and down, nailing a bunch of winners, or she collapses. She has been hurt a lot, even though she has gone vast at the three Slams, especially at the U.S. Open, when she reached the semis, and she was playing stunning. However, in the semis against Aryna Sabalenka, she was so close in the third tiebreaker, and then, she missed some critical error. She was so disappointed. However, if she can play more smart, on the court, and throw in some different spin, then she will have a shot to go bottomless again.

It was pretty surprising that Emma Navarro is now ranked No. 32, given that one year ago, she was No. 148. Talk about her strokes. She is very strong, and muscular, but the 22-year-old can hit it to short. Navarro’s second serve is soft, yet she will try to remedy each year. If she wants to reach into the top 10 next year, that will mean she can continue to insert with her game.

Sofia Kenin won the 2020 Australian Open, and then the next year, she eventually stranded to collapse. She was outside of the top 100, but for a few years, yet in 2023, she became to be serious, and more proper, during the matches. She did beat Navarro in San Diego in the semis in September, which was a very close match. She didn’t win it, but she almost beat Barbora Krejcikova 6-4 in the third set. Kenin still has more work to do, but she also can bash on the lines, into the corners. The crazy thing was when she started in 2023, she was ranked No. 227, but now she is No. 33. What a jump. Yes, she can over hit it, and she can go to early, but when you win a Grand Slam, then she really knew what to do.

Next year, if she continues to be sold, each month, she will have another chance to go endless, especially at the 2024 Aussie Open. Something wonderful.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Americans, coco gauff, Emma Navarro, Jessica Pegula, madison keys, Matthew Cronin, wta

WTA top eight battle in Huafa Technology WTA Elite Trophy

October 27, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

With the WTA right now, I guess that to play at the event, instead of the top eight, it is called “Huafa Technology WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, China.”

It is a risk, but they are trying, so that is a positive. However, it is questionable. Of course, every week, there will be a lot of people at the tournaments, and there have been some great matches, but at the end of the year, is it really a blast when the players are very good, but they are not fantastic all the time? That is why they are not in the top eight people, but for sure, the young, could be rising, or they are very good. Or perhaps some of the players might have been injured.

Anyway, in Zhuhai , China, four of them have made it into the semis with Daria Kasatkina, Zhu Lin, Beatriz Haddad Maia and the hard-hitting Zheng Qinwen, who beat Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. At the beginning of the year, she was struggling on the court, as she said that “wanted too much.” But now she is on top of it. However, the 21-year-old is more consistent and sprinting.

ATP Finals
It really matter when you have no chance to get into the ATP Finals in Turin in a couple weeks? Well, yes, certainly when they have a legitimate chance. There are also players who cannot do that, but to finish during the fall, they can go home and be satisfied. Maybe be, or maybe not.

In Basel, Holger Rune, is still there, as long as he can win, while Casper Ruud lost, but he will try to turn it around in Paris, next week. The No. 11 Hubert Hurkacz is still playing excellent ball, recently winning Shanghai, but to qualify, he has to go consistently deeper here, and in Paris.

The American, Taylor Fritz, lost early again, when he lost against Alexander Shevchenko (3) 6-7(7) 7-6(6) 7-6(5). What a brutal, long match. He really has to jump up in the air and re-changed it. He can play in Turin, but he is going to win a few matches in France. He just has to.

In Vienna Daniil Medvedev beat Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, which was pretty good, but when will he rise again? He looks more than decent now, so maybe the No. 3 can rise up again.?
“Tennis is a strong sport and we have strong opponents. So hopefully I can get one more win at least or maybe more,” he said. “I have had an amazing season… But it’s not finished yet, so I want to try to finish it even stronger.” Then win the ATP Finals.

Jannik Sinner is playing really well, when he edged Ben Shelton in a tight match, and then the Italian also beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-2, 6-4. He is just so strong.

Another one, Andrey Rublev, can smash his forehand and his backhand. He can miss a few, but when he is very focused, he can drive it, 100 mph. He will face against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semis, and he has had a tough last two and a half months, yet when he is more patient, then he can be stop steady, and some good variant, too.

The other Americans are fading, when the No. 12 Tommy Paul lost and now he really has to win Paris next week. That will be a huge battle.

How about Frances Tiafoe, who won a match, which is good because he had been slumping. Is it time to wake up, again?

Filed Under: Lead Story Tagged With: Beatriz Haddad Maia, daria kasatkina, Huafa Technology WTA Elite Trophy, Hugler Rune, jelena ostapenko, Matthew Cronin, wta, Zheng Qinwen, Zhu Lin

The Picks in Rome: Friday, May 19

May 19, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Elena Rybakina over Jelena Ostapenko
Many people thought that Iga Swiatek was possibly going to win it, but in the second set, she became injured so in the third set, she retired. Yes, when she is totally on, she has been the best player on clay, winning Roland Garros, twice. However, outside of that, Rybakina has beaten three times, as the former Wimbledon champion would hit some incredible winners, especially with her hard forehand and her backhand.

The thing about the Russian is that she has won many matches, but essentially on the hardcourts and on the grass. She is so powerful. In March, she won Indian Wells, beating, believe it or not, the No. 1 Swiatek, in the semis and also, taking down the No. 2 , Aryna Sabalenka. When she is playing great, she can beat anyone. But over the past month, she has been so-so. This is much the same way with Ostapenko, who when she is totally on, she can crush the ball so deep and into the corners. Yes, she can knock down anyone, but over the years, she has lost some odd matches. She did beat Rybakina twice, on the hardcourts and the grass, but at the 2023 Aussie Open, she when down and she knocked her back.

This is the first time this year that Ostapenko has reached into the semis. Listen, when she is locked in, she will look phenomenal, but when she is frustrated, then she puts together dozens or error. Yes, the Latvia can start early, grab the first set, then she will look tremendous, but currently, she is hard to read, which is why Rybakina will win it in three, savage, sets.

Veronika Kudermetova over Anhelina Kalinina
This is certainly almost a new thing, with Kalinina, who already is a veteran. She has won a couple good wins in 2023, but not that much. Maybe she has become more aggressive and also, when the Ukrainian changed her tactics. Or something else, but yes, she is playing thoughtful.

Once again, the Russian Kudermetova can be hard with herself when she isn’t finding the solution. However, though, there are days when she is more patient, and re-think about where she should go. She certainly can bash the ball, and when she is returning, she can mash it, down the line. She did reach the semis in Madrid, and here, in Rome, she has done it again, sitting on the porch, waiting to start and sprint, on the court. Kudermetova will win it in two, simple, sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Daniil Medvedev over Yannick Hanfmann
~~Borna Coric over Stefanos Tsitsipas~~

Matt’s picks from Rome

8 out of 14, 57.1% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Anhelina Kalinina, Elena Rybakina, jelena ostapenko, Matthew Cronin, rome, Veronika Kudermetova, wta

The Picks in Rome: Tuesday, May 16

May 15, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Alexander Zverev over J.J. Wolf
It is pretty clear that the German Zverev can be erratic, and he can also lift up high when he is reacting. He does know that when he is feeling stellar, then he can not to just mix it, but he is pointed. However, he has not played great this season, but he is gradually playing better, due to his injure.

The former Grand Slam champion Boris Becker says that Zverev has to go back to the basics. That is exact what Becker used to do when he was on court.

“That’s in the past, and 12 months later, the stark reality is brutal. That’s the sport. He is fit again but can’t manage to match the form he had a year ago. There are many reasons for that,” he told Eurosport Germany’s Das Gelbe vom Ball. “What is important, and he is always extremely self-critical, is that he realizes this, that he is honest with himself and doesn’t blame bad luck, bad fortune, wind or too hot a sun – but the fact that he doesn’t play enough. I am sure he will address this in his team and then also train better again. In my opinion, Zverev is not playing tennis properly at the moment.”

Now that is a very controversial, but at least he decided to be honest, even though when he was playing on tour, at times, Becker could dismiss his comments. Zverev must have read it, but beyond that he has to out-hit Wolf, who can play vast when he is on. The American is pretty intense, and he can also be jolly consistent. On clay, though, it will be a huge challenge to out-hit Zverev. Wolf will make the attempt, but Zverev will bash his forehand and win it in a three, super long, set.

Lorenzo Musetti over Frances Tiafoe
The Italian has always been pretty good on the clay, and over the past two months, he has knocked down some very good competitors. The young Musetti can be hitting it hard, pretty deep, with his forehand and his backhand. When he is feeling good, he can smash the ball. However, he still has a good amount to prove that he will add more on his game.

As he said, when he asked about the multi champion Roger Federer, he watched him a lot. “”I like everything about him, but if I have to highlight one aspect I would say it’s his style. It’s something unique, the combination of fun and elegance, like the ability to play relaxed and calm.” Musetti said. “I try to be like him, I have less control and sometimes I’m more nervous on the court, so I think I can do better if I compare myself to Federer. But I think there are details where we have similarities, for example in movements, which is something I’ve always tried to do since I was a child.”

The same goes with Tiafoe, who always listens to watch many players. On the hardcourts, he has been dominating at times, but recently, he set back, a little bit. On the clay, he has to rally for a long time, until he will has a good chance to rip it on the ball. He may do it, but here in Rome, the fans will be cheering so hard to watch Musetti win the match. He will do it, in three, exhausting, sets.

Paula Badosa over Karolina Muchova
Over the past five weeks, the Spaniard finally started to play much better. She still has a substantial improvement on the court, moving around, and really understand where she has to go.

Badosa revealed some changes that she is planning on implementing. “I see that the players are starting to get to know me, so we have decided to change some things in my game and make tactical adjustments. It is not easy, in the middle of a game, to change the position of return or hit a parallel in a difficult situation, but I’m on that path so I have to continue on that path,” Badosa said.

Muchova can be very consistent, and she also likes to wreck her backhand. Her forehand is pretty good, but it can also be short, and her first serve can also be huge, but her second serve can be slow. These two have put together some terrific wins, but on the clay in the slow Rome, Badosa will take it in three, bizarre, sets.

Veronika Kudermetova over Qinwen Zheng
Last year, in September in Tokyo, Zheng beat Kudermetova 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(3). It was a super close match, when the young player put together some incredible rallies. She is very quick, she is also pretty steady, but she still has to hit the ball harder. Plus, the 20-year-old really likes on the hardcourts, but on the clay, she is still figuring it out.

Kudermetova appears to be better week after week. She played a fine tournament in Madrid, reaching the semis, beating a couple very good players. However, in the final, Iga Swiatek smoked her. Kudermetova is a big hitter, but her forehand can be out of control, but when the Russian is locked in, then she can smack it into the corners. She still needs to be more consistent, and they both do, but on Tuesday, Kudermetova will win it in three, hardcore, sets.

Jannik Sinner over Francisco Cerundolo
Even on clay, the Italian is much more consistent, he swings hard with his forehand and his backhand, and also, he is better at the net. He is young, and he does get upset, but when he is really thinking about what he is going, then even after he made a lot of errors, Sinner can re-set it. He can be intense, and so is Cerundolo, and he does hit some huge shots, into the corner. This year, he has won a couple, tough, excellent matches, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime and Casper Ruud. However, he also lost pretty early.

The No. 8 Sinner has put together some fine matches on the hardcourts and while he still has to figure out on the clay, he is gradually improving. Sinner will win it in three, grinding, sets.

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Alexander Zverev, atp, boris becker, Lorenzo Musetti, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, Paula Badosa, rome, wta

The Picks in Rome: Saturday, May 13

May 13, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Victoria Azarenka over Madison Keys
They have played each other for a long time, as they are not so fast, running, but the reason why is because they have gone deep at the big tournaments. They totally crush the ball, with there forehand and there backhand. They can be very consistent, at times, and they also can whack it when they are returning.

Azarenka has won two Grand Slams at the Aussie Open, and Keys reached into the 2017 US Open, also. Clearly, they both think that if they are healthy, then they can try to go deep again, but they will have to prove it, now. On clay, Azarenka can slip when she is trying to nail her forehand, but she can always try to stand up and nail it with a winner. Keys can also crush her backhand, but she still becomes injured, a lot, so because of the, Azarenka will win it in three, sizable, sets

Alexander Zverev over David Goffin
The German has played so many marathons, when he is being so patient, and also, when he can change it up. Zverev has gone very deep a lot, on the hardcourts, especially, and also, he has been more than respectable on the clay. Yes, he is not played very well as he has, because he ruined his leg, so to come back can be very difficult.

However, he will continue to battle, and so does Goffin, who will continue to play until he has to finally stop. The former No. 7 is a master at times, with his top-spin, as well as he can flat it out, and drive it. He is pretty good in the slow clay courts in Rome, so he does like to rallies, and he also can smash it, close to the lines. However, Goffin is sliding down, and because of that, Zverev will win it in two brutal sets.

Coco Gauff over Marie Bouzkova
Each day, it is hard to understand how well the American is going. She can look terrific, and it appears that she is improving each week, but then she falls backwards. It is a conundrum. Gauff has a marvellous forehand, and she is also very sufficient at the net. She also is pretty decent with her return. The Czech Bouzkova can be decent, when she is locked in, but that is rare. Yes, last year she won Prague in July, and it appeared that she would go far. But after that, the current No. 38 didn’t go deep at all, so while she wants to move up the latter, that doesn’t mean that she can go further in Rome. Gauff will win in three, super long, sets.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Novak Djokovic over Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Stan Wawrinka over Grigor Dimitrov
Sebastian Korda over Roman Safiullin

Matt’s picks from Rome

4 out of 10, 40% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: atp, Marie Bouzkova, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, rome, wta

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 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 Madrid: Saturday, May 6

May 6, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Iga Swiatek over Aryna Sabalenka
It was going to happen in the final at Madrid, as the No. 1 and the No. 2 believe that if they played so consistent, then they can beat anyone. However, they both think that if they play well and throw in some deep returns, then the rallies will be close.

They both have two huge forehands and their backhands are super vigorous. Swiatek has a better clay record, and she won Roland Garros twice by being patient and also crushing the ball. The challenge is really on, again.

After she won the 2023 Australian Open, Sabalenka was finally satisfied. Before last year, she looked pretty good but also she struggled, especially at some events. She can really run, and she can also push herself, from the backcourt where she can snag some winners. At the end of year in the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, she cut down over Swiatek in three sets on the hard court. Then two weeks ago, on indoors on clay in Stuttgart in the final, Swiatek battered Sabalenka in two sets on clay.

“Really different,” Sabalenka said, “but I really like it. I don’t have to rush things. I just have to wait for my opportunity and I just have to take it and go for it. … I really want to have this revenge. I think I would just play with more passion. I wouldn’t rush things. Yeah, I would just go one more time, try better, and fight for this title.”

Then Sabalenka will attempt to go for it with some hard shots. But, if you recall, at Rome almost one year ago, Swiatek destroyed her

On Saturday, Swiatek will win it in three sets, with some electrifying points.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Carlos Alcaraz over Borna Coric
~~Jan-Lennard Struff over Aslan Karatsev~~

Matt’s picks from Madrid

8 out of 13, 61.5% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Left, Lead Story Tagged With: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, madrid, Matt Cronin, Matthew Cronin, wta

The Picks in Madrid: Friday, May 4

May 5, 2023 by Matthew Cronin

Carlos Alcaraz over Borna Coric
On Friday, the Spaniard will be 20-years-old and he is in the semis again. Alcaraz is on top of the ball, crushing his strong forehand and his backhand, which can be exact, or fling it with some crazy, good spin. He has never played against Coric, and he knows that the rallies will be super long. But both of them will do it, trying to table in some cosmic shots. As Alcaraz said, he is just fine to hurl in a number of dropshots, and with a huge of winners, right over the net.

“This is something that I did a lot when I was young. I feel really comfortable on that shot,” he said.” Yeah, is a really good weapon for me. Honestly, I just feel it, the dropshot. Alcaraz did win the 2022 US Open, but that is only one Slam, yet. However, he really does believe he will continue to get better, and win, a lot. As he said: “I want to be part of the, you know, the best tennis players in history and I will work for it.”

Back in 2018, Coric took down Roger Federer, Juan Martin del Potro, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, among others. He was so terrific, grinding all the time, and he was so consistent. But he never made it into the top 10, partly because he could be somewhat odd, on the court, and also, he needed to take over the net, more frequently. “Carlos is an impressive player in an incredible form. He is the favorite against me, but I will go out and have fun on the court,” Boris said. Five years later, he is going for it, and if he wants to out-hit against Alcaraz, he must have to take off the gloves off. He might, but Alcaraz will pound him and knock him out in two, tough, sets.

Jan-Lennard Struff over Aslan Karatsev
To see these two in the semis at the ATP 1000s rarely happens. The combination of the rankings are 176. That is so rare in the ATP 1000s, where so few people would think that the players will win in a bunchs of matches. Usually, deep at the tournaments, the top 30 men will have a legitimate chance to go very profound with the young players, good players, but this time, the long veterans are here now.

Struff stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas, and it looked like he was going to lose quickly, but he came up huge, especially with his first serve, and his hefty forehand. Two weeks ago, they played each other in a qualifying, and Karatsev chopped him. Now, it will be very close again, this time on the fast clay courts.

“Aslan is playing amazing this week. I didn’t play the best tennis in that match, but he made me play not good I feel like,” Struff said. “I think we need to analyze it now, focus on the match and I hope I can do better.”
He will have to as Karatsev is finally rising, and he must be breathtaking.
“I started the year inside the top 100, then I dropped and lost some matches. You have to keep going and believe,” Karatsev said. “From the qualifying, match by match, it has got harder, so mentally you have to be there more. Because your opponent doesn’t give you any free points so you have to be there yourself.”

It will be maybe three hours, with some long points, and in the third set, Struff will hit a few winners into the corner. He will win it , when he is almost exhausted, but he will be happy.

Matt’s yesterday picks

Correct: Iga Swiatek over Veronika Kudermetova
Correct: Aryna Sabalenka over Maria Sakkari
Stefanos Tsitsipas over Jan-Lennard Struff
Zhizhen Zhang over Aslan Karatsev

Matt’s picks from Madrid

7 out of 12, 58.3% correct

Filed Under: Featured Bottom Right, Lead Story Tagged With: Aslan Karatsev, atp, Borna Coric, Jan-Lennard Struff, madird, Matthew Cronin, With Carlos Alcaraz, wta