Today

No.4 Naomi Osaka (Japan) VS. Victoria Azerenka

(Belarus)

Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

3 PM CT

ESPN

Osaka won the 2018 U.S, Open defeating Serena Williams in a highly controversial match due to Williams going ballistic after being penalized points for getting coaching from her box. Osaka won, but got booed by the fans at the trophy ceremony because of the debacle that Serena caused. They were all pulling for Williams and she instigated the whole disastrous situation even though she tried to calm down the fans afterwards. It was a catastrophe, but she looked good in winning her first Slam. She also won the 2019 Australian Open. The 22 year old from Osaka, Japan is a talent.

But I’m going to take the 31 year old from Minsk, Belarus. She won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013, but some personal issues, a custody battle with her boyfriend over their son, have thrown her off a bit in recent years. But she gained custody of her son recently and has also gotten it back together on the court. After losing the first set to Serena 1-6 in the semifinals, she came back and defeated Williams, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 and wore Williams out in the process. It was a heckuva a match with both women pounding the ball back and forth and Azerenka running Williams every which way on the court. She was a picture of energy, precision and toughness. I like this match to be close, but they were supposed to play in the finals of the Western and Southern Open 2 weeks ago at Flushing Meadows , but Osaka defaulted claiming she had an injury. I like the fact that Azarenka wanted to play and is having the time of her life playing right now. Give me the 31 year old from Belarus. If you want to take a break from football, this is an exciting match to watch.

Azerenka over Osaka 7-5, 6-7 (7-4), 6-3

Sunday

No.5 Alexander Zverev (Germany) vs,. No.2 Dominic

Thiem (Austria)

Arthur Ashe Stadium

3 PM CT

ESPN

These are 2 powerful hitting players with phenomenal first serves and ground strokes. Watched them both play in the semifinals last night with Zverev losing the first 2 sets to Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, the 20th seed, 3-6, 2-6, but coming back and winning the final 3 sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. The 23 year old from Hamburg, Germany is the No.7 player in the world and has a very bright future competing with the Big 3 now, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, and becoming an elite winner of Majors in the future.

But I’m going to take the 27 year old from Wiener Neustadt, Austria. He is the No.3 player in the world and is in his fourth Grand Slam Final. He was runner up to Rafa at Roland Garros in the French Open in 2018 and 2019, and fell in the finals to Novak at the Australian Open in January of this year in 5 sets after being ahead 2 sets to 1. He’s ready to take it to the next level. Awesome guy too. Humble, motivated.

He defeated a hard hitting No.3 seed, Daniil Medvedev of Russia, the fifth ranked player in the world, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5). I like this talent. He’s ready to challenge Djoker and Rafa in Majors, and, if Roger Federer can come back from his knee injury, at 38 years old, him too. I’ll take the Austrian.

Thiem over Zverev 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4