[22] Jennifer Brady (USA) vs. [25] Karolina Muchova (CZE) This match was not expected. I am not sure who had this in their bracket, but it is an exciting match and will put a new face into a Grand Slam final. Brady’s rise began in my beloved Kentucky last summer when she won the WTA event in Lexington….
Category: Tennis
Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka (3) vs. Serena Williams (10) Semifinal Prediction
This match is a dream match in every sense. Naomi Osaka has won 3 major titles since Sept. 2018. All 3 of these majors were won on hard courts (including the 2019 Australian Open). Osaka is also on a big winning streak of 19 matches. In short, Naomi Osaka IS the alpha player on hard…
Australian Open 2021: Day 10 Men’s Quarterfinal Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Andrey Rublev (7) vs Daniil Medvedev (4) – This battle of the Russians is pitting two red hot players against one another. I like Medvedev to advance, but wow I also like Rublev’s game and chances. I think Medvedev’s amoeba tennis wins so long as he keeps adapting even if Rublev…
Australian Open 2021: Day 10 Women’s Quarterfinal Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Ash Barty (1) vs Karolina Muchova (25) – As of now, I think Barty is headed to the final, but the semifinal will be harder than her quarterfinal round. Jennifer Brady (22) vs Jessica Pegula – Brady won Lexington in 2020 so I am maybe trying to avoid being too jingoistic…
Australian Open 2021: Day 9 Men’s Quarterfinal Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Grigor Dimitrov (18) vs Aslan Karatsev – Dimitrov has a good path to another major semifinal. I am not sure he can go further than that at this event, but he is probably the 5th most likely player to win the event among the 8 remaining. 3 of the bigger obstacles…
Australian Open 2021: Day 9 Women’s Quarterfinal Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Hsieh Su-Wei vs Naomi Osaka (3) – I have gotten so many of Hsieh Su-Wei’s matches wrong over the years that this is probably a good omen for her. Still, Osaka is to my mind the best in the world because she attacks as well as power players and defends as…
Australian Open 2021: Day 8 Women’s Singles Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD ROD LAVER ARENA Jessica Pegula (USA) v (5) Elina Svitolina (UKR) – I will take the dark horse, but the odds are against what I am predicting. (28) Donna Vekić (HRV) v (22) Jennifer Brady (USA) – This may be the match of the day, but I think the 28 seed…
Australian Open 2021: Day 8 Men’s Singles Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD ROD LAVER ARENA (16) Fabio Fognini (ITA) v (2) Rafael Nadal (ESP) – I am expecting a close match that might even go 5 sets. I will not be shocked if Fognini wins, but I think Rafa prevails in 4 or 5 sets facing down his first big test of the…
Australian Open 2021: Day 7 Men’s Singles Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Rod Laver Arena [3] Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs. [18] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) – This should be an outstanding match. I think Thiem is younger, moves better, and has the better forehand of the two. I expect a 3 to 4 set win for Thiem, but Dimitrov has a shot at the upset. [1] Novak Djokovic…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 