Tennis Tips, Tricks And Gear

The American pulls no punches when asked to give his view on the ATP's new off-court coaching trial. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday August 18, 2022

The ATP’s new coaching regulations have inspired a lot of different opinions from players on tour. The tour now allows coaching from the box during matches, with the decision to continue the trial through the US Open and all the way to the end of the season.

The trial started on July 11, and Taylor Fritz says it hasn’t changed a thing for him. On Wednesday in Cincinnati he called the rule “dumb.”

“I haven't talked to Mike [Russell] and he hasn't talked to me one time since the coaching has become a thing. It's a dumb rule,” he said. When asked to elaborate Fritz said that tennis is, in his mind, an individual sport – a view shared by many peers and pundits.

"Tennis is an individual sport,” he said. “Why are we making it not an individual sport? A huge part of tennis is, in my mind, like as tennis is as much mental as it is physical, and a big part of it is you need to be figuring it out on the court for yourself. You need to be the one figuring it out.

“I think it's ridiculous that you can be mentally not there, not good analytically, not good at kind of working through things and coming up with strategies, and you can have someone tell you what to do. I hate it.”

Medvedev: "I don't mind it"

Russia's Daniil Medvedev was asked to give his thoughts on the subject on Thursday after he reached the quarterfinals at Cincinnati with a win over Denis Shapovalov.

He says he's fine with it, but doesn't think it will make much difference. Sure the coach can talk, but athletes are still out there on an island, solving problems on their own – for most of the times.

"During the match, I don't really see how a coach can help, like in some other sports, you know, there is tactics is so important. Here, I mean, when the tennis match is there, I guess it can be one match out of five where suddenly he's going to be: 'Change your position on return, or, Go more to his backhand,' if he sees it from the outside. So I think it can be a game-changer sometimes."

In a sport where thin margins tilt on the smallest of details, Medvedev is inadvertently admitting that off-court coaching can make a difference.

But not so much, he says.

"In the same time, many matches is, let's say I play Fritz tomorrow, it's our first encounter, still, I know how he plays and he knows how I play. I don't think on-court coaching tomorrow is going to make a huge difference. But in general, I'm okay with it, like I was never against it. It's just that if — I mean, the rule is that if I'm on the side, if I understand it right, he shouldn't do it, like the opponent's coach. That's what they should respect. And if not, I think it's fine."

Aiming for Top-5

Fritz has an opportunity to make his Top-10 debut after Cincinnati, if he can get past Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals on Friday.

The American, currently ranked at 13, one spot shy of his career-high 12, says he is looking past that and aiming for the Top-5.

“It's a huge goal,” he said of the Top-10 on Wednesday, when asked. “Just growing up as a kid, being a top-10 player in the world, it's always something you kind of dream of. It's still a big goal, but I think sometimes when you get really close to reaching these goals, it almost makes you, like, I guess, tighten up a little bit. We have almost re-evaluated. We said, Okay, we are not thinking about top 10 anymore. We are thinking of top 5 now.

“That's just the correct — with that mindset, it will just make it easier to make it into the top 10, I feel.”

The top-ranked American is 35-13 on the season, and has a shot of qualifying for the ATP’s year-end championships in Turin for the first time.

He is currently 10th in the race.

Sharp serving propelled Felix Auger-Aliassime into a Montreal showdown vs. Casper Ruud.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is celebrating his hometown return reclaiming valuable real estate.

The 22-year-old Montreal native has owned the service box becoming the first Canadian man to reach National Bank Open quarters since buddy Denis Shapovalov did it in 2017.

More: Serena Retiring

In one of his sharpest serving performances of the year, Auger-Aliassime served an eye-popping 85 percent, won 36 of 39 first-serve points and smacked 15 aces against 1 double fault in a 6-3, 6-4 win over ninth-seeded Cameron Norrie on Thursday night.

That comes after Auger-Aliassime's 17-ace, 1 double-fault serving effort in his 7-6(6), 6-4 win over Washington, DC finalist Yoshihito Nishioka in his Montreal opener.

Auger-Aliassime says imposing serving frees him up to take more risk on return.

"For sure it loosens me up a lot for the other areas of my game," Auger-Aliassime told the media in Montreal. "I mean, on the return, for instance, I can try more things, change my position, try to let's say risk a bit more, then I got rewarded at times. That's something positive.

"When you're serving well, you put the pressure on your opponent. As we saw at the end of the match, of course I got a bit lucky. He can hit double-faults, but I've never seen him hit three double-faults in a game like that. That was a bit fortunate, especially at that time in the match."

Auger-Aliassime is currently fourth on the ATP Tour in aces behind only powerful point detonators John Isner, Reilly Opelka and Maxime Cressy. He's serving with more precision these days, minimizing double faults and thumping serves close to the lines at critical stages.

Roland Garros finalist Casper Ruud faces Auger-Aliassime for a semifinal spot in Montreal. Ruud, who is highly skilled using his kick serve to displace opponents to set up first-strike forehands, is eighth on the ATP Tour in service games held this season, which puts him seven spots ahead of Auger-Aliassime in that category.

Playing for his second Masters 1000 semifinal, Auger-Aliassime believes when he's serving his best, he can disarm opponents.

"Of course, when you play big servers, not like me, but Isner, Opelka, some of these guys, Milos when he was playing at his peak, it's tough, puts a lot of pressure on the opponents," Auger-Aliassime said. "I'm glad I was able to do that. I feel like I'm one of those guys now that can serve that well. Hopefully I can keep it up."

Photo credit: Christopher Levy

The 26-year-old has rebuilt her career and is thriving like never before. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday August 11, 2022

A top-100 player in 2017, Beatriz Haddad Maia fell on hard times shortly thereafter, suffering a litany of injuries and a doping suspension that kept her out of the game for several years, until she started to make her way back up the rankings in 2020.

During her time away from the game the Brazilian always believed she had the talent to be a top-100 player, but in 2022 she has surpassed even her wildest expectations. My first goal was, the truth is that the first goal was to be top 100,” she said on Thursday after earning her first win over a reigning world No.1 against Iga Swiatek in Toronto “I believed that I could be top 100 because I was there, I was 58 in the world in 2017.”

1 – Beatriz Haddad Maia is the first Brazilian player to reach a WTA-1000 quarterfinal. Pioneer.@WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/zeo3NTuxfD

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) August 11, 2022

Haddad spoke or the long road back to relevancy, which took her to 1342 in the rankings in August of 2022.

“It's starting from zero, it's much more difficult,” she said. “Because when you go to 25Ks and you play against players who are 1000 in the world, 800 in the world, everything that they made, that they make is good against ex-top-100 player. So the pressure was always on me. And when I start to realize that, Okay, I need to improve that. I need a coach. I need something. I need sponsor. And I was just trying to, ‘Okay, now I need that. I need that. I was trying to organize my life.’”

Haddad Maia said that things took a turn for the better when she teamed up with coach Rafael Paciarone.

“So after a few months I was 400. And then I met again Rafa, my coach. And then it changed a lot. We set goals. We said, ‘Okay, we are here. We want to be top 100. Let's see what we need to do.’ And when we reached the top 100 we said for top 50. And then it was faster than what we expected. We were in the top 40. And then top 30.

The 26-year-old’s success on grass this season has helped her understand her strengths better on court. She is pledging to let herself be aggressive so that she can dictate the terms of matches.

“I think the grass gave me the, like the click that my tennis would need to be aggressive,” he said. “So on grass you don't think a lot because you don't have time. So I was very decided when I was playing. And that makes me feel like stronger. Because I know that I have like great shots, I have good serve, I have good forehand. So if I do what I need to do I can create opportunities.

“And if I expect the opponent or if I just push the ball, I won't have chances.”

These days Haddad Maia, who has claimed her first two titles at Nottingham and Birmingham this year, is targeting the top-20.

“So we don't know the limit. We just set goals. And my next goal is to be top-20. And I will work very hard for that. But I cannot say more. What can I do?”

The Brazilian, currently ranked 24, is projected to make it if she can reach the semifinals in Toronto. But even if she does her newfound confidence will surely take her there soon enough – and likely higher.

The Russian is back on hard courts for the first time since spring.By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday August 3, 2022

Daniil Medvedev played – and won – his first match since June, and cracked a milestone as a result. The top-ranked Russian defeated Rinky Hijikata, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals in Los Cabos.

The 26-year-old had to rely on the media to find out about his milestone. He is 250-109 lifetime on the ATP Tour, and 28-10 on the season.

"Somebody told me this a few days ago at media day, otherwise I would not have known," Medvedev said of the reaching the 250-win milestone. "That's probably a milestone in a way. For sure I want more victories but that's also nice to have 250.

"We'll try to get more."

👏 👏👏

Make that 2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ career wins for @DaniilMedwed! @AbiertoLosCabos | #ATC2022 pic.twitter.com/o00ZFAgvmZ

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 4, 2022

The Russian, playing on hard courts for the first time since the Miami Open in March, will face Ricardas Berankis for a spot in the semifinals on Thursday night in Los Cabos.

Medvedev owns 13 career titles but has not won a trophy on tour in 2022. He has lost finals at the Australian Open (Nadal), ‘s-Hertogenbosvh (Van Rijthoven) and Halle (Hurkacz).

He is 17-5 on hard courts in 2022.

The quarterfinals shape up as follows:

Good quarterfinals in Los Cabos… (all to be played tonight)

Medvedev v Berankis 🇱🇹
🇷🇸 Kecmanovic v Nakashima 🇺🇸
🇲🇩 Albot v Norrie 🇬🇧
🇺🇸 Johnson v Auger-Aliassime 🇨🇦

— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) August 4, 2022

"The ultimate goal that stays there for me is to absolutely come back to top 10," Grigor Dimitrov said.
Grigor Dimitrov spent some time running steps near his home training for his return.

The 19th-ranked Dimitrov commenced his climb back to the Top 10 in Washington, DC today.

Serena Surprise: Williams Sisters Hit Together at Citi Open

Dimitrov launched his Citi Open with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Adrian Mannarino.

It was Dimitrov's first match since a strained groin forced him to retire from his Wimbledon opener vs. Steve Johnson.

It's been five years since Dimitrov won Cincinnati and the ATP Finals in the same season, but the Bulgarian believes he can make a Top 10 return.

"I still believe I can come back to the top. I would say that's my primary goal right now," Dimitrov told the media in Washington, DC. "I have been able to be top 20 for quite some time. I was top 10 for quite some time. I was 3 in the world.

"I have gone through that process, and I know what it takes. I know that it's possible to do it again. It's going to come with consistency, but of course it's all up to me."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Grigor Dimitrov (@grigordimitrov)

Next up for Dimitrov is a round of 16 clash vs. 22-year-old American Sebastian Korda—another talented player with Top 10 aspirations.

The 31-year-old Dimitrov believes his experience can help him make a Top 10 return.

"Of course the ultimate goal that stays there for me is to absolutely come back to top 10. I think it's super doable for me," Dimitrov said. "Again, if I have the good consistency, why not go even bigger with the slams? I have been there, I have done that. I know how to play long matches.

"As I said, I have so much sort of in the bank that why not get something out of that? I think, again, you stay healthy and you give yourself a chance every time you're out there."

Photo credit: Getty

The hard court swing kicks up a gear next week in D.C. – here's what we'll be watching! By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday, July 29, 2022

The Citi Open in Washington, D.C. will help kick the US Open Series into overdrive next week. It’s the first 500 event on hard courts for the men, and it features a star-studded cast that includes top-seeded Andrey Rublev, second-seeded Hubert Hurkacz, Andy Murray, Nick Kyrgios and Americans Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Reilly Opelka, Maxime Cressy, Sebastian Korda and Jenson Brooksby.

View the men’s draw here:

A 🌟 studded draw in the nation’s capitol 🇺🇸

Check out who your favorite men’s players will face in the #CitiOpen @atptour main draw! 🎾💙 pic.twitter.com/NFuSvA8baM

— Citi Open (@CitiOpen) July 29, 2022

There is also a women’s 250-level event that features former champion Jessica Pegula as well as Emma Raducanu, Simona Halep, plus American wild cards Sofia Kenin and Venus Williams. Adding in Sloane Stephens and Victoria Azarenka means that there are six Slam champs in the draw this year on the women's side at D.C.

View the women’s draw here:

👀 IT’S HERE 👀

The @WTA #CitiOpen draw has been made! See who your favorite women’s 🌟 will play as they return to Washington DC 🇺🇸🎾 pic.twitter.com/TlRsGgu9vh

— Citi Open (@CitiOpen) July 29, 2022

Men’s storylines and first-rounders

There are myriad storylines in play as the road to the US Open heats up in August.

1. Andy Murray is looking to get his ranking up so he can be seeded in New York. The Scot opens with Mikael Ymer of Sweden and would face Aslan Karatsev in the second round if he makes it there.

2. Nick Kyrgios, if healthy, will play his first singles since reaching the Wimbledon final. Will the Aussie be a factor on hard courts this summer? If healthy, he should be. He opens with a first-round match with Marcos Giron then would face No.14-seeded Tommy Paul.

3. Denis Shapovalov needs some positive results, and the Canadian, seeded sixth, will look to change the tone of his very average season in the second round (after a bye). Shapo vaes either JJ Wolf or a qualifier. It looks like the No.6 seed has a favorable draw, what can he do with it?

4. American anthem? It’s going to be a big summer for the Americans, and Taylor Fritz is the top dog at the moment. Seeded third in D.C., it will be interesting to see if Fritz can back up the form he showed at Indian Wells, where he broke through and won his first Masters 1000 title. The 24-year-old is 29-11 on the year, and has not played since his heartbreaking defeat to Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

5. Other seeded Americans are: No.4 Reilly Opelka, No.10 Frances Tiafoe, No.13 Maxime Cressy, No. 14 Tommy Paul. Sebastian Korda and Jenson Brooksby will also be waiting in the wings, and looking to do damage.

6. First-rounders to watch: Sebastian Korda v Ilya Ivaskha, Andy Murray v Mikael Ymer, Mackenzie McDonald v Emil Ruusuvuori.

Women’s storylines and first-rounders

1. Venus Williams will play her first singles match since last summer (Chicago), against a qualifier in the first-round. All eyes will be on the 42-year-old legend, who is also slated to play a full summer leading into the US Open. Can she possibly stay healthy and do some damage?

2. Sofia Kenin has been out since Indian Wells due to an ankle injury. She’s just 2-6 on the year, so expectations will be very low as she gets set to square off with Camila Osorio in round one. The goal? Get the feet wet and start moving in the right direction.

3. Raducanu + Tursunov – The British No.1 will play her first tournament since hooking up with Russian coach Dmitry Tursunov. Her first test will be stern – she drew Czech Marie Bouzkova in the first round. Bouzkova reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals and is slated to play the Prague semis on Saturday.

4. Clara Tauson returns – The promising Dane has lost four straight since Indian Wells, and retired from two of those losses. If healthy, she’s a rising force that is ticketed for the Top-10. She gets Andrea Petkovic in round one.

5. First-rounders to watch: Emma Raducanu v Marie Bouzkova, Venus Williams vs qualifier, Jessica Pegula vs Hailey Baptiste.

US Open champion will work with Dmitry Tursunov in Washington, DC, Daily Mail reports.
Emma Raducanu will gear up for her US Open title armed with a new ally.

The British No. 1 is set to work with coach Dmitry Tursunov starting next week in Washington, DC, the Daily Mail's Mike Dickson reports.

More: When Osaka First Met Nadal

Raducanu's management confirmed the pairing to Daily Mail.

If the partnership goes well, Tursunov will continue working with Raducanu through the US Open Serie and the Flushing Meadows major. The US Open is set to start on August 29th.

Former Top 20 player Tursunov is a highly-respected coach who guided Anett Kontaveit to the Top 5 before their partnership ended earlier this year. Tursunov has served successful coaching stints with Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Vesnina as well.

A year ago, the 150th-ranked Raducanu made history as the first qualifier—male or female—to capture a Grand Slam singles title in New York. Raducanu did not drop a set in 10 matches en route to her maiden major title.

With the US Open looming a month away two Grand Slam champions—Raducanu and Naomi Osaka, who split with coach Wim Fissette last week—have made coaching changes.

Last April, Raducanu ended a six-month partnership with coach Torben Beltz. 

Since the split with Beltz, Raducanu, who has gone through several coaches in her career, has worked with LTA head of women's coaching Iain Bates and spent time working with Jane O'Donoghue at Wimbledon.

Photo credit: Getty

The ATP has added six 250 events and made Nur-Sultan a 500. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday, July 23, 2022

There will be no ATP tennis in China this year due to Covid-19. Same for Russia, due to the war in Ukraine.

The ATP announced the cancellation of the 2022 China swing and the inclusion of six additional single-year events this week.

View the complete ATP calendar here

According to the ATP, the Rolex Shanghai Masters, China Open (Beijing), Chengdu Open, and Zhuhai Championships will not take place in 2022 due to ongoing restrictions related to COVID-19. ATP tennis was last played in China in 2019.

The ATP has announced six ATP 250 tournaments, issued as single-year event licenses for the 2022 season, due to the changes:

Week 38 (19-25 Sep): San Diego, USA (Hard)
Week 39 (26 Sep-2 Oct): Seoul, KOR (Hard); Tel Aviv, ISR (Indoor Hard)
Week 41 (10-16 Oct): Florence, ITA (Indoor Hard); Gijon, ESP (Indoor Hard)
Week 42 (17-23 Oct): Naples, ITA (Hard)

Additionally, the Astana Open in Nur-Sultan, an ATP 250 event, will this year be staged as an ATP 500 alongside the Rakuten Japan Open in Tokyo. The event in Kazakhstan has become a permanent ATP Tour member this season following two editions as a single-year event in 2020 and 2021, through the transfer and relocation of the St. Petersburg tournament.