Monday Match Analysis

On this week’s Monday Match Analysis, I bring on Jeff Salzenstein of tennisevolution.com to analyze the serve of Alexander Zverev. His return to play at the Adria Tour has been marred with double faults, something we’ve seen periodically over the last 18 months. The German clearly has the yips on serve, a crippling mental state, but the problems are also technical. We also discuss Grigor Dimitrov’s positive Covid-19 test, the cancellation of the Adria Tour and Novak Djokovic’s silence so far. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

On this edition of the mailbag---- Is Novak Djokovic's forehand really worse than Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's, who are the favorites for US Open and French Open 2020, how quickly is Dominic Thiem improving, should Nadal skip the US Open, will the schedule favor NextGen players, are Dimitrov and Raonic primed for a comeback, where does Federer rank among all-time baseliners, what will tennis television do to supplement for no crowd viewing, plus breakdowns of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andy Murray, and the most underrated aspect of the Big Three's games. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

On this edition of Monday Match Analysis, Cracked Racquets podcast host and writer Alex Gruskin comes on to discuss the news that the 2020 US Open will be played. Plus, we debate the effects of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, Patrick Mourotoglou's tennis exhibition in France. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

This weekend Serena Williams head coach and tennis entrepreneur Patrick Mouratoglou will launch his own tennis event called Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS). He's enlisted a strong field with top-10 ATP players Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Mateo Berrettini and David Goffin. But the most striking thing about UTS is the rules and format, which throw tennis convention out the window. PM says he feels modifications are necessary because tennis is getting too old and failing to renew its fanbase. But is that claim based on solid statistical evidence? I discuss. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

The USTA-led US Open Tennis Championships still plans on holding this year's tournament under strict health provisions such as limiting player guests, prohibiting outside contact and implementing frequent testing. While the measures address health concerns, they have brought up additional qualms from players: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal included. What would it mean for Djokovic and Nadal to skip the 2020 US Open? I discuss... Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

This week’s mailbag topics: When will tennis return, will Alexander Zverev win a major title, will the pause help Roger Federer, why can nobody hit topspin like Rafael Nadal, how will Novak Djokovic evolve into his late thirties, how does Federer’s forehand compare to Sampras, why did Dominic Thiem dominate Federer in 2019, is an ATP-WTA merger smart, who is my favorite Monday Match Analysis guest, what do I enjoy most about watching the Big 3 live, will there ever be a two handed forehand, and could Thiem replicate Nadal’s French Open dominance? Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

On this edition of MMA Classics, I go back to the 2005 French Open, when Roger Federer was ruling the tennis world and favored against the Spanish left-hander Rafael Nadal, who was celebrating his 19th birthday. Nadal won the match in four sets and then backed up his victory the very next year in the 2006 Roland Garros final. The next two seasons, Nadal would beat Federer in French Open finals. Nadal and Federer is one of tennis's greatest rivalries in history, but their meetings in Paris always left more to be desired. I dissect why that might have been the case. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

On this episode of Monday Match Analysis Classics, Joel Drucker, Tennis.com writer and author of the book "Jimmy Connors Saved My Life," joins the program to discuss the 1976 US Open final between Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg. We discuss tennis' popularity boom in the 70's, the contrasting baseline styles, the unconventional clay court surface, the racket technology, the match and why Borg retired young. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

I’m joined by Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated, Tennis Channel and 60 Minutes to discuss the return of tennis in the context of UFC, what’s at play for the 2020 US Open, if the players will be willing to quarantine or take pay cuts, should ballpeople ever handle towels again, are any tennis players reminiscent of Michael Jordan, if Serena, Federer and Nadal are really aging during the pandemic pause, Djokovic admitting he wants to break the Slam record, and the potential ATP-WTA merger. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support

On this edition of MMA Classics, I break down the 2012 Australian Open Final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. This match is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all-time. Nadal was desperate to solve the puzzle that Djokovic posed in 2011, beating him in six straight finals. Djokovic looked to follow up his astounding 2011 season to show everyone it was no fluke, and he wasn't going away anytime soon. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/monday-match-analysis/support