2015 Connecticut Open- Quarter-Final Predictions

Only eight women are left standing in New Haven, with a combination of the top seed and some surprise packages left in the tournament- here are my predictions for today!

Lesia Tsurenko vs Karolina Pliskova

5th seed Karolina Pliskova will be looking to play much better tennis today as she faces Lucky Loser Lesia Tsurenko in the first quarter-final of the day. She played badly in Toronto and Cincinnati and was not at her best in the first round, edging past qualifier Polona Hercog. However she was much more comfortable against another qualifier, Olga Savchuk, in the second round yesterday. Tsurenko lost in qualifying but was chosen to replace Simona Halep, who withdrew, at the top of the draw and received a bye in the first round. She then cruised past Barbora Strycova in her second round match, and has been in great form this year. Pliskova leads the head to head 2-1 but they haven’t played since 2012 and both have improved since then. Pliskova should be able to edge this one, though Tsurenko could make life difficult for the Czech.

Prediction: Pliskova in 3

Lucie Safarova vs Dominika Cibulkova

Lucie Safarova will be looking to make her first semi-final since the French Open as she faces Dominika Cibulkova in the second quarter-final today. Safarova has had two potentially difficult matches against Daria Gavrilova and Irina-Camelia Begu, and she saw both women off by the relatively comfortable scoreline 6-3 6-4. It’s been much more difficult for Cibulkova, who’s returning from injury, as she’s had to battle past Tsvetana Pironkova and Kiki Mladenovic in two long, three set matches. She has had the benefit of a day off and leads the head to head 4-1, including a tight two sets victory in Eastbourne earlier this year. There is clearly something a bout Cibulkova’s game that bothers Safarova and whilst it seems logical to back Safarova, Cibulkova can’t be ruled out here.

Prediction: Safarova in 3

Caroline Garcia vs Caroline Wozniacki

The final match of the day sees a battle of Caroline vs Caroline, as the unseeded Garcia faces the 3rd seed and four-time champion Wozniacki. Garcia has been very impressive so far, cruising past 6th seed Timea Bacsinszky before edging past Magdalena Rybarikova in two tight sets. Wozniacki improved her form with crushing victory over Alison Riske in her first match, but then had to save three match points against the very tricky Roberta Vinci. Garcia is extremely talented but can be very erratic and will need to be near her best to be able to beat Wozniacki. However Wozniacki’s form has been average this year and Garcia could potentially overpower the Dane if she’s not at her best. Wozniacki will be the favourite, though I think Garcia could edge this if she plays well,

Prediction: Garcia in 3

Agnieszka Radwanska vs Petra Kvitova

The only quarter where the seedings have worked out delivers a mouth-watering quarter-final, as 7th seed Agnieszka Radwanska faces 2nd seed Petra Kvitova in third match of the day. Radwanska hasn’t been in great form this year but has played well so far in New Haven, cruising past Coco Vandeweghe before easing past Alize Cornet without losing a set. There were lots of doubts coming in with Kvitova, due to her diagnosis with Mono, but by beating Madison Keys from a set down, losing only three games in the final two sets, she recorded her first win of the summer hard court season. Kvitova leads the head to head 5-2 and both times she’s lost to Radwanska it’s been at the WTA Finals and she has played badly; if she’s not at her best it could be a repeat of that today. However if she’s near her best Radwanska will probably struggle to cope with her power. With Kvitova suffering with Mono we don’t know how well she’ll show up, though she should just edge this match.

Prediction: Kvitova in 3

2015 Connecticut Open- Wednesday Predictions

Action continues in New Haven today, with the four final second round matches taking place at the Connecticut Open. With quarter-final spots at stake, it should be exciting- here are three of my predictions!

Roberta Vinci vs Caroline Wozniacki

4th seed Caroline Wozniacki should have a difficult match against the inform Roberta Vinci third on Stadium Court. Wozniacki lost early in Stanford, Toronto and Cincinnati but sent out a statement of intent with a crushing 6-0 6-2 win over Alison Riske yesterday evening. Vinci also cruised in her first match, beating Genie Bouchard for the loss of just one match, and has been in good form the past few weeks, reaching the quarter-finals in Toronto. The head to head is evenly poised at 2-2 with Wozniacki having won their last meeting in Istanbul last year for the loss of just two games. However Wozniacki hasn’t been it that form this year and Vinci has a very tricky games to play against. It should be tight, but Wozniacki should edge this if she plays like she did yesterday.

Prediction: Wozniacki in 3

Agnieszka Radwanska vs Alize Cornet

Agnieszka Radwanska will be hoping for a more simple match against Alize Cornet today, as she had to come from a break down in the decider when she last played the Frenchwoman in Toronto. Neither Radwanska or Cornet have been in great form recently, with neither having won a title, and the Frenchwoman can clearly make life difficult for the Pole. However Radwanska has only lost once in their six previous meetings and lost just two games to Coco Vandeweghe the other day. The Frenchwoman is erratic, but should be able to give Radwanska a tough match today if she plays at her best. However Radwanska should just edge this.

Prediction: Radwanska in 3

Madison Keys vs Petra Kvitova

Petra Kvitova has an extremely difficult task on Wednesday as she faces the talented Madison Keys, who beat the 2nd seed at the Australian Open earlier this year. Kvitova has been struggling since she revealed she was diagnosed with Mono, and would have preferred to have played someone she could have easily overpowered today. However whilst Keys is erratic, she is extremely powerful and can hit lots of big winners and serves well. Her form has been erratic this year but, having already beaten Kvitova this year, has a good opportunity to get to the quarter-finals.

Prediction: Keys in 3

Also in action

Olga Savchuk faces Karolina Pliskova in the only other singles match today, whilst there are two doubles matches taking place. Also there are several US Open Doubles and Mixed Doubles matches taking place on the outside courts.

2015 Connecticut Open- Tuesday Predictions

Action continues in New Haven on Tuesday, with some first round matches and second round matches taking place at the Connecticut Open- Here are my predictions for three of the matches today!

Caroline Wozniacki vs Alison Riske

3rd seed and 4-time champion Caroline Wozniacki will be desperately looking for form before the US Open, but faces a difficult first round match against Alison Riske. Wozniacki has lost her first match in Stanford, Toronto and and Cincinnati and really needs to play better as she is in danger of slipping out of the top 5 after the US Open. Riske has played well in this summer hard court season, pushing Elina Svitolina to three sets twice and beating players such as Carla Suarez Navarro and Timea Bacsinszky over the past few weeks. This is certainly a great opportunity for Riske, and if she plays well she should see off Wozniacki if the Dane is still in poor form. However Riske can be erratic and if she isn’t playing well, Wozniacki will have an opportunity.

Prediction: Riske in 3

Lucie Safarova vs Irina-Camelia Begu

4th seed Lucie Safarova could have a difficult match as she faces Irina-Camelia Begu on Tuesday evening. Safarova hasn’t been in great form since her run to the French Open final but reached the quarter-finals in Cincinnati and played a good match against the talented Daria Gavrilova in the first round. Begu is having the best year, reaching a career high of 28th in the world, and battled past Zarina Diyas in the first round. Begu actually won the only meeting between the two, prevailing in three sets in Moscow last year, and both women have seemingly improved since then so it should be a competitive match. Safarova should have the edge in this match, though Begu will be able to push the 4th seed.

Prediction: Safarova in 3

Dominika Cibulkova vs Kristina Mladenovic

Dominika Cibulkova looks to continue her comeback as she faces rising star Kiki Mladenovic in the second round. Cibulkova has had mixed results during her comeback so far, but toughed out a three sets victory over Tsevtana Pironkova in the first round. Mladenovic was also made to work in her first round match, but eventually pulled off the upset against 8th seed Sara Errani and will be confident following that result. Cibulkova has won all four of their previous meetings, including in Sydney earlier this year, but has been injured since then and is not in as great shape as she was earlier on in the year. It’s been a good year for Mladenovic, reaching her first career final in Strasbourg, and this is a great opportunity for her to record her first victory over Cibulkova.

Prediction: Mladenovic in 3

Also in action

Barbora Strycova starts the action today against lucky loser Lesia Tsurenko, whilst Magdalena Rybarikova faces Caroline Garcia. There are also several doubles matches taking place.

2015 Connecticut Open- Monday Predictions

Following a few main draw matches on Sunday, more action continues on Monday as the opening round of the 2015 Connecticut Open continues. It should be an exciting day, with many intriguing matches taking place. Here are three of my predictions!

Madison Keys vs Elina Svitolina

Two rising stars face off in an extremely interesting match second on Stadium court, as Madison Keys faces Elina Svitolina for the chance to play Petra Kvitova. Svitolina has had the better summer hard court season, reaching the semi-finals in Stanford and Cincinnati, and also reached the quarter-finals of the French Open earlier this year as well as winning a title in Marrakech. Whilst Keys hasn’t won a title this year, she did reach the final in Charleston and was a semi-finalist at the Australian Open and a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon. Keys could potentially beat anyone with her serve and her big game when playing well, but is too inconsistent and hasn’t been in great form recently. Svitolina has certainly been more consistent and has had the better year on the whole, and it looks as if she should edge her first meeting against fellow 20 year old Keys.

Prediction: Svitolina in 3

Lucie Safarova vs Daria Gavrilova

4th seed Lucie Safarova has an extremely difficult match in the opening round, who won their meeting in Toronto two weeks ago. Safarova hasn’t been in great form since her run to the French Open final and will be looking to pick up a few match wins before the final major of the year, though she did win the title in Doha and will be able to challenge anyone if she starts playing her best again. Gavrilova has risen well up the rankings this year, with highlights including the semi-finals in Rome and a win over Maria Sharapova in Miami, Gavrilova won her match against Safarova in Toronto 4-6 7-5 7-5, and hopefully the crowd will get a similar battle today. Based on current form it seems that Gavrilova will come through, though Safarova will make her work for it.

Prediction: Gavrilova in 3

Agnieszka Radwanska vs Coco Vandeweghe

Another interesting match opens the night session in New Haven, as 7th seed Agnieszka Radwanska faces talented American Coco Vandeweghe. Radwanska has had a poor year and has fallen down to 15th in the world, with one her issues seemingly being that she hasn’t been able to control her opponents power as much as she used to. This could be a problem today, as Vandeweghe is extremely powerful. The American reached her first grand slam quarter-final at Wimbledon, though is very erratic and Radwanska could force Vandeweghe into making several errors. Radwanska certainly has more experience than Vandeweghe and did win their only previous meeting, in Beijing last year, in straight sets. She should come through this one, though Vandeweghe could make it tight for the 7th seed.

Prediction: Radwanska in 3

Also in action

Eugenie Bouchard kicks off Stadium action against Roberta Vinci, whilst Sara Errani kicks off action on Grandstand against Kiki Mladenovic. 6th seed Timea Bacsinszky faces good friend Caroline Garcia, whilst their could be a feisty affair between Alize Cornet and Yulia Putintseva. Karolina Pliskova takes on Polona Hercog, whilst Magdalena Rybarikova faces Flavia Pennetta and Olga Savchuk takes on Olga Govortsova.