Matt Cronin

Author/Journalist/ of and Ticker,

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

Mirra Andreeva played so good, almost all the time, as she crushed Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 at the semis at RG. Now the teenager has reached into the final at a major, and her forehand and her backhand are so strong, especially down the lines. She has matured a lot, and driven.

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

Matteo Arnald retired last night, he won, 75 52, over Matteo Berrettini. The very good player hit his left hip injury, & he could not play anymore. “Unbelievable. I still can’t believe it. If I think where I was a month ago I was almost No. 150 in the world. It’s crazy to think.”

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

He was so consistent, and he went hard, close to the lines, when Flavio Cobolli beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 46 64 64 64. This time, he focused, to changed it up. The wind was out there, but he made different decisions.
“I have in my life because I can bring my best tennis.

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

What a crazy come back, when Diana Shnaider rose in the 2nd set, & it looked like she was going to lose, but she stayed in there, & she nailed it, all the time, upsetting Aryna Sabalenka 36 75 60. Shnaider did everything, on the lines, but Sabalenka was really upsetting. Wild.

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

Alexander Zverev has managed to make into the Grand Slams, but he has not to do it. Maybe this week? Possible. The big hitter beat the young player, Rafael Jodar,7-6(3), 6-1, 6-3. “It was difficult, but I managed to come back and he played a little bit nervous.”

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

It was raining a lot, but Jakub Mensik was patient, & thoughtful. Plus, when the had a chance, he can go for it, and move forward. He won, beating Joao Fonseca 64 63 7-6(3) l. “The last game and the tiebreak were [some] of my best performances so far. It was really tough."

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

Marta Kostyuk was on fire in the 3rd set, not missing anything, & she beat Elina Svitolina 63 26 62. Her forehand, her backhand & at the net, she put it away. She does have a shot to win it, but she has to face vs Mirra Andreeva. They are intense. The semis should be fascinating.

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

...her backhand, her serve, and her return was amazing, but she has to prove it, again. Seren is aging. Good, luck. “I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.”

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

It is not surprising, as many of the top players will retire, & then, they miss it, & then, they come back. It happens a lot, over the years. The former No. 1, Serena Williams, will return in a few weeks, on grass, at the Queen’s Club. She is 44 years old, & yes, her forehand...

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

At night, many people wanted to see the match, because both Aryna Sabalenka & Naomi Osaka have won Slams, so it would be a blast. It was, but Sabalenka is better on clay, and she took it, 7-5, 6-3. "I'm bringing my best level that I have, I'm fighting, I can to get this trophy."

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

Just, wow: Matteo Arnald overcame Frances Tiafoe 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 63 6-7(3), 64 in 5 hours & 26 minutes. There were so many rallies, back and forth. The Italian said. "This battle against Frances, at one point it wasn't tennis, it was something else..the best match I ever played."

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

I guess that Sorana Cirstea won’t retire, at the end of the year. She beat Xiyu Wang 6-3, 7-6 (4), and the 36-year-old is still so fast, running. She has a lot of depth. "Of course, now I have so many years behind me. I have so much experience, maturity. It's very beautiful.”

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

@jon_wertheim Kostyuk played great in the 3rd set, but Swiatek was out of it, so many errors.

[Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg]

On the imminent Serena Williams comeback, which will be officially announced within days—if not hours.

Read Bounces for all the current details on the champion's return:

https://t.co/9j0iCch7Hq

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

Once again, Mirra Andreeva is so good when she is on, very focused. She beat Jil Teichmann 63 62, & she will play in the 2nd week. She will be ready. "All I feel is that I really want to win more matches, & I really want to show some great tennis. I'm not feeling any pressure."

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

He just keeps coming, even when the older players are tired, but not Rafael Jodar, who beat Pablo Carreno Busta 46 46 61 62 62. In the last 3 sets, he became to hit the ball, into the corners. “I tried not to rush the shots & not make a lot of unforced errors. That was the key."

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

You never know how you will play, but at times, you she can slide. Coco Gauff was decent, but in the 3rd set, her forehand went down, & at the same time, Potapova grabbed it. "Coco is such a champion. I respect her so much. I’ve been fighting for the last point and here I am."

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

Again, so many marathons, when Madison Keys edged Victoria Mboko 63 57 75. Also, Anastasia Potapova outlasted Coco Gauff 46 7-6 (1) 64. Keys said: "There's been so much going on & there's been some really long, crazy matches. It's hard to actually keep track of what's happening.”

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

So many long matches, hours and hours, when Frances Tiafoe won it late, beating Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-7, 7-6 (4) 6-1, 6-2. Nearly 4 hours. Tired? “It wasn’t looking good there for a lot of that match. These ones are big. Just gave myself another chance to stay in the event.”

[Matt Cronin @TennisReporters]

The American Zachary Svalda just won in five sets. What a week, as he is ranked only No. 82, but it will go higher. He plays a lot, and now he is much more consistent, at least at RG. His forehand is pretty strong, and focused.