Tennis

[RushmoreAcademy]

Saisbury/Ram are into the Men's Doubles Semis in Miami with a win over Korda/Mmoh.

19 year old Italian, Jannik Sinner is into the Singles Semis.

Greece' Maria Sakkari, has, in strong fashion, ended Naomi Osaka's 23 match win streak, 6-0, 6-4. 6th top 5 win for Sakkari. And with that she into the Miami Singles Semis.

I like Sakkari’s game, and as seemingly as tough minded as they come.

[Not A Serious Person]

As Patrick Mouratoglou announces an additional Academy location in Costa Navarino, Greece, an additional look at the former Miami Open location in Crandon Park, in Key Biscayne...

https://twitter.com/pmouratoglou/status/1377275060147339265?s=19

One of my kids was a high nationally ranked junior (top 20 in the nation at one point) that had the fortune of playing at the Mouratoglou Academy in Nice France the week it opened in 2016.  Incredible facility. (She now plays for a high D1 college program)

One day she was playing on a court and two courts over was Serena hitting with Djokvic.  She also hit with Alize Cornet.

Because of that experience when she returned to Chicago she was invited to be a practice partner of Sloane Stephens at XS in Chicago when her coach was Kamau Murray.  (she was one of many partners) That was 2017 up until a month before Sloane won the US Open.

Ok, name dropping/bragging over.

[shoothoops]

I like Sakkari’s game, and as seemingly as tough minded as they come.

She's a really good player that has beem a bit stuck at the round of 16 level of slams to this point, or, she would be discussed even more. She has five straight top 5 wins.

Miami is playing slow, windy, gritty. Sakkari is doing well crafting points. Pegula lost six match points against her, but much of that was Sakkari upping her level when it counted.

She's been working with her coach Tom Smith, improving her serve, being more aggressive, but with margin, wearing down opponents with a physical, heavy, ball. Being from Greece, she had to go to Spain to train..Many Spaniards play a defensive style. Smith has her being more proactive, winning some quicker cheap points but also playing with more margin. She's also using her legs more. She's clearly a gym a rat.

She'll get Andreescu in the semifinals in Miami. If she can play the same way, she will have a chance to wear.down Andreescu in 3, as Bianca has had several long, physical matches already. No reason Sakkari can 't move from top 20 to top 10 moving forward.

[shoothoops]

One of my kids was a high nationally ranked junior (top 20 in the nation at one point) that had the fortune of playing at the Mouratoglou Academy in Nice France the week it opened in 2016.  Incredible facility. (She now plays for a high D1 college program)

One day she was playing on a court and two courts over was Serena hitting with Djokvic.  She also hit with Alize Cornet.

Because of that experience when she returned to Chicago she was invited to be a practice partner of Sloane Stephens at XS in Chicago when her coach was Kamau Murray.  (she was one of many partners) That was 2017 up until a month before Sloane won the US Open.

Ok, name dropping/bragging over.

Mouratoglou is best known for coaching Serena Williams, as well as his staff working with Coco Gauff sometimes, and coaching Stef Tsitsipas. His France Academy moved to more friendly weather from Paris to Nice. Mouratoglou (and Tsitsipas) is of course Greek, and, there has been a lot of development in that West Coast Region of Greece. He has also partned with some other places in Dubai, in etc...and, he's tour friendly with a lot of players. Greece of course has never had strong tennis facilities or development. Mouratoglou goes back a ways with Cyprus' Marco Baghdatis as well.

[shoothoops]

End of the road, and a great run for 20 year old Sebi Korda,.falling 7-5, 7-6 (9-7) to Andrey Rublev in Miami Quarters. Rublev leads the tour in wins (21) so far this year.

Hurkacz over Titsipas on 3.

The other semis will feature Jannik Sinner vs Roberto Batista Agut, who dismantled Daniil Medvedev in straight set clinical fashion. Really strong effort, footwork in the corners,.flat power and precision.


Ash Barty unchallenged by Svitolina.

Sakkari vs Andreescu late night.

[shoothoops]

In a rain delayed match that ended at 1:35am Eastern, one of the matches of the year...

Andreescu over Sakkari:
7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) coming back from down a break twice in the 3rd set.

It will be Andreescu vs Barty in the Miami Final.

[shoothoops]

Jannik Sinner over Roberto Bautista Agut in 3 tough sets.

He is the first teenager into the ATP Miami Open Final since.............

Novak Djokovic 2007

[shoothoops]

#1 Ash Barty wins the Miami Open 6-3, 4-0 over #8 Bianca Andreescu in clinical fashion. No WTA player has a more complete, aesthetically pleasing game than Barty. From top sin forehands, to backhand slices, playing in wind, various conditions, serving placement. Handles pace.

Andreescu had 4 straight physical 3 setters with winsniver Anisimova, Muguruza, Sakkari, etc..

Late 2nd set ankle roll by Andreescu didn’t affect the outcome.

Barty wins her 10th WTA Title, and back to back Miami Open Titles. She is the 6th player to win Miami back to back: Graf, Seles, Sanchez-Vicario, Venus, Serena.

[shoothoops]

24 year old Hubert Hurkacz is the first player from Poland to ever win an ATP Masters 1000 event, the Miami Ooen Men's Singles Title. 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 over Italian teen Jannik Sinner.

Hurkacz defeated Tsitsipas, Rublev, Shapovalov, Raonic, Sinner along the way to his title.

..........
20 year old American Sebi Korda will improve his ranking to 64.

[MuggsyB]

The French Open could be delayed this year.  Damn.

[shoothoops]

FoxTenn Electronic Line Calling is being used in Charleston, SC Volvo Car Open. It's the first WTA event to use the technology.

And it came up big late first set for American teen Caty McNally, as she correctly challenged a call. Later takes the set and match over #10 Elena Rybakina. Really nice shot variety and execution from McNally. Big dub for her.

[shoothoops]

11 American Women in action in Charleston today.

[MuggsyB]

11 American Women in action in Charleston today.

Sad that tournament moved from Sea Pines in Hilton Head. 

[shoothoops]

20 year old Quebec City ATP Player Felix Auger Aliassime, has a new coach, Toni Nadal. FAA has made several trips to Mallorca, Spain including this off season to train. Uncle Toni will be with FAA indefinitely this season, Spring, Summer. (Toni will work with current FAA coaches including Frederic Fontang)

Rafa Nadal Academy is making progress with its new addition, indoor clay facility.

https://twitter.com/rnadalacademy/status/1379719788268765185?s=19


Darian King continues to work with long time friend since Juniors, Sloane Stephens, and Sloane continues to win. (Darian is supposed to play a Challenger next week). Stephens is into Round of 16 Charleston with a straight set win over Madison Keys.

19 year old American Caty McNally gets another top 50 win into the Round of 16 as did her 17 year old American doubles partner Coco Gauff. Together they advanced to the Doubles Quarters with a straight set win Bethany Mattek Sands and Sofia Kenin.

Putinsteva, Muguruza, Barty, Kvitova, Jabeur, Badosa moving forward. 19 year old American Amanda Anisimova falls in 3 sets after  an unfortunate hamstring injury up 6-1 4-1 on Shelby Rogers.

A few top International first timers in Charleston on the faster, harder, inconsistent bounces of the green clay.

The French Open is moving back a week, leaving just two weeks between it snd Wimbledon aa it was years ago. There will be night sessions, but only Men playing the night sessions. And, as has been the case in the past at The French Open, the treatment of WTA players vs ATP isn't the same.

Former WTA World Top 50 singles and #3 Doubles player, American Vania King retired. 15 Doubles Titles, 2 Grand Slams, 1 Singles.

[MU82]

The French Open could be delayed this year.  Damn.

Delayed by one week. Now starting May 30, the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. (Memorial Day for us; not sure if French celebrate it.)

[shoothoops]

Despite many big names in the event, 38th ranked Russian Veronika Kudermetova didn't drop a set to win Charleston over 71st  Danka Kovinic. Kovinic is the first and only WTA professional Women's tennis player from Montenegro. it was a 500 event. This week there is an additional 250 event.

$50 million renovations are ongoing on site to keep growing the long term event, which may include a joint event with ATP or an additional separate event with ATP in the future. 

The ATP begins the European Red Clay swing in Monte Carlo.

The ATP has also been trying to reschedule Indian Wells for later fall.

[shoothoops]

#2 ranked Daniil Medvedev has tested positive for COVID-19 in Monte Carlo. (He practiced yesterday with Rafa Nadal.)

........,......

After two years playing without a racquet sponsor, #8 Andrey Rublev signs with Head Tennis.

[shoothoops]

Cleveland has a new WTA 250 event just before the U.S. Open in the former New Haven, CT calendar spot.

https://www.usopenseries.com/news/the_cleveland_championships_a_new_wta_250_event_joins_the_2021_us_open_series/

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Cleveland has a new WTA 250 event just before the U.S. Open in the former New Haven, CT calendar spot.

https://www.usopenseries.com/news/the_cleveland_championships_a_new_wta_250_event_joins_the_2021_us_open_series/

I miss my New Haven event.  It was always an end of summer event on my calendar.

[shoothoops]

I miss my New Haven event.  It was always an end of summer event on my calendar.

The New Haven event has had a lot of history. Pilot Pen 1998-2018.

Davenport, Venus, Capriati, Wozniacki, Kvitova, Halep, Graf, Henin, Seles, Sabelenka, Kuznetsova, Radwanska, Conchita Martinez Muguruza’s coach won there etc...

[shoothoops]

For just the 5th time since 2004, Rafa Nadal will not be winning Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 1000.

#8 Andrey Rublev 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 over Nadal. This follows Novak Djokovic losing to Dan Evans yesterday. Match play matters.

Too many short cross court backhands, poor 2nd serving slow start, high , heavy, short. Better 2nd, with many long deuce games. But too much Andrey Rublev power from both sides.

..........
Indian Wells, CA (5th largest event on tour) ATP/WTA seeking October reschedule, close to an announcement.

WTA 250 Charleston this week.

[shoothoops]

Former Vanderbilt NCAA National Champion, Astra Sharma is into the Charleston Singles Final vs Tunisia's Ons Jabeur. (Big day for North Africa, Arabs, Asian tennis)

American Teens Hailey Baptiste and Caty McNally are into the doubles final.

.....

Steph Tsitsipas will face Andrey Rublev in the Monte Carlo Final. (6th meeting, 3-2 Rublev)

[shoothoops]

Title Sunday:

Stefano Tistsipas defeats Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-3 to win his first Masters 1000 Event, in Monte Carlo, and first ever for a Greek player. Clinical fashion. Did everything well. Top quality. Tatispas’ mom won Monte Carlo singles in 1981 when it was a Women’s Event.

https://twitter.com/atptour/status/1383825414854889475?s=21

Vandy’s Astra Sharma wins WTA Charleston over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in 3 sets. First College Graduate Title winner this year.

https://twitter.com/wta/status/1383874872464482308?s=21


American Teens Hailey Baptiste and Cart McNally win Charleston Doubles Title. (They also won the 2018 Easter Bowl Juniors Doubles Title together)

https://twitter.com/usta/status/1383851706908246016?s=21

Baylor U.’s J.T. Brooksby won the Orlando ATP Challenger.

https://twitter.com/atpchallenger/status/1383819054876483599?s=21

[MuggsyB]

Would anyone know how the speed of surfaces were different back in the day vs now?  My uncle insists Borg is in the discussion as the GOAT because the Grass was faster and the clay was slower.  It's amazing he retired at 26.

[shoothoops]

WTA Barty wins Stuggart Porsche Gran Prix. (yes besides money, ranking points, she gets a Porsche) 3rd recent singles title. She also won the doubles title with Jen Brady.

Current WTA 2021 Points Race:
Barty
Osaka
Muguruza
Brady
Sabalenka
Mertens
Kudermetova
Svitolina
Pegula
Serena

ATP Barcelona Final. Rafa Nadal fights off a match point and comes back to edge Stefano Tsitsipas in a very close final, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5, his 12th. (3 hrs 38 minutes, longest 3 set final in 30 years) Tsitsipas had won Monte Carlo the week before.

Berretini over Karatsev in Belgrade Final. Karatsev had defeated Djokovjc in the semis. Karatsev has had one of the best mid career run/improvement in modern tennis history.

ATP 2021 Points Race:
Tsitsipas
Rublev
Djokovic
Medvedev
Karatsev
Hurkacz
Sinner
Nadal
Bautista Agut