Monday Match Analysis

Clay court season is here and it's time for the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time since 2019. Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas are the top seeds. I break it down quarter-by-quarter, with winners, upset alerts, dark horses and popcorn matches. I also address the recent one-week postponement of the 2021 French Open by the FFT. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

Hubert Hurkacz and Jannik Sinner met in the final of 2021 Miami Masters knowing full well the winner would hoist their first Masters trophy. The 24 year-old Pole flashed his relative experience in a straight set victory over the young Italian. Gill Gross breaks down how Hurkacz had the perfect gameplan for the match's circumstances, how serve loomed large and where Sinner still has work to do. Plus, Cracked Racquets Chief Editor Alex Gruskin joins the show to discuss the career outlooks for the finalists, as well as the Next-Gen mental challenges. And the DB4 stat of the week highlights Russian dominance on the ATP tour. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

Roger Federer showed flashes of brilliance in his return to the court in Doha, but fell to eventual champion Nikoloz Basilishvili. Daniil Medvedev won another hardcourt title in Marseilles, defeating P.H. Herbert in the final. This week, he becomes the first player outside of the Big 4 to reach world #2 since 2005. The DB4 Stat of the Week examines how the Big 3 have prevented slam success for others. Finally, I respond to your comments, including: will Rafael Nadal remain unbeatable on clay, which current ATP player is currently most similar to Federer stylistically, why did Medvedev destroy Jannik Sinner, is Basilishvili an Andrey Rublev twin, what explains Aslan Karatsev's emergence, who is the greatest athlete of all-time. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

Andrey Rublev won his 5th straight ATP 500 title, going through Marton Fucsovics in the final and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semis. I breakdown the reasons his attack is lethal against sub-elite righty backhands. Novak Djokovic begins this week as World #1 for the 311th week, passing Roger Federer for the most of all-time. The DB4 Stat of the Week is on the typical age of a first-time major champion. Lastly, Federer embarks on his comeback tournament at the Qatar Open in Doha. Find out what the Swiss has said ahead of his return. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

Gill Gross answers your comments following Australian Open 2021: Is Dominic Thiem's physicality overblown, can Novak Djokovic find more clay success after his Aussie title, how to be unbiased in tennis analysis, is Andy Murray much better than Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, why didn't Medvedev pull off one of his signature adjustments in the AO final, what is behind Rafael Nadal's recent struggles under pressure, was Djokovic's oblique injury covered unfairly by the media, why did so many players who did well the week before the Australian Open bow out early on in the major, has Medvedev proven that his summer 2019 hype is justified, how can Medvedev improve on clay, is Tsitsipas going to become a consistent major semifinalist, is Djokovic going to play less Masters 1000s, how much will Djokovic adapt his game with age, is Nadal no longer a threat at hardcourt slams and which new faces can we see do well at Wimbledon. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

Gill Gross is joined by hall-of-famer and tennis.com writer Steve Flink to discuss the 2021 Australian Open. Topics include Novak Djokovic's impressively dominant win over Daniil Medvedev in the final, his improved serving and his tribulations fighting through an abdominal injury en route to his 9th Aussie crown. Plus, what Daniil Medvedev needs to do to take the next step in majors, takeaways from Stefanos Tsitsipas's win over Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinal, Aslan Karatsev's long-term prospects, the abundance of AO injuries and the turbulent lead-up to the tournament. Finally, they discuss the incoming return of 20-time major champion Roger Federer. Flink's latest book is Pete Sampras: Greatness Revisited. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in Sunday's Australian Open final. The 2021 AO title is Djokovic's 18th major and 9th Aussie crown. Gill Gross breaks down the reasons a highly anticipated clash turned into a tennis tutorial from the world number one. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

Novak Djokovic is one match away from major #18 and Australian Open #9, but he'll have to go through Daniil Medvedev, on a 21-match win streak, after his straight set win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinal. Gill Gross breaks down the keys to the 2021 AO final and offers a prediction. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

4:42 Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev 14:33 Grigor Dimitrov vs. Aslan Karatsev 22:24 DB4 Stat of the Week 25:17 Daniil Medvedev vs. Andrey Rublev 32:48 Rafael Nadal vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas. Despite an astronomical number of abdominal injuries, eight men remain at the 2021 Australian Open. Top-seed Novak Djokovic will have to go through Alexander Zverev, for a chance at his 9th title in Melbourne. In a surprise QF, Grigor Dimitrov will face 27-year old Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev. Two more Russians, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev will square off for the first time since their US Open quarterfinal. Finally, Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas will do battle for the second time in Australia. Gill also gives his thoughts on round of 16 exits: Dominic Thiem, Fabio Fognini, Milos Raonic and Felix Auger Aliassime. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

Australian Nick Kyrgios faced Frenchman Ugo Humbert in the second round of the 2021 Australian Open, in front of a wild crowd inside John Cain Arena in Melbourne. Find out how the end of the 4th set was a turning point in the match, and what awaits Dominic Thiem in round three. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support