Tennis Acumen

Photo of the Day: Roger Federer

Roger Federer loves Cincinnati. After Wimbledon, where he has won eight titles, Cincinnati is his second ‘sweet spot’. Between  2005 to 2015, he took the Cincinnati Masters title seven times. In 2018, the only time he made the final and lost, Novak Djokovic broke through to become the only player to win all 9 Masters Series events. 

In this 2015 photo, Federer serves to  Djokovic, with the tournament trophy in the foreground. Federer won in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3. He did not lose a set the entire tournament. Cincinnati is a ‘sweet spot’, indeed.

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U.S. Open men’s singles final expert picks: Djokovic vs. Medvedev

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

(photo courtesy of The US Open)

Expert picks are back for the U.S. Open final on Sunday, when three-time champion Novak Djokovic and 2021 winner Daniil Medvedev battle for the title. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.

(3) Daniil Medvedev vs. (2) Novak Djokovic

Ricky Dimon: Even though Djokovic got clobbered by Medvedev in the 2021 U.S. Open final, I’m not prepared to pick against the Serb in a Grand Slam final against anyone other than Carlos Alcaraz. It’s just not a smart thing to do. Yes, Medvedev destroyed him two years ago. But that was when Djokovic was dealing with the pressure of a calendar-year Grand Slam on the line. That isn’t the case this time around since the 36-year-old’s chance ended with a loss to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon championship match. I’m expecting a much better version of Djokovic, who has been pretty much dominant this fortnight aside from a brief two-set hiccup against countryman Laslo Djere in round three.

That being said, Djokovic should not be an overwhelming favorite. In fact, this match is close to a toss-up in my eyes. Medvedev has been absolutely awesome at this U.S. Open, which is nothing new for him. It’s quite simply his favorite tournament (runner-up in 2019, champion in 2021). Unlike most of Djokovic’s opponents, the Russian won’t go into the match mentally defeated. He knows he can beat the 23-time major winner (he has done it five times)–especially in this particular situation. I had Djokovic over Medvedev in four sets in the final before the tournament started. I’m changing it to five. Djokovic in 5: 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3.

Cheryl Murray: It’s a rematch of the 2021 U.S. Open men’s final, but without the specter of the CYGS hanging over Djokovic’s head. On that occasion, Medvedev played the role of the opportunistic usurper with perfection. With history on the line, Medvedev put in a clinical performance, taking advantage of a physically depleted Djokovic to win in three shockingly one-sided sets. He’s not likely to have that same experience this time around.

First, Djokovic isn’t physically depleted. Second, there is no chance of the CYGS since Alcaraz won Wimbledon. It’s hard to look at this match and not assume that Djokovic is the heavy favorite. Still, it’s Medvedev on hard courts. And Medvedev must always be taken seriously when he’s playing on hard courts. He’s a disruptor, a temperamental threat with a non-traditional game. Expect this one to be close. The Russian had the much more complicated semi, a hard-fought win over Alcaraz. But Djokovic has been a bit out-of-form in a couple of his matches over this fortnight. In the end, it’s hard to pick against Djokovic–so I won’t. But I will also put out there that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Medvedev take the title, either. Djokovic in 5: 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.

Pete Ziebron: Djokovic has the rare opportunity to actually improve on his 2021 accomplishments at majors this year if he is to win the title. Should he defeat Medvedev, he will have won 83 sets this year in the majors with a 27-1 record compared to 81 sets won with the 27-1 match mark from two years ago (he failed to win a set in the 2021 U.S. Open final against Medvedev). The Serb is also two years older now but finds the familiar face of Medvedev across the net once again. In 2019 I personally witnessed when Medvedev became the Medvedev we know today, going for broke in their Cincinnati semifinal — which caused Djokovic to be flummoxed and without answers that day.  Medvedev was ranked No. 8 at that time and except for a brief dip earlier this year has resided in the ATP top 5 for the overwhelming majority of the time ever since that victory.  His confidence on the court going forward dramatically changed during and following that landmark match in Cincy.

Even though the Russian declared that his 12-out-of-10 performance was a necessity to defeat Alcaraz in the semis on Friday, will he actually be able to replicate this form in the final against someone he has defeated just five times in 14 attempts? Since the sluggish start in his third-round match against Djere, Djokovic has not dropped a set and appears to be peaking. Pete Sampras used to say, “Winning one major is a good year; winning two is a great year.” Djokovic is attempting to win three majors in a year for the fourth time (Roger Federer has done it three times, Nadal just once). Djokovic has won nine majors since the last time he triumphed in New York (2018) and will be able to see his way through again this time. Djokovic in 4: 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-

 

Rinky Hijikata: PLAYING AGAINST RAFA

Tennis Acumen reporting from the  Columbus Fall Challenger 2022. We are here with Rinky Hijikata, from Australia. Looking back a few weeks to 2022, late August and the first round at the US Open. Ranked outside the top 200, Rinky Hijikata saw the draw sheet and realized he'd be playing his first round match on Center Court against Rafael Nadal. Hijikata came in a 28-1 underdog, and took the first set prior to falling in a four-setter. We asked him about that match, and the experience. 

 

(photo credit: Karl Corbett)

Tennis Acumen: I do have to ask about one match and that would be playing Rafael Nadal this year at the U.S. Open. You had a crowd there, didn't you?

Rinky Hijikata:Yes, that was pretty crazy.

Tennis Acumen: What was that experience like?

Rinky Hijikata: It was nothing that I've ever contemplated. The court, the stadium,  it's the biggest in tennis, I'm guessing. I've never played in anything close to that and that was definitely nerve-wracking. You know, there's nothing that can prepare you for something like that, your first. But even then, I saw the draw and I was really excited for the challenge. I thought it was going to be a great opportunity for me to put my best foot forward and give him my best. Obviously, I would have loved to have come away with a win there, but so far in my career, that's definitely been one of the highlights.

Tennis Acumen: You took a set. That's not bad at all.

Rinky Hijikata: It would have been nice to get two more, but....

Tennis Acumen: I love your spirit.

Rinky Hijikata: You know, he is who he is for a reason. It's not easy to knock off those guys, so….. I'd love to get another crack one day, hopefully soon. Yeah, I'd love to get another opportunity to play against a legend.

(This exclusive interview has generated seven ‘quick read’ excerpts, to be posted at tennisacumen.com over time.)

Vasek Pospisil: Life After Tennis

Vasek Pospisil is a Canadian tennis player, ranked as high as number 25 in the world in singles, number 3 in doubles. In 2014, playing with American Jack Sock for the first time, Pospisil won the Wimbledon championship. The pair also reached the finals of Cincinnati that year and won the Indian Wells title in 2015. In singles, Pospisil reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2014.  This interview was an exclusive with Tennis Acumen, in Knoxville, Tennessee, November 2019. Karl Corbett poses the questions.

KARL: We’ve talked about retirement, and when you will know it’s time for you to retire. I have talked with athletes well past their prime, and even they say: “I can still get better. I still have more to do.” How does that sit with you?

VASEK: Well, it's a slippery slope, because you can still be improving certain parts of your game, and do it forever really, if you want to break it down. But obviously, from the global perspective, you can be getting worse in most areas, but improving in other ways. I think it's  more about results. Of course, the game itself changes, too. You can’t stay in it unless you're able to evolve with. Back to results versus improving your game, I can improve my slice, for example, and that's fine but if I can't get to the ball, then I won't be playing it.

 

KARL: Ever thought about broadcasting?

VASEK: Actually, I just had a funny conversation with my coach about broadcasting. We were listening to some commentators and I was joking around, talking about them. I mean, yeah, I would entertain the idea, for sure. I think it would be fine, but the only way that I would get into broadcasting is if, you know, they were okay with the fact that  I just speak my mind. If one of the commentators said something stupid, or something I disagree with, I'd just call him out on it. I'm joking, of course, I’d not be completely outspoken.

 

KARL: But I think I've heard other people say the same thing.

VASEK: I think people would tell me to be careful, for sure. But, I’m pretty easy going.  

 

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Rinky Hijikata: CROWD SUPPORT

Tennis Acumen at the  Columbus Fall Challenger 2022. And we are here with Rinky Hijikata, from Australia.

(photo credit: Adelaide Now)

Tennis Acumen: Rinky, players tell me that the crowd support at college tennis is incredible and the stands are almost empty when you come into Futures and Challengers, right? .

Rinky Hijikata: Yes, that's definitely tough to adjust to, you know? Yes, it's easy to get up for a college match because you've got hundreds of people there cheering you on or even harassing you a little bit. So, either way, it's, it's quite easy to get up for a college match. I feel like it's always high pressure. It  always means a lot. You want to represent your college well. You don't want to let your teammates down. When you come out here, especially in lower levels, it's not always easy to get yourself up for a match when there's two people in the crowd But I guess everyone's got to earn their stripes and once you get to higher levels there are the crowds and great atmospheres and that's where I want to get to, hopefully.

Tennis Acumen: Absolutely. Now, do crowds affect you or do you just block it out?

Rinky Hijikata: I play better with bigger crowds. I think that's always the way I've been wired. I love the bigger moments. I love the pressure situations. It's always been like that ever since I was a kid. You know, the more people that were there, the bigger the crowd, the bigger the moment, the more I enjoy it, the more I want to play. And, usually, the better I perform. So hopefully I can get there and play great tournaments week in and week out.

(This exclusive interview has generated seven ‘quick read’ excerpts, to be posted at tennisacumen.com over time.)

Carlos Alcaraz Again Loses in A Clay Court Final - Back to Back Weeks

PETE ZIEBRON

All of the sudden, Carlos Alcaraz looks human.  In back to back weeks, he lost in the Final - today in Umag and last week in Hamburg.  

Earlier this year, the young Spaniard has collected two Masters 1000 titles, as well as a 500 and a 250.  En route to winning in Madrid, he defeated: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev.

One might seriously question the fact that Alcaraz is playing clay tournaments in Europe concurrent to hard court events being contested in the United States.  Roland Garros concluded nearly two months ago, yet here is Alcaraz playing on clay.  Sure, he won the Miami Masters and reached the semis at Indian Wells, so he can compete and win on hard courts.

Nick Kyrgios and a slew of Aussies and played Atlanta this week and will then proceed to Washington this week to properly prepare for the US Open.  Alcaraz and his team must feel that playing the Masters events in Canada and Cincinnati will be enough to get ready for the final major of the year.  The world #5 lost in the 3rd round at the Australian Open, in the quarters at Roland Garros and in the 4th round at Wimbledon.   Best of five is certainly a different beast compared to playing and winning five rounds of a best of three Masters event.

Last week, Alcaraz cruised into the Final and was fortunate to win the second set against Italian Lorenzo Musetti before dropping the deciding set 4-6. in Hamburg.  Today in Umag, another Italian, Jannik Sinner, who defeated Alcaraz at Wimbledon, lost just two games in the final two sets to win 6-7(5) 6-1 6-1 to win his first title on clay.  Alcaraz, yet again had luck on his side when he won the opening set.

Following the match and before the trophy presentation, Alcaraz sat in his chair and looked flummoxed, wondering why he again was not able to win a final.  Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero will have some work to do between now and Canada.