Tennis Acumen

Aleks Vukic: Playing Hurt

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed Australian Aleks Vukic at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: Yeah, let me ask one more question. watching Evan King play yesterday, he was obviously not 100 percent.

Aleks Vukic: Mentally or physically?

 

Tennis Acumen: His body. He could not move. He could not get there. He was sharp, clear and he was asking his body to do certain things. And the body was just saying: “No, please stop.”

Aleks Vukic: Yeah, that’s tough when it feels like that.

 

Tennis Acumen: I asked him about that and I told him it was agonizing to watch. I mean, he got down a set, down a break, and instead of going to the bench, he just sat on a little stool in the back corner, on the baseline. I asked what was going through his mind.? He says: “Just trying to find some clarity. I was trying to simplify things.” We made a distinction between playing when you're hurt, which means you're injured and you shouldn't be on court and playing where you're hurting. How do you deal with playing when you're hurting?

Aleks Vukic: It's very tough, because you obviously you feel it. But he had the perfect mindset. That pain will end up going away. If you're hurt, you should stop because it can affect you. But if you're hurting, it's one of those. It's a temporary pain. It's just another obstacle that you have to go through. You see the guys that are doing really well, going deep in the tournament, they are, for sure, hurting mentally. And physically, they're not fresh. They have played more matches. I think it’s just trying to push through, trying to find a way to pump yourself up.

Tennis Acumen: Did you have any training or work with a sports psychologist on that issue?

Aleks Vukic: No, I haven't. But that is something that would definitely interest me. My coach is not here this week, but he's very good with that stuff. We talk about a lot about the mental game rather than the technical part of it, because people say it's 80 percent mental. I do believe it's around 90 to 95 percent, to be honest. Unless you're extremely talented, you need the hard work and need the mental capacity. And that's where you see a lot of guys make a career, just because they're mentally tough. They make a living purely because of that. And that's my goal is to do that as well.

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: aleks.vukic, Vuki_SMASH23

Evan King: Grinding it Out

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American Evan King at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: I want to go back to the point you woke up this morning. Look, just the grind of the tour, the travel, your sleep schedules. How do you manage all of that?

Evan King: it's an interesting balance for sure. Over the year, you're in a ton of different time zones, you're sleeping on at least fifty different beds. So, the mattress is different. The pillows, different. Places with air conditioning, with no air conditioning, with great showers, or terrible showers. all those different variables. I love the fact that my job is to chase a yellow ball around, and I have to remember that is my career and that's my job. And there are a lot of things that I could be doing that I don't want to do. And ultimately, I want to do this. I can't be happy go lucky when I'm out there competing, because I have to win. But it's a great career and I have to remind myself of that constantly. I lost yesterday. I put myself on the line. My best yesterday was not as good as my opponent's best yesterday. And that part does stink. And then you have to look at yourself in the mirror and go back out and practice and get after it again today.

There are variables like cuisine. It is pretty hard to be strict on your diet, because you can play a tournament in Champaign, Illinois, you can play a tournament in Shanghai, China, maybe you won't be able to get the same things. Something's cooked in more oil. Maybe something is cleaner. Maybe the language barrier won't allow you to get exactly what you want. So that is definitely a hurdle on the tour. And then waking up every morning making sure that as a professional, I am accountable for myself. So, I lose yesterday, I have to create a practice schedule, make sure I hit the gym, make sure I sleep at a good time because I play doubles tomorrow, make sure my doubles partner and I are on the same page and all those kinds of things. It means dealing with a lot of things I can’t control, but still, I have to find a rhythm.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: So, on any given day, you don't know until the end of the day when you're going to play correct? Like 10:00 in the morning or 6:00 in the evening.

Evan King: Tomorrow, I don't know my schedule yet. I know I play doubles tomorrow, but I don't know the time of it, so I can't plan anything that far in advance. And then you have flights to the next tournament, I don't know if my week is going to end on Wednesday or if my week is going to end on Saturday. So, I can't really book a flight to my next destination until this week ends. Let's say I lose on Wednesday. I don't really want to leave on Sunday because I'm ill prepared for the next week. I'm going to a different city with different conditions, maybe different balls, maybe different time zones, all those kinds of things. There is a lot of last second planning, which can get a little bit stressful. I graduated in 2013. This is 2021. So, I have been doing it more or less eight years. I've kind of gotten used to it, but it is still difficult at times. But still, I've seen so much of the world that I've had no business seeing, countries that I didn't even know existed until I stepped foot in.

 

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American Evan King at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Evan King: A Life Outside of Tennis

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American Evan King at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Photo credit: Behind the Racket

Tennis Acumen: You're obviously focused on tennis. I mean, you have to be obsessed and half crazy.

Evan King: Yeah. Full crazy

 

 

Tennis Acumen: Other interests? Food, fashion, music, art?

Evan King: I would just go back to the music, the battle rap. That's what I go back to. I would say that would be my hobby when I'm off the court. I'm watching for new battles. I follow a couple of professional battlers. I have been to a couple of events.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: Seriously. That's great. There's another passion.

Evan King: Yeah, exactly.

Tennis Acumen: And somebody else has to do the work. That is always good.

Evan King: And I just take it in and enjoy all of what they're putting into the universe. I think when I'm done competing, I want to stay in tennis or in athletics in general. I had a lot of fun in college tennis. I think I do want to be a college coach when I'm done playing.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: Given consideration to announcing or broadcasting?

Evan King: Yes and no. I think I could be OK at it. I enjoy the sport. I think I can articulate what I'm trying to say. I think that could be OK. I know a fair amount of the people playing. I think that's a good thing. No, I'm definitely into the sport. I don't think my status as a tennis player would make the transition that easy. You look at Tennis Channel and you look at ESPN, they're all former world number ones, all that kind of energy. Yeah, I need to get my name bigger to really have that be a legitimate option for me. But I think I would have fun with it. Whatever it is, I'll stay in athletics. So that's where my passion is. That's what I enjoy.

Tennis Acumen: So, supporting people that have the same passion, perhaps helping them avoid some of the mistakes you made? Yeah, I understand that.

Evan King: Because through juniors through college, into the professional ranks, you need help to jump the hurdles I wasn't able to.

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: @EvanKingChicago

J. J. Wolf: A Life outside of Tennis

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American J. J. Wolf at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: Passions outside of tennis: what do you do to expand your horizons and get entertainment?

J. J. Wolf: I do a lot of outdoor activities, go for a lot of hikes, a lot of stuff in the water, fly fishing, things like that. Shoot some guns once in a while. I really, really enjoy doing that, just getting on the range and letting loose. Basically, I like to get outside and experience the world.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: Now, did you do that growing up?

J. J. Wolf: Yeah, yeah. We’d go camping, that sort of thing. Tent camping. I never had a motor home or anything like that, but I think that could be fun. At some point, there’s a Jeep that I want to get. I've seen these things you can put on the top that unfold into an actual tent on top of your car, which is pretty cool. My girlfriend really loves outdoor activities too, so we'll go for a trip when we can.

Tennis Acumen: Just an aside, Brenda and I got a motorhome seven, eight years ago.

J. J. Wolf: Awesome, you like it?

Tennis Acumen:. Yeah, it's twenty four feet. It's great for two people, and we absolutely love it. We went up to Laver Cup a few weeks back.  We parked our motorhome in Salem, about half an hour north of Boston, right on the harbor. We wake up in the morning looking at the boats going by, the seagulls. We absolutely fell in love with that. And we can follow the tour as well. Some of our trips have been great, like Laver Cup. Camp somewhere nearby, Uber into the tournament, get a hotel for the weekend. If you like the outdoors and you also like the comforts of home, it's a good idea.

J. J. Wolf: Definitely.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: You travel a lot, J.J. How do you manage it, going from the seafood in New England to barbecue in Texas to European or Asian food, how do you manage when the food's not always predictable?

J. J. Wolf: I'm not very picky at all, so I can find food I like just about anywhere. I haven’t played a full year on tour yet with everything that's happened. Once I have played a couple of years, I know I will find the spots I like at different tournaments and go from there.

Tennis Acumen: So at home, people are coming over for dinner. What's your ‘go to’ dish if you're cooking?

J. J. Wolf: Well, that's a tough one. If I'm cooking, there's not a lot of options, to be honest, but I could always throw some steaks on the grill. That's probably what I'd do. Steak and potatoes.

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: @jjwolf5

Aleks Vukic: College tennis to the Pro Tour

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed Australian Aleks Vukic at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: And making the transition to playing as a pro. What's the same about the game? What's different?

Aleks Vukic: It's SO different. I think it's a lot more mentally tough because in college, you're very comfortable. In college, you have everything you need. You have coaches. You have everything set up and then you show once or twice a week and play a match. On the pro tour, you're alone, you're traveling from place to place. Depends on the place, but it might not be so nice. You have to do that for thirty weeks of the year! Sometimes you go through spells where you don't win a match or just win a few matches in a few months, and you need to bounce back. It's a lot more mentally challenging, and it's not for everyone. But I think if you find ways to love it, it's unreal.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: So, what was the best thing about the college experience and what are some of your best memories there?

Aleks Vukic: I think it is developing the game, having time to develop the game with the coaches. I mean, this is an unbelievable program, so the coaches really helped me here, but it gives you time. You look at the top 20 guys in college, they're all ranked inside the top 400. You're playing those guys and you're building a game. So, it's a really great experience. You also develop as a person. There's more to life than tennis. You can tell sometimes who's gone to college and who hasn't on the tour.  You can see guys whose whole life is tennis. They think a little differently than the guys that have gone to college and have seen other things..

 

 

Tennis Acumen: And I've heard people say one of the differences is this: coming into the Challengers, you can be playing on Monday afternoon and there's absolutely nobody in the stands, but in college, you do get a lot of fan support, right?

Aleks Vukic: Yeah, you do. Everyone loves playing to the fans. Obviously, it depends on the tournament. Some Challengers, actually, they get quite a good crowd, so it depends on the week. But every week is different.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: How sensitive are you to the crowd when you're in a match? Does the crowd affect you?

Aleks Vukic: A little bit? But I'd rather the crowd be against me, than to have no crowd, to be honest. I would rather have 10,000 people cheering against me than to have zero people in the stands. It just makes for a better atmosphere.

 

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: aleks.vukic, Vuki_SMASH23

2022 Australian Open semifinal expert picks: Nadal vs. Berrettini, Medvedev vs. Tsitsipas

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

Expert picks are back for the Australian Open semifinals on Tuesday, when Rafael Nadal battles Matteo Berrettini and Daniil Medvedev goes up against Stefanos Tsitsipas. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.

(7) Matteo Berrettini vs. (6) Rafael Nadal

Ricky Dimon: The simple question is which Nadal is going to be on display. Will it be the one who was dealing with physical problems during his five-set struggle against Denis Shapovalov on Tuesday? Or is it going to be the one who is 8-0 this season and had been pretty much dominating all of his opponents prior to the quarterfinals? If it’s the latter, I can’t see Berrettini winning this matchup–not on anything other than grass or a lightning fast indoor hard court. There will be too many long rallies in which his vulnerable backhand gets exposed by the Spaniard’s heavy topspin forehand. To be clear, I wouldn’t bet with confidence on either side because of Nadal’s somewhat questionable status. But all things being equal the 20-time major champion should win this one. Nadal in 4: 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Cheryl Murray: The outcome of this match will depend heavily on whether Nadal has recovered from his five-set victory over Shapovalov. The Spaniard reported suffering heat stroke during the match and described himself as “physically destroyed” in his post-match presser. If the two days’ rest is sufficient, Nadal has to be considered the favorite in this match for several reasons. First, despite earning a spot in his first Australian Open semifinal Berrettini has been a bit vulnerable this fortnight. Only one of his matches was a routine straight-set win. Next, the slower surface (blue GreenSet) neutralizes some of the free points he usually gets on his first serve. Lastly, except for the issue with heat Nadal has been in impressive form. He has some extra pop on his serve and he has taken a more aggressive position on the baseline than usual. Nadal in 4: 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.

Pete Ziebron: Despite five appearances in the final, the AO is Nadal’s “least” successful major.  Currently he has a prime opportunity to accomplish the double-career Grand Slam with a win this year in Melbourne. After surviving a tougher than expected quarterfinal against Shapovalov, Nadal will not want to put himself in such dangerous scenarios in this match against even better competition. Similarly, Berrettini also blew a two sets to love lead in his quarter against a spirited and loose Gael Monfils before recovering in the fifth. The Italian now must face a man who has won 20 majors rather than someone with two major semifinal appearances to his name. At this stage of a slam, Nadal carries the banner for the Big 3 and will likely display the brand of tennis that the Big 3 absolutely deliver time and time again on the grandest of stages. Nadal gets to the doorstep of 21 as experience–especially at key junctures–wins this match. Nadal in 4: 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-4.

(4) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (2) Daniil Medvedev

Ricky: My popcorn is popped for this one. They don’t necessarily hate each other at this point, but they definitely don’t like each other. Last year’s Grand Slam matchups were never going to be good. Tsitsipas was sapped of energy after beating Nadal in five sets in the Aussie Open quarterfinals, after which he got smoked by the Russian in the semis. Medvedev is probably never going to compete with the Greek on clay, and he didn’t in the French Open quarters. This one features a more level playing field. It is true Medvedev is coming off a four-hour and 42-minute thriller against Felix Auger-Aliassime, but the world No. 2 is one of the fittest guys in the business and he has never had any stamina-related issues. He should be fine. Tsitsipas played his best match in ages against Jannik Sinner, but asking for two in a row when he had previously been in a significant slump may be too much–especially against a backboard of an opponent who is going to make him hit tons and tons of tennis balls. Medvedev in 4: 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-2.

Cheryl: Of the two semifinals, this is perhaps the more intriguing. Medvedev and Tsitsipas are not…friends. The two men had a highly publicized on-court argument at the Miami Masters in 2018, in which Medvedev accused Tsitsipas of calling him “a bullshit Russian” following a controversy over a strategically timed bathroom break by Tsitsipas. Since then their meetings have ranged from displays of simmering dislike and frosty indifference. The matchup heavily favors Medvedev, who holds a 6-2 record over Tsitsipas, but the Greek got a big win at the French Open last year. Honestly (and surprisingly), it’s Tsitsipas who has been the better player during week two. He dispatched Sinner in easy straight sets in the quarters, while Medvedev had to claw his way back from a two sets to love deficit against Auger-Aliassime. I still like the Russian in Melbourne, but this is not likely to be a straight set repeat of Medvedev’s SF win a year ago. Tsitsipas is going to make him work for it. Medvedev in 5: 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

Pete: This will be the third time Medvedev and Tsitsipas will meet in the last five majors. The last four overall meetings have been split, with the victor winning in straight sets each time. Medvedev once again exhibited how difficult it is to oust him at a major in his resilient win over Auger-Aliassime in the quarters. In each of the five previous rounds he has faced a completely different opponent. Now he is standing two wins from consecutive major titles. Credit Tsitsipas for showing heart and determination in his round of 16 comeback win against Fritz. Despite being outplayed, he found a way to advance. After being able to exhale, he then mowed down Sinner in routine fashion in the quarters with a clean 4-for-4 in break points won. Although this match features world No. 2 and world No. 4, the rank order scale does not do justice to the vast gap in current form between these two. Medvedev, following a long exhale of his own after going the distance and saving a match point, should win this one in an easier manner. Medvedev in 4: 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022 Australian Open quarterfinal expert picks: Nadal vs. Shapovalov, Berrettini vs. Monfils

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

Expert picks are back for the Australian Open quarterfinals on Tuesday, when Rafael Nadal faces Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini meets Gael Monfils. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.

Expert picks are back for the Australian Open quarterfinals on Tuesday, when Rafael Nadal faces Denis Shapovalov and Matteo Berrettini meets Gael Monfils. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.

Denis Shapovalov vs. (6) Rafael Nadal

Ricky: Nadal played Yannick Hanfmann instead of Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round, Adrian Mannarino instead of Hubert Hurkacz or Aslan Karatsev in the fourth round, and now Shapovalov instead of Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. If he wins this one, the Spaniard will run into either Matteo Berrettini or Gael Monfils instead of Novak Djokovic in the semis. Are the stars aligning for a 21st major title and a double career Grand Slam? It’s starting to feel that way. Nadal has been very good in his own right in addition to the good fortune. He is now 7-0 this season with a title at the Melbourne 250 and four convincing wins at this Aussie Open. Shapovalov is dangerous, but he probably doesn’t have the consistency to topple Nadal in a best-of-five situation. Make it four in a row for the Spaniard in this head-to-head series. Nadal in 4: 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3.

Cheryl: Honestly, I had fairly low expectations for Nadal at this Australian Open. The 2009 champion had been sidelined with his chronic foot injury for more than six months. He also had a nasty bout of Covid-19 in December, from which he only just recovered right before landing in Melbourne a few weeks ago. Nadal was handed a tough draw and I figured he’d just be too rusty. But here he is, in the quarters — and more importantly he is playing well. His serve looks better than it has in some time, and he’s getting plenty of pop on his forehand. Shapovalov has had a fantastic tournament so far. The Canadian shellacked Zverev and he helped lead his country to the ATP Cup crown. Shapovalov defeated Nadal in their first-ever meeting back in 2017, and he came within a few points of knocking the Spaniard out of the Rome Masters last year. His big-hitting game is the sort that can give Nadal difficulty, and he’s playing especially well in 2022 so far. Nadal should come through, but Shapovalov is going to make him work for it. Nadal in 5: 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.

Pete: Ironically, it is Nadal now that has commanded front and center attention at the Australian Open as a few key obstacles (Djokovic and Zverev) to his path to a potential 21st major title have been eliminated in the last week.Instead of Zverev as his opponent in the quarterfinals it is Shapovalov, who brushed away the Olympic and 2021 Nitto ATP Finals champion in straight sets. The Canadian will be grateful to have been able to conserve energy in the last round, as he was tested earlier in the tournament — even rallying from a two sets to one deficit in the second round. Nadal has taken a more direct route to the quarters, dropping just one set thus far. The 2009 AO champion has exited Melbourne at the quarterfinal stage seven times, including in three of the last four years. He has his eyes squarely on the prize that has eluded him for more than a decade and will likely power into the semis. Facing Shapovalov rather than Zverev at this stage of the tournament is certainly a break in getting closer to history. Nadal in 3: 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.

(17) Gael Monfils vs. (7) Matteo Berrettini

Ricky: I had Monfils in the semifinals before the tournament started and I’m not about to waffle — not when he has reeled off four consecutive straight-set victories. The Frenchman has always been one of the most talented players in the world. When he is healthy and motivated, he is also one of the best. Monfils is both of those things right now. Berrettin has been tested in all four of his matches, even though he didn’t lose a set to Pablo Carreno Busta on Sunday. The Italian has been good this fortnight, but not great. Their only previous Grand Slam encounter (2019 U.S. Open quarterfinals) went to a fifth-set tiebreaker. I expect something similar…but this time with Monfils winning. Monfils in 5: 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3.

Cheryl Murray: This is one of the more surprising quarterfinals. While Berrettini has been impressively consistent in majors for the past year or so, Monfils has been the exact opposite. The Frenchman could barely manage to win a single match a year ago. In the past week, he has dispatched all four of his opponents in straight sets. With Berrettini’s monster game, I expect that Monfils’ straight-set wins are going to come to an abrupt end. The Italian’s serve hasn’t been quite as effective on these slower hard courts as it is on grass, but it’s still a fierce weapon and will do some damage. The crowd will almost certainly be behind Monfils, who is one of the more popular veteran players on tour. But in the end I expect Berrettini to earn a spot in his first Australian Open semifinal. Berrettini in 4: 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Pete Ziebron: Let us not forget the torrid start to 2020 that Monfils exhibited, going 16-3 with two titles and losses only to Novak Djokovic twice and to Dominic Thiem. The pandemic seemed to impact Monfils to a greater extent than anyone else on the ATP Tour. The Frenchman lost the only four matches he played when he returned in September, then lost his initial three matches in 2021 before finally winning a match in May — a stretch of nearly 15 full months without a victory.  As a result, he is absolutely relishing his success to begin 2022 — already winning a title in Adelaide and recording four straight-set wins in Melbourne. In fact, Monfils dropped just five games in each of his first two matches. This is only the second quarterfinal appearance for Monfils in his 17th visit to the AO.  Berrettini has now earned quarterfinal berths at each of the last four majors. The Italian is 4-0 in tiebreakers in the tournament and certainly received his wakeup call in his third-round encounter with Alcaraz that went the distance. For Monfils, this is a significant increase in talent level across the net compared to his first four matches. Berrettini in 4: 7-6(4), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

 

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Aleks Vukic: Work Ethic

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed Australian Aleks Vukic at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: Among your fellow Australians, are you close with John Millman?

Aleks Vukic: Not close. But I know him. Yeah.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: My wife and I have met him several times. Well, he is the sweetest guy, the nicest guy. I will tell you a story about John. I live in Cincinnati. So I am always at that tournament, right? But I went down to Lexington in 2017 for the Challenger event. I just fell in love with John. His style, his personality. I came back up to Cincinnati for the Saturday qualities. I look across the stadium and there's Gerry Armstrong and Mohammed Leyani. I said:  “Guys, good to see you this year. I just fell in love with a player, John Millman.” They both said: “Oh, he's the sweetest guy. He's such a class act.” Then, the next spring in Indian Wells, we ran across John. I said: “The last time I saw Gerry Armstrong and Mohammed Leyani, I told them about you, and they both said you are a class act.” And John just looked at me and said: “My parents raised me well.” He's such a humble, authentic guy.

Aleks Vukic: He's just, gritty, a person that might not be the most talented, but he just works and works. And I know he trains so much. So, it is all about the hard work for him.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: You've got friends here. I mean, friends on the tour. What's it like playing against a friend? Is there a different mindset?

Aleks Vukic: No, there's no different mindset in the way you treat each opponent. You just you try to take that part away. You just know the guy personally, it's different. But at the end of the day, when I play someone, I play on their tennis game. So, if you play a friend, it's based on their tennis game. You play to win that match based on that. Of course, it's impossible to just take away who you're playing. But you play the ball, so it's like, you are NOT my mate over there. I'll be playing the shot that he hits at that moment.

 

 

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: aleks.vukic, Vuki_SMASH23

J. J. Wolf: Match Prep

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American J. J. Wolf at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: Now today we have nine singles matches. None of these guys have ever played each other before. There's no head-to-head record for any of these matches.

J. J. Wolf: Really, that's crazy.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: So, going into a match like that, do you watch matches your opponents have played if you've never seen them before?

J. J. Wolf: More so my coaches will watch and come back and talk to me about it. I don't worry about it too much, but I usually get a little scouting report, maybe from coaches.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: And what would that scouting report sound like? What would that look like?

J. J. Wolf: It’s all about patterns I'm looking for against a certain guy. Nothing really detailed. I keep everything very simple. Most of the stuff has to do with me most of the time anyway.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: What sort of patterns? This is intriguing.

J. J. Wolf: You just look for favorable patterns. It could be different with any player. But a lot of players look at making forehands or shots they're good at. So, it doesn't really matter to me where I'm hitting the ball. I just want to hit it hard.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: Even analyzing opponents, you keep it simple.

J. J. Wolf: Give me one or two games and that's what I'll try to do. Just try to do your best every point. That's all you can do. If someone hits a winner on you, they hit a winner on you. It's just the sport. Everybody's good out here. Anyone can beat anyone. Yeah. We've seen all that, then. We've seen all of that.

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: @jjwolf5

J. J. Wolf: Friends on the Tour

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed American J. J. Wolf at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: J. J., who do you enjoy spending time with on the tour?

J. J. Wolf: I always like being around some of the Ohio State guys , (Mikael) Torpegaard. I'm very close with (Aleks) Kovacevich, some of the Illinois guys that I grew up playing against. OK, Marcus Giron, , Mackey (Mackenzie McDonald) and Reilly Opelka. A lot of the Americans have been really nice. Veterans like (Sam ) Querrey and (John) Isner and Stevie (Johnson) have always been really nice to me. Not so much to hang out with them, but they’ll always say “Hi.” in the locker room.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: So is it different playing against a friend?

J. J. Wolf: Some people feel weird about it. I think it's fun. I say, be friends off the court. Once you get on the court, I just worry about myself, so I don't think about it too much.

Tennis Acumen: OK, tell me more about that.

J. J. Wolf: In tennis, you try to control what you can control. So thinking about who you're playing against doesn't really do much for you.

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: @jjwolf5

Aleks Vukic: Favorite Cities on the Tour

In 2021, Tennis Acumen interviewed Australian Aleks Vukic at the Champaign Challenger tournament. Here is a part of that conversation:

Tennis Acumen: You've done some traveling. What are your favorite cities on the tour?

Aleks Vukic: London and New York. New York is just smashing. I love big cities and New York is unbelievable. London, I had a great experience this year. I played Queens at  this tennis center that it's in the suburbs of London. You walk in through the building, and you walk to the other side and this grass court complex just appears out of nowhere. And in the middle of that, I was playing Jason Jung, who's playing here this week. He and I played the qualifiers there at Queens. We were playing on the back courts. It's surrounded by apartments in the middle of the suburbs. OK, and in those apartments, there were two balconies with Aussie flags. Families just sat out watching, cheering me on from their balconies. And that was one of the coolest experiences I've had. And I love London. My brother studied there for a few years, and I love London as a city and it's very similar to Australia, the people.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: So, what would you go out and do if you had free time: sample the food, go sightseeing?

Aleks Vukic: This year has been different because of Covid. Yeah, but I'd just go experience it. There is so much to do. It's endless, you can do whatever you want. I like the outdoors. And you have live music, restaurants, bars, that kind of stuff. And meeting cool people. It's more about that.

 

 

Tennis Acumen: So, it's more about the people. as opposed to the place.

Aleks Vukic: Yeah, but I also keep my circle pretty, tight as it is. So, I do just like to experience things with them, basically.

 

 

More of this exclusive interview is available at Tennis Acumen. Go to the interviews category, shown on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Tags: aleks.vukic, Vuki_SMASH23

Jurij Rodionov: Favorite Places, Favorite Things

On  a hot streak, Austrian Jurij Rodionov sat down with Karl Corbett of Tennis Acumen in February, 2020. At the time, he was burning through opponents on the Challenger Tour, and had  won 14 out of his last 15 matches.

 

Karl: As you travel. Jurij,  what are your favorite places on the tour? Your favorite cities?

Jurij: I'm someone who likes to focus more on the tournament, rather than enjoy sightseeing. So. I would ask the question: “What courts are available?”  or “What facilities can I take advantage of?” Even when I'm in Paris or  New York or London, I'm not really someone who goes to see the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben or walk around Manhattan. I'm just focused on my tennis,  and I like more to spend time on the courts.

 

Karl: That's very interesting.

Jurij: Generally speaking, the bigger the tournament, the more I look forward to playing  it. There's more for the players: better food, better physical therapy, better changing rooms. So, the bigger the tournament is, the more I enjoy it.

 

Karl: You're very focused. You're  very disciplined.

Jurij: Yeah, on a normal day I spend six to eight hours on a tennis court or doing fitness or stretching. So, there is not really a lot of time to do anything else.

 

Karl: What do you enjoy besides tennis, Jurij? Food, fashion, music?

Jurij: I am very focused on tennis, but I have a personal life, too, even if it doesn't seem like it.  I like watching movies, listening to music. I also like to play games video games. Yeah, that's a big hobby. And I also like to spend time with friends.  It’s always important to get out of my bubble sometimes.

 

Karl: Tell us a couple of movies that you like.

Jurij: I love the Lord of the Rings movies.  I am a big Lord of the Rings fan. Definitely. You know, I am one of those fans that knows every quote and every single line.

 

Karl: Some of your favorite music, your favorite bands.

Jurij: I love Linkin Park and the  Red Hot Chili Peppers. I also like some German bands. Well, I'm someone who likes almost every style of music, except maybe hip hop. That's maybe not my style, but except for that, I'm up for everything.

 

 Jurij Rodionov, talks about his 'breakthrough'  tennis, here: (LINK)

John Patrick Smith - Favourite Places on the Tour

John  Patrick Smith, from Australia, attended the University of Tennessee from 2007 through 2011, where he was a four-time All-American and made it to the college No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles. Tennis Acumen talked with JP in early 2020. Here's one part of that exclusive interview.

Tennis Acumen: What are some of your favourite cities on the tour, J.P.?

J. P. Smith: Newport, Rhode Island, definitely.

 

Tennis Acumen: Why is that?

J. P. Smith: Newport is just really great ,in the sense that I have played that event every year since I finished college. They have the Tennis Hall of Fame up there in Rhode Island. So, I’ve enjoyed that event. I also love Atlanta. I have won there before, in doubles there. I do enjoy New York, Washington, D.C. I just love the U.S., because there’s a unique sort of swing to every place. Across the globe, as well: Australia, London.

 

Tennis Acumen: Favourite cities back in Australia? What's your hometown?

J. P. Smith: My hometown is Townsville, in Queensland. I love Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, all those lead-up events for the Australian Open.

 

Tennis Acumen: And do you pay attention to the crowds when you are on court? You have a home court advantage in Australia.

J. P. Smith: I have a lot of friends come down watch me during the Australian Open. It’s really fun to have the support. I always have a lot of friends who watch me online, watching the live stream, keeping track, so it’s reallycool.

 

Tennis Acumen: When you're not playing tennis, what do you enjoy: movies, music, food, fashion?

J. P. Smith: Music. I love live concerts. I try to get to a concert, wherever I’m playing. I went to three, just last year. Yeah and just kind of. Right now I'm into a lot of reading, especially when I am on planes. I used to enjoy a couple of TV shows, but it’s hard keeping up with so much stuff, on Netflix and all these other streaming services. Now, I don't even bother unless I get a really good recommendation.

 

Tennis Acumen: And what books are you reading right now?

J. P. Smith: I have been reading Ayn Rand, she has a few good books there. Mainly to do with economics and sort of that sort of stuff.

 

Tennis Acumen: Does that tie in with your college education?

J. P. Smith: A little bit. I chose economics back then. Obviously, I love economics but, I am not sure what I am going to do after tennis, but economics offered a very broad business spectrum so, that's why I chose it.

 

Tennis Acumen: So you haven't really thought too deeply about life after tennis.

J. P. Smith: Not really. To be honest, tennis is kind of a hit and miss sport, in the sense that one week, you can do well, and the next week you don’t do well. You can't really plan ahead for results, and that, I think goes for after tennis, as well .

 

Tennis Acumen: JP, some guys on the tour absolutely love to win more than anything and some guys just hate to lose. Where are you on that spectrum between loving to win and hating to lose?

 

J. P. Smith: I'm somewhere right in the middle there. I’m very thankful to get a chance to play here. It’s my job, you know. I don’t expect to win every day. At the end of the day, you're healthy, you're playing a sport you love for a job, and you have to be very thankful for that.

Tennis Acumen: OK, thank you very much, JP. Appreciate it.

J. P. Smith: No worries, mate. Thank you.

 

Tennis Acumen: Good luck.

Reilly Opelka: Favorite Places on the Tour

At the end of 2018, American tennis player Reilly Opelka was ranked alongside Croatian Ivo Karlovic, age 40. The two tallest players on tour, at 6’ 11”, both with a huge serve. Within weeks, Opelka won the  New York 250 title, and took a firm lead in rankings over Karlovic. It was a changing of the guard.   This is part of a series based on Karl Corbett's exclusive interview with Reilly Opelka.

(photo credit: Karl Corbett,  (c) Tennis Acumen)

Karl: As you have started traveling more and more, what are some of your favorite cities?

Reilly: I have a few. I like New York City a lot. New York's great. Not that I could live there but… I am a huge ‘foodie’, and a lot of the best restaurants in the United States are in New York. I like Miami a lot as well. I live near Miami. I know it well. I am a big fan of Miami. I also like Milan (Italy).

 

Karl: What is it about Milan that you love?

Reilly: Food as well. I'm also big into fashion. So, Milan has a nice mix of food, fashion and art.

I do like all the cities in the States. Chicago? Well, Chicago's great. Especially in the summertime. You can't beat it. But yeah, those are my favorite cities so far.

 

Karl: You’ll be seeing more. Reilly, how has your life changed in the last year?

Reilly: Well, a lot has changed. You know, this time last year, I was ranked #150 and unable to play. I had mono (mononucleosis). So, I was sitting at home on the couch all summer. And now I'm just cracking the top 50, just here this week.

So, what’s changed? I am pretty independent now. I just bought a house in Boca Raton. So, I'm based in Boca. I have my coach there working with me. I also have a coach here, based in Atlanta, but he travels with me: JY, Jean-Yves Aubone. I have my physio team set up so I couldn't be happier with my team, my environment. My whole setup for for my job is perfect.

 

There's more to this interview. Take a look around, end enjoy.....

Vasek Pospisil: Favorite Places on the Tour

Vasek Pospisil is a Canadian tennis player, ranked as high as number 25 in the world in singles. As 2020 begins, Pospisil is starting off strong, with victories over #15 Denis Shapovalov, #9 David Goffin, former #7 Richard Gasquet and #5 Daniil Medvedev. Perhaps it has something to do with the Canadian maple syrup he's been bringing on court with him.

This interview was an exclusive with Karl Corbett of Tennis Acumen, in Knoxville, Tennessee, November 2019.

(photo credit: Karl Corbett,  (c) Tennis Acumen)

Karl: Vasek, you've obviously traveled a lot. What are some of your favorite cities, your favorite places on the tour?

Vasek: I love Rome, everything about it: the food, the history, the people. So, Rome is great. I love Italy in general. I love the countryside. That's probably a top one for me. I mean honestly, what I relate most is Italy on the whole. Rome just happens to be the city that I go to and play. In Italy, all my experiences in Italy have been really great. Going back to when I was playing futures, and smaller events, any time I went to Italy I just really enjoyed my time For one, I love great food, which is not a problem now, necessarily…. but it might be after my career, potentially. (smiles) But second, I just relate to the people. I think they're very open and honest. They're family oriented. They have good values. I like the Italian people, so when I'm there I just have a good time.

 

Karl: That’s brilliant, Are there other cities that really stand out?

Vasek: I love Vancouver. I try not to be too biased, just because I'm from there. Of all the cities that I have traveled to around the world, Vancouver has something special. I feel I could move there, and stay, after my career. My brothers are there. I love the mountains. There's something about the energy of the city. It's a big city with a small city feel and it has a bit everything. Vancouver would be my probably my favorite city to go to. I also have a lot of friends there, as well.

 

Karl: Having friends and family....  that's a pull you feel in Vancouver. And where else can you see snow covered mountains plunging into the ocean? It's a beautiful place.

Vasek: Yes, it is, and it's a great lifestyle.

 

There's more in this series of interviews....  and maybe more maple syrup in Vasek's future.

READ MORE: How does Vasek deal with setbacks and surgery?  (LINK)

Send a link to a friend... follow Vasek at facebook.com/VasekPospisilTennis

#VasekPospisil , @vasek.pospisil

2021 U.S. Open final expert picks: Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

Expert picks at the U.S. Open are wrapping up with the men’s singles final on Sunday. It’s Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev, with history on the line. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev

Ricky Dimon: I can see valid arguments on both sides. Djokovic has not been dominant this fortnight, Medvedev is 14-1 since Wimbledon, and their head-to-head history has been relatively competitive. But I think all of that goes out the door in this situation: not only a major final, but also one in which Djokovic is facing someone other than Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer. And it’s not just any major final; the calendar-year Grand Slam and 21 slam titles are on the line. Nobody has ever been as tough mentally under these kinds of conditions as the 34-year-old Serb. Oh, yeah; he’s not too shabby physically, either. Medvedev is not the kind of player who can hit Djokovic off the court; the Russian is going to have to beat him at his own game. That just isn’t happening in this particular match. It’s too important for Djokovic; it’s an opportunity he probably won’t come close to letting slip away. Djokovic in 4: 7-6(4), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Cheryl Murray: It’s not that Medvedev can’t beat Djokovic. The world No. 1 holds a 5-3 record over the underdog–hardly an emphatic head-to-head edge. It’s just that Medvedev won’t. History is on the line on Sunday. BIG history. A calendar-year Grand Slam. It’s the kind of moment for which Novak Djokovic is uniquely suited. It’s no accident that the player with probably the most impressive mental toughness of all time is poised to do the unthinkable. He isn’t the greatest server on tour, but he’s probably the best server under pressure. He brings the heat exactly when he needs to. There is also the fact that Djokovic just gave Medvedev a shellacking in the final of the Australian Open. This one is going to be more competitive. Djokovic actually hasn’t played as well as he’s capable over this fortnight. The Russian may even take an early lead, but in a best-of-five match on a hard court, it’s simply impossible to pick against Djokovic. Djokovic in 5: 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2.

Pete Ziebron: Prior to the start of the U.S. Open, it was being reported that the speed of the courts–particularly Ashe–was faster than anyone could ever recall. This fact “may” be relevant during stretches in this final since it was in Cincinnati two years ago that Medvedev was able to utilize the quick courts there to his advantage to defeat Djokovic and then continue to play exceptional tennis since that time. The speedy courts in New York have been favorable to the Russian, as he has dropped just one set in reaching the final. Djokovic continues to take his time in getting into the flow of his game, as he has inexplicably dropped the opening set in his last four matches. Despite the fact that the last six meetings have been split, it will come down to the ability to focus for more than three hours. Medvedev has had the unfortunate ability to lose his focus (disagreeing with the chair umpire, running into TV cameras on the court, and destroying racquets), which has cost him dearly at times this year. Meanwhile, Djokovic has his eyes firmly on the grandest of prizes that has not been seen on the ATP tour since 1969–the calendar-year Grand Slam. One more win and that monumental accomplishment will be his. Novak Djokovic will not be denied. Djokovic in 5: 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

 

2021 U.S. Open final expert picks: Leylah Fernandez vs. Emma Raducanu

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

Expert picks are back for a most amazing U.S. Open women’s final matchup: 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez against 18-year-old Emma Raducanu. They are ranked No. 73 and No. 150 in the world, respectively. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.

(Q) Emma Raducanu vs. Leylah Fernandez

Ricky Dimon: Well, it doesn’t get any crazier than this: Leylah Fernandez vs. Emma Raducanu in the U.S. Open final. This all-teenager showdown between two players ranked outside the top 70 (but clearly with top-5 if not even top-1 potential) is must-watch television for tennis fans. Although the quality of play in Saturday’s championship match will almost certainly live up to the hype, I’m not sure the scoreline will do the same. In nine matches at this tournament (three in qualifying), Raducanu is 18-0 in total sets. The 18-year-old Brit has not even been pushed to a tiebreaker and nobody in the main draw has taken more than four games in any set. She is simply crushing people. Fernandez, on the other hand, is coming off four consecutive three-set thrillers. That isn’t her fault; the 19-year-old Canadian has faced a much tougher draw. But the physical and mental struggle of such matches has to take its toll. With Raducanu in this kind of dominant form, you can’t bet against her. Raducanu in 2: 6-3, 6-3.

Cheryl Murray: This might just be the most surprising final in U.S. Open history. Fernandez is ranked 73rd in the world, while Raducanu is ranked 150th. That would be a shock on its own. No Naomi Osaka, no Ash Barty…no one ranked inside the top 70 in the world. What’s more shocking is how we got here. Leylah Annie Fernandez has put together one of the most impressive upset runs I have ever witnessed. It’s not as though the draw opened up in front of her; SHE did the opening. She beat Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina, and Aryna Sabalenka to earn her spot in the final. Raducanu actually came up through qualifying, becoming the first qualifier in the history of the sport to reach the women’s semifinals of the US Open. Now, of course, she’s the first qualifier to reach the final. The fact that she dropped ZERO sets along the way is all the more extraordinary. It’s splitting hairs to call one player’s run more impressive than the other’s, but if you pinned me down I’d have to say that Fernandez has been a touch more impressive because Raducanu defeated two seed (No. 11 Belinda Bencic and No. 17 Maria Sakkari) en route to the finals and Fernandez defeated 374 seeds–at least that’s how it felt, anyway. There is the off chance that given the difficulty of her matches compared to Raducanu, Fernandez might be more fatigued. But she didn’t look tired against Sabalenka. I think she has one more win in her. Fernandez in 3: 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

Pete Ziebron: Improbable would be a huge understatement to even attempt to begin to describe the 2021 U.S. Open women’s final matchup between the world No. 73 and a qualifier ranked No. 150. Let’s start with Raducanu: 18 sets won, zero lost; one bagel set and five breadstick sets won. A 7-5 set in the second round of qualifying has been the closest anyone has come to threatening the 18 year-old, who was seeded 31st in the qualifying draw. Next we have Fernandez, 19 years and five days old. She needed to go the distance in each of her last four matches. The opponents she defeated (in order): defending champion Osaka, 2016 U.S. Open champion Kerber, world No. 5 Svitolina, and world No. 2 Sabalenka. The fearlessness that both women have exhibited throughout the tournament has been sensational. Twice Fernandez had to overcome a one-set deficit (against Osaka and Kerber) before prevailing in three. In the final, Fernandez will again drop the opening set but this time she will not have the answers as Raducanu wins 20 consecutive sets to win the match and tournament. Raducanu in 2: 6-4, 6-3.

 

 

2021 U.S. Open semifinal expert picks: Djokovic vs. Zverev, Medvedev vs. Auger-Aliassime

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

Expert picks are back for a blockbuster U.S. Open semifinal lineup, which will play out on Friday. Felix Auger-Aliassime is the lone surprise of the quartet, and he will go up against Daniil Medvedev. Novak Djokovic’s bid for the calendar-year Grand Slam continues against Alexander Zverev.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (4) Alexander Zverev

Ricky Dimon: After watching the last two Australian Open finals and more recent Grand Slam finals at the French Open and Olympics, I’m not picking anyone from the younger generation to beat Djokovic at a slam–especially not when it gets down to the business end of the tournament. It’s as simple as that. Yes, the world No. 1 lost to Zverev at the Tokyo Olympics, but that’s not the same as a major–and it’s not a best-of-five situation. Djokovic simply goes into a different gear on this stage, and he is doing it to an even greater extent than usual with the calendar-year Grand Slam on the line. It’s obvious from his previous performances this fortnight that he will give opponents a chance for a while, but he will shut the door when the going gets tough. Zverev, who is on a 16-match winning streak, is playing well enough to test the top seed longer and harder than anyone else. But the German won’t be able to do it for four-plus hours in a slam semi. Djokovic in 4: 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Cheryl Murray: For the first time this tournament, Djokovic is playing someone who has a legitimate chance to beat him. Zverev snagged the gold medal out from under Djokovic at the Tokyo Olympics a couple months ago, a surprise to all and sundry since the Serb was the heavy favorite. So the question here isn’t whether Zverev CAN beat him, but whether he actually WILL. And the answer to that question is…probably not. Zverev doesn’t have service yips anymore and he can legitimately stake a claim as one of the top three in-form players in the world right now, but unfortunately for him both guys ahead of him are still in the tournament (Djokovic and Medvedev). Moreover, Djokovic is perhaps the greatest best-of-five player of all time thanks to his superior conditioning and his ability to lose sets but not losing his focus. Expect Zverev to come out serving big and attempt to keep points relatively short, as it’s a well-known occupational hazard to trade groundstrokes with Djokovic. Still, the Serb knows how to win, and history is on the line. He WANTS that calendar slam, and it’s hard to imagine that Zverev is going to stop him. Djokovic in 5: 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.

Pete Ziebron: Suddenly, the Djokovic-Zverev rivalry is front and center on the ATP Tour as they will play now for the fifth time in the last 10 months and 10th time overall. Djokovic appeared to have a sixth consecutive win in the series at the Tokyo Olympics but suddenly hit the wall, and the German continued his fine play to win that semifinal and later the gold medal. In fact, Djokovic had won 14 of their last 15 sets until dropping two in a row at the Olympics. A pair of impressive streaks are on the line this time with Djokovic riding a 26-match winning streak at the majors and Zverev winning his last 16 matches overall. While Zverev has been efficient on court, including winning his second-round match in just 74 minutes, Djokovic has had sluggish starts to matches–dropping the opening set in each of his last three encounters. Zverev nearly won the U.S. Open last year and is certainly in form in New York again this time. However, this is the 12th time that Djokovic has reached the semifinals. He is completely dialed in especially at this stage of slams and will refuse to let anything get in the way of the historical accomplishment he is determined to achieve with winning the title. Djokovic in 4: 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4).

 

12) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. (2) Daniil Medvedev

Ricky Dimon: Is this going to be competitive? Yes. Auger-Aliassime has been in outstanding form throughout the U.S. Open and he is serving well enough to keep any opponent on his heels. The Canadian has struck the fourth-most aces so far at this tournament (85) and is winning 81 percent of his first-serve points. But is an upset going to happen? It’s doubtful. Similar to playing against Djokovic, it is brutally difficult to outlast Medvedev in a best-of-five situation. The second-ranked Russian often plays a Rafael Nadal-like distance behind the baseline and will put ball after ball back in the court. He has dropped just one set this fortnight, to Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarters. Auger-Aliassime can power his way to a set just like van de Zandschulp did, but the 21-year-old doesn’t yet have the consistency to hang with Medvedev in a best-of-five. Medvedev in 4: 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

Cheryl Murray: Auger-Aliassime has finally fulfilled the expectations that have surrounded him since he turned pro. The 21-year-old Canadian has been spectacular this fortnight, his form improving a bit each round. He has really hit his stride this summer, as he kicked things off with a quarterfinal showing at Wimbledon. That he runs into a brutally efficient Medvedev in the semis probably means his tournament ends on Friday, however. Medvedev has only dropped a single set in New York to inspired newcomer BVZ in the quarters. Other than that, the Russian has been laser-focused. Medvedev had his slam breakthrough at the 2019 U.S. Open, where he lost an epic five-set final to Nadal. The quick courts suit both players’ games, but Medvedev has more experience handling the big moments and he has been in slightly better form than Auger-Aliassime. The world No. 2 may look awkward with his lanky limbs and unconventional playing style, but he’s absolutely deadly on a hard court when he’s playing well–which he is. Medvedev in 4: 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Pete Ziebron: Medvedev is in familiar territory again in New York, having reached at least the semifinals for the third consecutive year. He is looking to reach his third major final in the last eight that have been played. Across the net this time is Auger-Aliassime, who after having difficulty with Russian Evgeny Donskoy in the opening round has steadied his game. With his run to the quarters at Wimbledon, Auger-Aliassime has won nine of his last 10 matches at majors. Medvedev has exceeded the two-hour mark just once in five matches and has only dropped one set in the tournament thus far. Both players have faced just one seed en route to the semifinals. This fact favors the Russian, as Auger-Aliassime will soon realize that the caliber of opposition has been ratcheted up considerably as he takes on the world No. 2. The well-earned place in the semifinals will be a positive going forward for the Canadian, but Medvedev’s firepower will simply be too much on this day. Medvedev in 3: 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

Benoit Paire in 269

PETE ZIEBRON

Benoit Paire, like Nick Kyrgios, plays his best tennis when the stadium is full, energized and enthusiastic.  Without being able to feed off fan support, the result of the match can be disappointing.

Paire squares off against Nikolai Davydenko in Cincinnati, 2013

photo by Karl Corbett   (c) Tennis Acumen

 

This May in Madrid, Paire elaborated: "When you play in front of people, the thing change a lot.....when the people are coming and watch the match, they support me and that's what I like."

Last night in Cincinnati, Paire converted his 4th match point to defeat #6 seed Denis Shapovalov to advance to the 3rd round.  The victory was Paire's first top ten win since 2017.

While waiting for French press to arrive in Cincinnati in 2015, I had the opportunity to conduct a seven minute one-on one interview with Paire.  He was most appreciative and I asked him about the fact that he not only played, but won a Futures event, a Challenger event as well as an ATP tour level event earlier in the year.  The Frenchman smiled and elaborated on the fact that he felt he needed more match play at the time.

When he won the Futures event in Bressuire, France in January of 2015, Paire's ranking was #135.  In February, he won the Bergamo, Italy Challenger to improve to world #121.  A run to the Cherbourg, France Challenger Final as well as winning the Quimper, France Challenger in late February and early March lifted Paire's ranking to #85 but more importantly, he was getting the match play he needed.

Entering the Bastad 250 event in July with a ranking of #62, Paire won the event and reached #42 in the world as a result.  

My favorite Paire memory: crushing a live ball out of Grandstand in Cincinnati when he was Match Point down in 2016.

Camila Giorgi in 269

PETE ZIEBRON

Camila Giorgi defeated Karolina Pliskova for the third time in less than two months to win the biggest title of her career yesterday in Montreal.  Ironically each win has come on a different continent: in Europe (England) at Eastbourne at the end of June, in Asia at the Tokyo Olympics a few weeks ago and in North America at the Montreal Final.

Camila Giorgi, the new Champion of Montreal.  Pete Ziebron Images

The Italian has a go-for-broke game plan which often results in excessive double faults.  That said, it is refreshing to see a WTA player absolutely go for it on a second serve - think of a Fernando Gonzalez style of play.  Following her quarterfinal win in Montreal over Cori Gauff, Giorgi was asked if she were playing the best tennis of her career at the moment.  She replied with:

"I think is the first time I don't have, like, interruption. I have consistent. I play many, many tournaments now in this year without stopping. So I think this is the key.  I didn't have in other years. I think I always had some issue physically or, like, injury or something. So I think now I'm playing my game really."

Following her win in Canada, Giorgi is scheduled to meet Jessica Pegula of the United State in her opening round match in Cincinnati.  This will be their second meeting in four days, as Giorgi defeated the American in the Montreal semifinals on Saturday 6-3 3-6 6-1. In that match, Giorgi hit nine double faults, after not hitting one against Gauff in the quarterfinals. 

Camila Giorgi plays pedal to the metal tennis - Cincinnati, enjoy the rematch on Tuesday!