Tennis Acumen

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!

 

 

 

Lloyd Harris in 269

PETE ZIEBRON

Twenty-nine months ago I watched Lloyd Harris lose in the first round on the brand new ATP Phoenix Challenger at the Phoenix Country Club.  The South African was ranked 92nd and went out  6-3 4-6 4-6 to American Ryan Harrison, ranked 104th.  The match did not stand out in any manner, as several other players were in Phoenix, namely: David Goffin, Ernests Gulbis, Jeremy Chardy, Casper Ruud, Dan Evans and eventual Champion Matteo Berrettini.

Yesterday, Harris stunned Rafael Nadal in the 3rd round of the Washington 500 to improve to 17-14 in 2021 and 49-47 in his career.  The 50th ranked Harris has recorded wins this year over: Stan Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem, Denis Shapovalov, Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov and Gael Monfils.  However, he also lost to: #423 Adrian Andreev and #192 Mackenzie McDonald.

Lloyd  Harris in the Lexington Challenger, 2017 (photo by Karl Corbett)

Harris has a 7-11 career record at majors, reaching the 3rd round of this year's Australian Open, as well as a 2-4 mark at Masters 1000 events.

Entering Washington, Harris lost 4 of his last 5 matches, with the lone win coming in the 1st round at Wimbledon.  This week in Washington, the South African received a first round bye as he is the tournament's 14th seed.  In his opening match, Tennys Sandgren retired in the second set and Harris advanced with a 604 1-0 RET result to then meet Nadal in the 3rd round.  

Next up is Nishikori, whom he defeated in the quarterfinals this year in Dubai 6-1 3-6 6-3.  Harris eventually reached the final, losing to Aslan Karatsev.  Denis Kudla or Mackenzie McDonald will await the winner in the Washington semifinals.

 

 

 

Photo of the Day: Stan Wawrinka

Stan Wawrinka has one of the most interesting stat lines in professional tennis - he has 3 Majors but just 1 Masters 1000.  The Swiss needs Wimbledon to complete the career Grand Slam.  Ironically, the lone Masters 1000 that he won was against Roger Federer at Monte-Carlo.  Federer has never won Monte-Carlo.

Working with coach Magnus Norman sparked confidence in Wawrinka's game and helped lead to his fantastic results on the ATP Tour and an eventual place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

 

Stan Wawrinka, one of the few players on tour with a Yonex racquet.

Peter Ziebron Images

Photo of the Day: Oh, Canada

Canadian Milos Raonic had Canadian fans flocking to his matches at the 2018 Cincinnati Masters tournament. To the fans’ disappointment, Raonic lost to Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.

photo credit: Karl Corbett, (c) Tennis Acumen

Photo of the Day: Genie Bouchard

Genie Bouchard reached the Wimbledon final in 2014. 

In addition, the Canadian had a record at the majors in 2014 of 19-4 as she was a semifinalist at the Australian Open and Roland Garros as well as the round of sixteen at the US Open.  Her losses at the first three majors of the year were to the eventual Champion:  Li Na in Australia, Maria Sharapova in Paris and Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon. 

In October 2014, Bouchard was ranked #5 in the world.

 

Genie Bouchard in action on Court 3 in Cincinnati

Peter Ziebron Images

 

Kei Nishikori in 269

PETE ZIEBRON

Thirty-one year old Kei Nishikori is currently tied in the ATP rankings with Sam Querrey at world #67.  The Japanese is 15-13 in 2021 with a 4th round appearance at Roland Garros and quarterfinal mark in Dubai as his best results this year.

Other 31 year-olds ahead of Nishikori in the rankings include: Dan Evans {GRB} at #31, Dusan Lajovic {SRB} at #43, Jan-Lennard Struff {GER} at #47, Aljaz Bedene {SLO} at #56 and Vasek Pospisil {CAN} at #61.  Since winning three titles in 2015, Nishikori has managed just two more, the now-defunct Memphis 500 in 2016 and the Brisbane 250 in 2019.

Despite several injuries and Retirements and Walk/Overs throughout his career, Nishikori is 26-7 in five set matches, including two in each off the first two rounds of Roland Garros this year.  Following his 2nd round win over Karen Khachanov, Nishikori elaborated on his success:  "I think fifth set I'm really playing good tennis, more than any sets. Even though I'm tired, I think I'm playing better and more free, more aggressive, not being passive. Yeah, I think I do many good things, especially in the last set."

Despite a career high ranking of world #4, a Finalist trophy at the US Open and residing in the ATP Top Ten from September 2014 - August 2017, Nishikori has managed to win just 12 career titles in 26 tournament final appearances, going 0-4 in his Masters 1000 title matches.  Nishikori did notch his 100th career win at a major at Wimbledon this year - only 11 active ATP players have more.  On to the Tokyo Olympic Games!

 

 

J. J. Wolf - Goals and Dreams

Jeffrey John "J. J." Wolf (born December 21, 1998) is an American professional tennis player. He reached a career-high singles ranking of120 in September 2020. Wolf played collegiately at The Ohio State University, where he was the #1 ranked player in college tennis. J. J. sat with Karl Corbett of Tennis Acumen at the Knoxville Challenger in November, 2019.  Here is part of that exclusive interview. 

Karl: What sort of goals and dreams do you have, J. J.?

J.J.: I want to reach my ceiling. The main thing for me? I don't have a. specific numerical goal in mind. I just want to see how good I can get. You know I'm not quite sure what that is, but I'm hoping it's high.

 

Karl: John Millman is a friend. I asked him: “How do you know when you're done with tennis?” He said: “When I'm not getting any better.” That's exactly what you're saying. It’s when you reach that ceiling.

J.J.: And I remember my grandpa told me something huge. He's 93 now. Maybe three or four years ago, I asked him: “Is your body deteriorating,  anything like that?”  He said: “I used to think about it like that.” He'd do his leg lifts and all his workouts every day. And I asked: “Will you know when you start not being able to do your reps (repetitions of an exercise)?” He said: “I'm not thinking about it like that .I'm still increasing my reps.” So, I'm thinking, the harder you can go…. If he's not slowing down his 90’s, I'm not going to slow down in my late 30s, so I and not worried about the end coming too soon.

 

Karl: So, you'd mentioned Federer. Any other heroes growing up or people whose style you emulate?

J.J.: I try to emulate a right-handed version of my dad, when he played. I always liked the American guys. Andy Roddick, I’m a big fan of his.  Guys like John Isner, Sam Querrey, obviously taller than me, but I like watching them a lot. Andre Agassi...... I always liked how he returned and how he moved.  Andre’s style is funny sometimes. I had a mullet earlier in the year that looked like his a little bit. Not as long, but... I kind of did that for the boys at Ohio State.  

 

Karl: That’s brilliant, really. Tell me, when you're on the road, who do you keep in touch wit, and how?.

J.J.: I've got a lot of great childhood friends and college friends besides my family. I've got a couple buddies that I lived with last year. They go to Ohio State. One plays football and one is very smart and driven, works a lot. Both of them are very good about keeping in touch. We will do FaceTime, just talk and kind of keep up. Makes me feel like I'm at home a little bit. Those two, in particular keep, me grounded.

 

Karl: It’s good to have friends. I love that. Hey, great interview, J.J. sure we will be seeing you in Cincinnati. That's my home base.

J.J.: I hope so

 

Karl: Now, as the interviewer always says,  good luck in the next round, J.J.

J.J.: I appreciate it. Thank you.

Chris O Connell - Favorite Places, Winning and Losing

Christopher "Chris" O'Connell (born 3 June 1994) is an Australian professional tennis player. He grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. O'Connell reached a career high ATP singles ranking of 114 on 3 February 2020. He made his ATP Tour debut in January 2017 in his hometown at the Sydney International. Chris sat down in early 2020 for this exclusive interview with Tennis Acumen.

 

 

TENNIS ACUMEN: Chris, I know some guys on the tour just love to win, more than anything. Some guys just hate to lose. Where are you on that spectrum?

CHRIS O’CONNELL: I think you have to be very competitive to play this sport, and I am extremely competitive. But I also like playing really nice tennis. So, winning is not the biggest priority. If I go out there and lose and play nice tennis, then I'm not going to be too upset. At the end of the day, it’s a very competitive sport. That does outweigh everything else, the competitive side of the game.

 

TENNIS ACUMEN: Now what are some of your favorite cities on the tour, places that you love to go?

CHRIS O’CONNELL: I do love Europe, especially the fact that you could be in one country and then catch a train to another country with an entirely different culture. I love that aspect of Europe, but then I also love being in America because it feels closer to home. Everyone speaks English. I spend a lot of time in Southern California and that's pretty similar to where I live on the northern beaches in Sydney.

 

TENNIS ACUMEN: Absolutely brilliant. And what is your life going to be like one year from now, Chris?

CHRIS O’CONNELL: One year from now, I hope to be the top hundred. Now, I'm playing all the major tournaments. So., that's it. That's a goal of mine. Hopefully, I'm there in a year’s time.

 

TENNIS ACUMEN:  Yeah, I hope so too. Thanks for your time, Chris. I really appreciate it.

CHRIS O’CONNELL: Thanks, Karl.

Photo of the Day: Nadal Wins Cincinnati - 2013

Rafael Nadal won Cincinnati for the first time in 2013. Along the way, he beat Benjamin Becker, Thomas Berdych, Grigor Dimitrov, who later won Cincinnati, and Roger Federer, who has won Cincinnati seven times. 

In the final, Rafa took down John Isner for the championship in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6.

To reach the final, Isner had beaten Richard Gasquet and then three top-10 players in a row, first Milos Raonic, then Novak Djokovic, then Juan Martín del Potro in the semifinals. Isner did not win a Masters title for another five years, with a 2018 triumph in Miami. 

 

photo credit: Karl Corbett, (c) Tennis Acumen

 

Visit our photo gallery with a click right here. 

 

 

2021 French Open final expert picks: Djokovic vs. Tsitsipas

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

Expert picks are back one last time at the 2021 French Open for Sunday’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas. A three-team panel previews the action and makes its predictions.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (5) Stefanos Tsitsipas

Ricky Dimon: I wouldn’t pick a non-Big 3 player over any member of the Big 3 in a Grand Slam final even if the Big 3 player was coming off an 11-hour semifinal match and had to be brought onto the court for the final in a wheelchair. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. I’ve seen enough in recent years to know that. Dominic Thiem should have won the 2020 Australian Open but crumbled at the end against Novak Djokovic. Daniil Medvedev was pretty much an even betting favorite with Djokovic in this year’s Aussie final and got blown out. Medvedev had a much better chance against Rafael Nadal at the 2019 U.S. Open, but Nadal was too tough. Other examples are Kevin Anderson (against Djokovic at Wimbledon and Nadal at the U.S. Open) and Marin Cilic (against Federer at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon). Those non-Big 3 failures don’t automatically mean that Stefanos Tsitsipas will roll over on Sunday. But they do indicate just how tough the Big 3 are in these situations. Tsitsipas vs. someone other than Nadal is actually the most competitive matchup we could get…but it still won’t make a difference. Djokovic was incredible against Nadal in the semis and on the stage of a Grand Slam final he will surely be just as good if not better. Djokovic in 4: 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.

Cheryl Murray: Tsitsipas was in tears after his five-set semifinal win over Alexander Zverev, the importance of having earned a spot in his first Grand Slam final not lost on the Greek. But what he finds when he gets there will be an inspired Djokovic, who dethroned Nadal in a semifinal epic for the ages in their evening match on Friday. Tsitsipas and Djokovic have met seven times already. The world No. 1 lost two of his first three matches against the Greek, but since the 2019 Shanghai Masters it’s been one-way traffic-all going Djokovic’s direction. If the Serb wins on Sunday, he’ll have secured a double-career Grand Slam (at least two titles at each major). Tsitsipas has played well all clay season; he even took out arch rival Medvedev en route to the final, But on Sunday he runs into the unmovable wall that is Djokovic and his record-breaking ambitions. He is just two slam titles away from equalling the record of 20 shared by Nadal and Federer. A first-time slam finalist doesn’t seem like a likely candidate to keep Djokovic from adding No. 19. Djokovic in 5: 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-4.

Pete Ziebron: Djokovic, following a 5-0 deficit to begin his semifinal match against Nadal, then steadied his game to win 22 of the next 34 games to advance to the final against Tsitsipas. This euphoric momentum will be able to be carried forward against a first-time major finalist. Tsitsipas will feel fortunate to be in the final after appearing to be in complete control of his semifinal before recovering just in time in the fifth set to withstand a valiant effort by Zverev. Djokovic and Tsitsipas met in the semis of Roland Garros last year, as well as in Rome this year, with the Serb winning both matches despite having to go the distance each time. Match play experience in finals will be on display from Djokovic, as well as his amazing ability to quickly recover from the last three grueling matches. Tsitsipas will have to settle for a string of six impressive consecutive wins and the runner-up trophy, as Djokovic gets within one major title of both Federer and Nadal by winning No. 19. Djokovic in 4: 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

2021 French Open semifinal expert picks: Djokovic vs. Nadal, Tsitsipas vs. Zverev

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand:

 

Expert picks are back for the French Open semifinals, which are highlighted by another Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal showdown. It’s Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Alexander Zverev on the other side. A three-team panel makes its predictions.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (3) Rafael Nadal

Ricky Dimon: Every Djokovic-Nadal showdown is going to be massively hyped–and for good reason. This one should be–and will be–as well. But much like last year’s French Open final, there is no real reason to think it will live up to the hype. The King of Clay dominated the 2020 championship in straight sets and you should expect him to do the same, this time in the semis. Djokovic is coming off a five-setter against Lorenzo Musetti and a four-setter against Matteo Berrettini, looking not at his best either physically or mentally in either match. Moreover, Nadal just beat the Serb in last month’s Rome final and the Spaniard is much, much tougher to beat in Paris than in Rome (see what happened last year, when he lost to Diego Schwartzman in Rome and went on to win the French Open with ease). Speaking of Schwartzman, the 13-time RG champion won an absurd 30 of the last 35 points of their quarterfinal contest. A second-set hiccup aside, he is quite simply looking unstoppable. Nadal should beat Djokovic–again–and it probably won’t even be especially competitive. Nadal in 3: 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2.

Cheryl Murray: It’s Nadalovic part 58 on Friday. There was a time when each match seemed like it was up for grabs, but the older Nadal and Djokovic get, the more siloed their wins have become. You have to go back to 2016 at the Rome Masters to find the last time Djokovic beat Nadal on clay, and allllll the way back to the 2013 U.S. Open for the last hard-court match that went Nadal’s way. Nadal has won their last five meetings on the dirt, including the beating Djokovic took in last fall’s COVID version of the French Open and the Rome final a few weeks ago. While it’s true that Nadal has been a click or two off his clay-court best in Paris, when he steps out on the court against Djokovic he knows just what to do. Nadal in 4: 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Pete Ziebron: Nadal and Djokovic yet again! Aside from a few people taking wild fliers on their predictions, everyone else correctly and properly wrote this matchup into their brackets. While Nadal had his 36 consecutive set winning streak at the French halted in the quarters by Schwartzman, Djokovic encountered more serious drama–having to overcome a two-set deficit against Musetti in the round of 16. In their previous eight meetings at Roland Garros, Nadal has won seven–including four of them in straight sets. Both men have incredibly impressive first-serve points won percentages heading into the semi: Nadal at 81%, 84%, 79%, 81%, and 73% in his five matches; Djokovic at 86%, 75%, 88%, 75%, and 77%. Something has to give and most likely it will be Nadal’s ability to find ways to survive a few rough patches that he will encounter from the Serb. Like almost always, Nadal has the solutions and executes them again this time. Nadal in 4: 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.

 

(6) Alexander Zverev vs. (5) Stefanos Tsitsipas

Ricky: Tsitsipas came within one set of his first Grand Slam final last year in Paris, and that was with Djokovic standing in his way. Now he doesn’t have to face Djokovic–and not any other member of the Big 3, either. That means his first slam final appearance should be forthcoming. Zverev is a tough opponent, but Tsitsipas is leading the head-to-head series 5-2 and won their only previous clay-court encounter two years ago in Madrid. The German is good on clay; the Greek is great. Tsitsipas moves better on this surface and I would give him the advantage in offense, too, because his forehand is on fire and Zverev’s second serve is more suspect. Tsitsipas in 4: 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3.

Cheryl: Although obviously not as high-profile, this might actually be the more entertaining of the two semifinals. They’re both playing well, even though Zverev’s good results can be partially attributed to his favorable draw. Tsitsipas, meanwhile, has probably shown the best form of any player in Paris (including Nadal). He was particularly impressive against arch rival Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals. Zverev won the first and also the most recent meetings with Tsitsipas, but the Greek won each of the five matches in between. With the way Tsitsipas has been playing this fortnight, it’s hard to pick against him…. So I won’t. Tsitsipas in 5: 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2.

Pete: Those contenders on the bottom half of the draw had a serious opportunity this year to reach the Roland Garros final without having to play Nadal or Djokovic. The two most likely candidates did what was expected in the initial five rounds and now Tsitsipas and Zverev will meet for the first time in a major. Following a two set-deficit in his opening match, Zverev has not dropped a set and has a commanding 36-12 games won differential against opponents in his last two matches (round of 16 and quarterfinals). Aside from dropping the opening set against John Isner, Tsitsipas has won every set he has played in the tournament. Both men won a Masters 1000 on clay heading into the French Open this year, however it is Tsitsipas who will prevail to advance to his first major final. Tsitsipas in 4: 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3.

2021 French Open quarterfinal expert picks: Tsitsipas vs. Medvedev

This article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

 

Expert picks are back for the French Open quarterfinals, which despite a fair number of top players exiting early has produced at least one blockbuster matchup: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Daniil Medvedev. A three-team panel makes its predictions.

Ricky Dimon: Like everyone else, I didn’t think Medvedev would make it to the quarterfinals. And if I was told he did, I wouldn’t think it would be in impressive enough fashion for him to be considered a legitimate threat to Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or even Stefanos Tsitsipas. But fast forward a little more than a week and that is the case now. Previously winless all time at Roland Garros (0-4), Medvedev has dropped only set through four rounds. That being said, Tsitsipas is a massive step up in competition from Alexander Bublik, Tommy Paul, Reilly Opelka, and Cristian Garin. Paul is a decent clay-courter, Garin is a very good clay-courter, Tsitsipas is one of the best clay-courters on tour. Medvedev is…an improved clay-courter. Tsitsipas trailed John Isner by a set in round three, and since then the Greek has reeled off six consecutive sets while looking every bit like a serious title contender. Medvedev is playing well enough to turn the latest chapter in one of tennis’ most fun rivalries into an interesting contest, but on this surface I’m just not prepared to pick him to beat one of the world’s best. Tsitsipas in 4: 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.

Cheryl Murray: Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: Tsitsipas is a better clay-courter than Medvedev. He performed beautifully in the lead-up to Roland Garros, including capturing his first ever Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo. Sure he lost to Nadal in the Barcelona final, but that can hardly be a surprise, since…you know…it’s Nadal. What did Medvedev do to prep for the French Open? He won a match. ONE. And it was in Madrid, which is the least clay-like clay court in all of Europe. The rest of the time he spent losing and complaining about how much he hates the surface. The data says that Tsitsipas wins this quarterfinal. But here’s the thing. Tennis matches aren’t decided ahead of time on a stats sheet. Tsitsipas has difficulty with Medvedev. He’s 1-6 and his single win came at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2019, when Medvdev was exhausted from his superhuman second half of the season. Medvedev’s brand of chess-like tennis, his ability to be everywhere all at once, makes it difficult for Tsitsipas to find an opening. Furthermore, there is an undercurrent of hostility between them stemming partially from a disagreement that erupted in 2018 in Miami in which Tsitsipas allegedly called Medvedev a “bulls**t Russian.” And while many a great tennis rivalry has its roots in personal dislike, this one seems to have left Tsitsipas intimidated, Medvedev disdainful, and the scoreboard lopsided. Medvedev in 4: 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Pete Ziebron: Two years ago in Monte-Carlo, Medvedev defeated Tsitsipas and Djokovic in back-to-back matches, so–despite his self belittlement–he is able to win important matches on clay. Following a run to the Barcelona final the next week, Medvedev went 1-7 on clay until he arrived at Roland Garros this year. To watch and realize that he is in the quarterfinals in Paris at the moment is almost beyond belief. Meanwhile, Tsitsipas appears to be on a mission. He has two clay-court titles in 2021 and most likely should have had a third in Barcelona against Nadal. All aspects of the Greek’s game are clicking, especially his play at net. In his second-round match against Pedro Martinez, Tsitsipas was 26-for-27 in points won at net. Despite the lopsided 6-1 H2H in this series that favors Medvedev, Tsitsipas has been experiencing a solid wave of momentum all year while Medvedev has only been able to rediscover his again since arriving in Paris. How very ironic it would be if Medvedev would actually live up to his No. 2 seed, and two more victories would do just that! However, Tsitsipas has been playing too well for the last five months not to win this match and advance. Tsitsipas in 4: 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5).

Alexander Cozbinov - A Long, Long Way From Home

Alexander Cozbinov (born 28 April 1995) is a Moldovan tennis player. Cozbinov has a career high ATP singles ranking of 743 achieved on 2 March  2020.  Cozbinov represents Moldova at the Davis Cup.  In January 2020, he participated at the ATP Cup as a member of Moldovan team. Before his match against Belgian Steve Darcis, the organizers played the wrong national anthem, the Romanian anthem instead of the Moldovan .

Tennis Acumen: Coming to the US, going to college here, was there a culture shock? Did it take a while for you to get used to things?

Alexander Cozbinov: Yes, in the beginning, it was difficult to get used to things. Eventually, I was OK. I actually really like it here now.

 

Tennis Acumen: OK. You've been in the US for five years.

Alexander Cozbinov: Yeah, about that.

 

Tennis Acumen: Do you stay in touch with family back home?

Alexander Cozbinov: Yes. I actually was home just a month ago. That was the first time after four years. So, it was great. I got to see my family. I really enjoyed coming back home again.

 

Tennis Acumen:  I love that. Now, you've been on the tour for a year.

Alexander Cozbinov: Yeah, I started the tour last year.

 

Tennis Acumen: That's actually a big difference. And let me just ask: “What do you think your life will be like in one year?”

Alexander Cozbinov: I have goals, but I don't really like to think about the future. I just try to take it in the moment, step by step.

 

Tennis Acumen: So, you are one day at a time. Well, there's nothing else you would want to be doing, right?

Alexander Cozbinov: This is the life.

 

Tennis Acumen:  Well, you are at career high this week, I think. I look forward to seeing you in the future.

Alexander Cozbinov: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Photo of the Day: Tommy Robredo

Tommy Robredo Garcés, born 1 May 1982, is a Spanish professional tennis player. His career-high singles ranking is world No. 5, which he reached in August 2006.

Robredo remains the only player in Open Era history to mount three consecutive comebacks from two sets down, a feat achieved en route to the quarterfinals of Roland-Garros 2013.[6] He has one of the highest percentages of five-set matches won with 77.3 per cent (17–5 win-loss record).

Robredo excelled in  the 2014 Cincinnati Masters event. Robredo beat Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and Novak Djokovic in succession, all in straight sets, before falling to Davis Ferrer in the quarterfinals.

Photo credit: Karl Corbett, © 2021 Tennis Acumen.

Expert picks: Nadal vs. the field at the 2021 French Open

The following article originally appeared on The Grandstand.

Expert picks will continue during the latter stages of the French Open, but first they partake in a pre-tournament debate over whether Rafael Nadal or the entire field should be the title pick. A three-team panel weighs in.


Ricky Dimon: Until Nadal loses again at the French Open, I’m not betting against him–unless maybe he failed to win any clay-court title in the buildup to Roland Garros and suffered some terrible losses along the way. That isn’t the case now. Sure the world No. 3 has not been at his dominant best this spring, but he has endured worse pre-FO clay-court swings in the past and still ended up triumphing in Paris. Beating him in a best-of-five situation on his primary stomping grounds is just a whole different beast compared to taking him down in places like Monte-Carlo or Madrid.

I am picking Nadal as the champ without hesitation. There is no one player who looks like a more likely champion. The better debate, of course, is Nadal vs. the entire field. Give me 127 other players and I would at least have to think about it. The odds suggest as much; Nadal is -125 to win the tournament; a huge favorite over everyone individually, but just a slight favorite over the field. His draw is somewhat concerning, with Novak Djokovic in the same half and Jannik Sinner a potential fourth-round opponent. At the same time, avoiding a potential quarterfinal clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas was important. The Spaniard will have worked himself into the tournament by the time he could face Sinner and then Djokovic, and I certainly wouldn’t pick Tsitsipas or Alexander Zverev over him in a French Open final. Nadal isn’t an absolute slam dunk like he sometimes is, but I’m not about to bet against him when he has won this thing 13 times and begins his bid for 14 with the momentum of a recent title in Rome.

Cheryl Murray: The French Open offers an annual opportunity to ruminate on the chances the other 127 singles players in the field have against Rafael Nadal. Usually, that answer is “why even bother to ask?” This season is perhaps a bit more nuanced. Is Nadal the favorite? Of course. When I make my pre-tournament selection, I will ink (not pencil) Nadal in as the winner. The difference is that the field is closer than it normally is–close enough that it is worth discussing. In fact, as a whole it may have enough to topple Nadal. I’m going to go off-script and pick Tsitsipas over Djokovic as the next most likely player to lift La Coupe des Mousquetaires in a fortnight’s time. Djokovic has looked a little…shaky…on the dirt. As of this publication, he has no clay titles in 2021 (that could change on Saturday) and while he made the finals in Rome (where he lost to Nadal), he was neither dominant nor in particularly impressive form. Tsitsipas HAS been impressive, even though he lost to Nadal in the Barcelona final. Other notable non-Nadal contenders are Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner–who are both in Nadal’s section–and Casper Ruud, who is in the ghost-town bottom section of the draw with Tsitsipas. 

Conspicuously absent from my contenders list are Thiem–who has been knocking on Nadal’s throne room door for years–and Federer. Thiem, who last made the French Open final in 2019, has gone on a mental walkabout since he won the U.S. Open in 2020. He’s in the favorable third section of the draw and Ruud is still my pick to advance in that quarter. As for Federer, well…he just isn’t match-fit enough to be a contender in Paris. Still, Djokovic and Tsitsipas are formidable. If I had to pick only one player as the champ I would go with Nadal, but give me the entire field and I like my chances with 127 guys vs. one.

Pete Ziebron: Match play….. THAT is what Nadal needed. Enough match play and he is more than good to go to defend his Roland Garros crown against Djokovic and the rest of the field in 2021. All of these years many have questioned and even criticized Nadal for playing Barcelona, a 500 in the midst of three significantly more prestigious Masters 1000 events on clay. Nadal did things HIS way, this year and every year for the last decade and a half. These extra–and in some cases excessive matches–were what he believed he needed to prepare for winning Roland Garros. To date, that strategy and formula have worked exceptionally well. An atypical Nadal meandered through the clay-court season, eventually correcting course and winning the title in Rome against Djokovic in the final.  Somehow, the next meeting they may have would occur in the semifinals because they are on the same side of the draw this time.  With all due respect to the field in his portion of the draw, let us fast forward to the quarterfinals–where the Spaniard will most likely run into Andrey Rublev, the crafty young Russian who defeated him last month in the Monte-Carlo quarters. Rublev won the first and third sets at 6-2. However, that was extremely early in the clay-court season for the 34-year old Nadal. He then rebounded in Barcelona (won that title against Tsitsipas), faltered against Zverev in the Madrid quarters, and then went on a most impressive run by defeating Sinner, Shapopalov, Zverev, Opelka, and finally Djokovic to win Rome for the 10th time. In total, 16 clay-court matches played in 2021 with two titles…enough match play and not too much for Nadal at this point in his career.

Expect Nadal to continue his assault against those who stand in his way yet again and win his quarter against Rublev to reach the semis. Next, Nadal would most likely face Djokovic for the NINTH time at Roland Garros. Nadal leads the H2H in Paris 7-1 and has a massive 20-7 sets won differential in those contests. Djokovic will have work to do to reach this point, as potential quarter final opponents include Berrettini and Federer. All signs point to a Nadal-Djokovic semifinal. Nadal may find himself down a break or even 0-40 while serving a few times in the match, but just as in the past, he will find ways to get through those deficits and bad patches and win.

Everyone on the bottom half congratulated themselves on their good fortune when they saw the draw. The contenders that were drawn here include: Zverev, Thiem and Tsitsipas, with Dimitrov and Ruud also announcing the fact that they think they can win this half of the draw and then hope for an exhausted opponent in the final. Realistic quarterfinals here would be Zverev vs. Thiem and Tsitsipas vs. Dimitrov.  Despite the focus being on the top half of the draw, these quarterfinals will be intriguing. Obviously much remains to be seen, but my pre-tourney picks here will be Zverev to play Tsitsipas in the semifinals with the Greek winning the match. Thus, the Roland Garros final will be a rematch of the Barcelona final–in which Nadal outfoxed Tsistipas and stole the title. Tsitsipas will have learned from that match and will attempt a slightly different gameplan this time. Historically, Tsitsipas’ losses at Roland Garros have been against Djokovic, Wawrinka, Thiem, and Karlovic. Nadal, a 13-time RG champion, may join that list.