We keep hearing the establishment media talking point that “Coco Gauff is the best athlete in the WTA.” I disagree with that agenda push. Coco is a very, very good defensive player, extremely scrappy and tenacious but she is by far not the best WTA athlete. Gauff has a lousy, unreliable serve, a sometimes wild and vulnerable forehand and not much of a slice backhand. Gauff’s athleticism range is limited and lacks fluidity, elegance and cohesion. The best athletes for my eyes are Marta Kostyuk, Emiliana Arango – smooth as silk and graceful, Iga, Pegula, Sabalenka, Jabeur, Navarro, to name a few. But the tennis media has agendas to push and overhyping and sensationalizing Gauff is one of them.
Stefanos Tsitsipas just routed Berrettini 63 63 to take a dominant 5-1 lead in their head to head. Tsitsipas is flourishing lately with a reported new secret racquet that is not the Wilson he has been and is contracted to use. Jim Courier said on Tennis Channel, the new racquet is blacked out with a W logo stencil on the strings but my sources say the world no. 9 is actually using a Babolat but that’s not been confirmed and visually the racquet looks more like a Head frame. But who knows what’s going on. Bottom line is Tsitsipas is controlling the ball better than ever right now and winning a lot of matches, including Dubai with this new mystery racquet.
Wilson reputation in the market is enduring some hard hits this year. Madison Keys won her first Grand Slam in Australia with her new Yonex which replaced her old long time used Wilson Blade.
Casper Ruud lost his first match at BNP Paribas to Marcos Giron. A couple of years ago a friend of mine encountered Ruud’s sisters on a public court and it was revealed that Casper does not like the court surface in Indian Wells though he does like the tournament itself. The Indian Wells courts just do not suit his game and it was yet another early loss for the Norwegian.
Marta Kostyuk is looking very impressive, especially how she dismissed Caroline Dolehide 64 64. On match point, she hit the return forehand down the middle and charged the net, provoking the error into the net. Kostyuk is moving the ball around all over the court with different speeds and spins and her mental attitude looks like she is ready for a big breakout sooner than later.
Another sensational performance was by Jenson Brooksby over Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets. It was the best match by Brooksby by far since his 2025 return to competition after a two year hiatus. Brooksby had lost his first three ATP matches this year but by how he dominated Felix, expect to see Brooksby exceed his previous career high ranking of top 45 later this year.
Emma Raducanu lost 26 36 to a Japanese journeywoman and she looked like a broken, dispirited player with an empty confidence tank. The former US Open champion may have peaked at age 18 which has happened to more than a few other teen phenoms. Emma will continue the hard work and persevering but without any good results in three years, one wonders how much longer she will be able to continue to fight on.
Novak Djokovic competed with desperation and urgency but was unable to find the form and level to defeat Botic van de Zandschulp, falling in three sets. Djokovic looked at about 50%, missing so many returns and failing to win the longer rallies. It may be rust but also at this point, it has to be considered that at 38, Djokovic is not improving anymore and he’s actually declining fractionally, while players like Botic actually are improving gamewise and physically. Andy Murray is with Novak serving as a cheerleader but evidently he has not been able to favorably impact Novak technically or tactically. As these kinds of losses accumulate, you have to wonder if this could be Djokovic’s final year as an elite Grand Slam contender. But then again, the greatest champion in history can change his career momentum with one good, vintage, typical Novak Djokovic performance.
Jim Courier analyzed Rune vs Humbert and commented that Rune opens up his left shoulder too early sometimes on his forehands which result in him missing sweet spot contact. Courier sees details that mere mortals do not. Rune prevailed 75 in the third in a BNP Paribas classic lefty vs right duel.
BNP Paribas Open · Coco Gauff · marta kostyuk · Stefanos Tsitispas
Sam · March 10, 2025 at 3:34 am
I heard that Djokovic looked awful—and didn’t seem to care much either. 😐
Scoop Malinowski · March 10, 2025 at 8:44 am
Which Babolat Catherine? Does not look like Rafa’s model but more like Thiem’s.
Scoop Malinowski · March 10, 2025 at 8:48 am
Sam not true. he looked okay but far off from the standard we expect. He showed a lot of fire and some roaring in the second and third sets, trying to will himself back into it but he could not do it. He showed the burning desire and hunger but it did not work. Then at the end of the match, he accepted his fate and played it cool and moved on. But he absolutely showed the desperation and fire, he really wanted to win this match and start his momentum roll NOW not Miami or Monte Carlo.
catherine · March 10, 2025 at 10:11 am
Scoop- Not sure which Babolat – I’m not an expert on racquets. But I’d guess Thiem’s. Commentaters didn’t know either.
Scoop Malinowski · March 10, 2025 at 2:40 pm
Catherine what are/were your favorite racquets to play with?
catherine · March 11, 2025 at 3:07 am
In the far off days when I waved a tennis racquet around it was a Dunlop (wood). This was in Australia and Dunlop had the market. The company also sponsored some Australian players, Margaret Court and Rod Laver among others.
Scoop Malinowski · March 11, 2025 at 8:39 am
Dunlop Maxply was the big racquet of the day, McEnroe, Gildemeister and many others used it. Dunlop is still at it, Mmoh, Kecmanovic use it, a few others too.
Sam · March 17, 2025 at 3:31 am
Sam not true. he looked okay but far off from the standard we expect. He showed a lot of fire and some roaring in the second and third sets, trying to will himself back into it but he could not do it.
Scoop, well, that’s good to hear at least. Hopefully he’ll put in the hours on the practice court that he needs to move forward.
Sam · March 17, 2025 at 3:43 am
Scoop wrote (in another post that now has comments closed):
[MJ] started revealing the dark secrets of the industry in his lyrics and some public statements at the end and that is why he was killed.
Oh, you believe Michael Jackson was murdered? 😬 I hadn’t heard that before, but wouldn’t be surprised. Still, it’s hard for me to have much sympathy for a child molester. 🤮
His music post Thriller went way downhill
Indeed. Don’t know why people still bothered to buy it.
Ridgeley wrote a book a few years ago, which he promoted heavily in the media and it’s a fantastic read.. .. I think he’s really into cycling the countryside where he lives in rural UK.
Maybe he and Lance Armstrong could go for a few rides together. 😉
Scoop Malinowski · March 17, 2025 at 8:13 am
Sam I am not sure MJ really was a child molester. The media sure tried to make us believe he was. I think he was molested himself as a child by the demonic music industry and hated everything about it. He lost his childhood and just wanted to be a kid. Yes I think the music industry ritual sacrificed him, just like Whitney Houston and Prince and so many others. That demonic rabbi Schmuley Boteach allegedly was involved in his termination.
Scoop Malinowski · March 17, 2025 at 8:14 am
He’s putting in some time with his “dream doubles partner” the newly single Jessica Alba in Miami at Longoria’s 50th birthday party. Maybe that will be the stimulant he needs )
Sam · March 24, 2025 at 5:27 am
Sam I am not sure MJ really was a child molester. The media sure tried to make us believe he was.
Scoop, well, the testimony of one of his alleged (male) victims sure sounded convincing to me. Besides, hasn’t it been pretty well-established that he hosted a lot of “sleepovers” with young boys at his weird Neverland Ranch? 😬
I think he was molested himself as a child by the demonic music industry and hated everything about it. He lost his childhood and just wanted to be a kid.
And your last sentence describes most child molesters to a T, actually.
Yes I think the music industry ritual sacrificed him, just like Whitney Houston and Prince and so many others. That demonic rabbi Schmuley Boteach allegedly was involved in his termination.
I can believe that.
Sam · March 24, 2025 at 5:29 am
He’s putting in some time with his “dream doubles partner” the newly single Jessica Alba in Miami at Longoria’s 50th birthday party. Maybe that will be the stimulant he needs )
Wow, had no idea. I wonder what Jelena thinks about all this? 😏
Scoop Malinowski · March 24, 2025 at 9:09 am
Sam, that one accuser Wade Robson, the ex video choreographer, didn’t seem authentic, seemed to be accusing for the money and media attention. I know it all looked horrific him having the kids over, we all saw the ABC special, but in hindsight now, I think it’s possible they framed him. “The media has the power to make the innocent look guilty and the guilty look innocent.” – Malcolm x. The music industry is demonic from top to bottom. There is a gret fil that reveals how it all works “The Phantom of the Paradise.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_of_the_Paradise
Scoop Malinowski · March 24, 2025 at 9:10 am
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned…
Sam · March 30, 2025 at 11:55 pm
but in hindsight now, I think it’s possible they framed him.
Scoop, I suppose it’s possible, but I have serious doubts.
Here’s an interesting write-up in which Jackson’s statements are dissected by a technique called “statement analysis.”
https://www.statementanalysis.com/cases/michael-jackson/
And what stands out is that Jackson never would say that he did not molest the boy in question! 😬
There is a gret fil that reveals how it all works “The Phantom of the Paradise.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_of_the_Paradise
Hadn’t heard of that film before—definitely sounds interesting! 🤔
Sam · March 30, 2025 at 11:58 pm
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned…
Speaking of he11, I hope Djokovic isn’t playing with fire! 😽
Scoop Malinowski · March 31, 2025 at 8:09 am
Jacko Wacko was definitely a tortured soul and that doc on ABC in Neverland showing him hanging out and playing with kids was disturbing to put it mildly. It’s a wonder he didn’t unalive himself after ABC aired it. Phantom of the paradise is a very weird film but it exposes the message that the music industry is demonic and all the big names have to sign a blood contract with the devil to make it big. Their souls are all owned. I know this for a fact because I had a friend who was a lead vocalist for a major metal group and he openly worshipped satan.