Tokyo, Seoul 2014 – SFs, Guangzhou 2014 – final

Angelique Kerber vs Ana Ivanovic

Both players were amazing in their quarter-final matches. Kerber beaten Dominika Cibulkova 6:3 6:0. Pretty impressive score. Ivanovic beaten Lucie Safarova 6:3 6:2. Ana played great too. Both players have very good season, especially Ana. Neither of them lost a set for the whole tournament.  These two are playing totally different types of tennis. Kerber is mostly defensive. She likes to stay behind the baseline and from there she can counter even the most powerful shots. She can play aggressive too and she’s good at it, but she’s better in defense. She’s capable of playing good dropshots and passing shots too. Ana is an aggressive players. She have more variations than Kerber. Her main weapon is her forehand, but her game is very well backed-up with her solid backhand, good slices, drop shots and good net play. She improved her movement a lot this year. This match will be full of winners and spectacular shots. This will be tight match, but Ana is in better form now, so I believe she’ll reach the finals here!

Prediction: Ivanovic in 3 sets

 

Alize Cornet vs Monica Niculescu

Cornet didn’t play great in Guangzhou, but she still managed to reach finals! She beaten Timea Bacsinszky in the SFs 6:1 7:6(5). Niculescu played amazing for the whole tournament. She didn’t drop more than 4 games in any of her matches in Guangzhou. In the SFs, she beaten Yafan Wang 6:0 6:2! This match should be spectacular. Cornet is one of the drama queens and Niculescu have unique play style. I can’t wait to watch this. Cornet will play  aggressive game. She will use her topspin forehand and good backhand to control points. Her good movement and drop shots will back up her aggressive game. Monica will use her play style to disrupt Alize’s rhythm. With lot of moonballs, wicked slices, hidden drop shots and some good net play and defense, Niculescu will make Alize fight for every single point. Cornet struggled with heat this weak and maybe Monica can use it. Niculescu played better at this tournament than Cornet, so I believe she’ll take the title in the Guangzhou.

Prediction: Niculescu in 2 tight sets

 

Karolina Pliskova vs Maria Kirilenko

Pliskova played solid in her last match. She beaten Nicole Gibbs 6:3 6:4. She had pretty good season overall. Kirilenko won another three-setter in the QFs. She beaten Kaia Kanepi 6:7(3) 6:2 6:3. Kirilenko finally found some good form and she’s playing pretty good in this moment. Both players are playing aggressive tennis. Pliskova is more powerful, but Kirilenko is faster! Pliskova will use her massive serves and powerful groundstrokes to control the points. Her main weakness is her robotic movement. Kirilenko must exploit it. She needs to play aggressive and consistent. With that type of play, she should be able to move Pliskova around and to draw errors from her. Karolina is not really famous because of her fighting spirit, so Maria can use it too. If Pliskova becomes impatient, it’s a chance for Kirilenko. With her steady shots and fighting spirit, Maria should be able to win this match.

Prediction: Kirilenko in 3 tight sets

 

Cara Black/Sania Mirza vs Garbine Muguruza/ Carla Suarez Navarro

Black and Mirza are playing together for a long time and they’re really good team. In the first round, they beaten DellAcqua and Raymond 6:3 3:6 10:8. It was really tight match, but Black and Mirza survived. In the OFs, they beaten Hingis and Bencic, this time in two sets – 6:4 6:2. In the SFs they beaten Jankovic and Parra Santonja in two sets too – 6:3 6:2. They won all of their matches easily, except their 1st round match. Muguruza and Navarro beaten Pavlyuchenkova and Safarova in the first round in a tight three sets – 6:3 4:6 10:7.  QFs was as hard as their first round match. They beaten Gajdosova and Rodionova 7:5 4:6 10:4. Their SF match was probably the easiest one. Ranking said different thing, but result showed why it was the easiest one. They beaten Kops-Jones and Spears in TWO SETS 6:4 6:3. Muguruza and Navarro play their best tennis on the clay, but they are good on the other surfaces too. Black and Mirza are experienced doubles team. They will play aggressive and they’ll use their connection to beat Navarro and Muguruza. Muguruza and Navarro are good team. They represent good balance of offense and defence, but I think that Mirza and Black are just too good.

Prediction: Black/Mirza in 3 sets

 

Other predictions:

—Tokyo—

Wozniacki df. Muguruza in 3 sets

—Seoul—

Lepchenko df. McHale in 2 sets

—Wuhan qualifying—

Matter-Sands df. Voegele in 2 tight sets

Hercog df. Gibbs in 3 sets

Bacsinszky df. Sheepers in 2 sets

Schmiedlova df. Wang in 3 tight sets

Beck df. Minella in 3 sets

Diyas df. Soler-Espinosa in 2 sets

Schiavone df. Van Uytvanck in 3 sets

Erakovic df. Yang in 2 sets( one tight, one easy )

 

Tokyo, Seoul, Guangzhou 2014 – QFs and SFs

Angelique Kerber vs Dominika Cibulkova

Angelique had solid season, but she wasn’t really good at the US Open. She lost in the third round to Bencic 1:6 5:7. Kerber beaten Svitolina in the 2nd round 6:4 6:4 in Tokyo. Dominika finally started winning some matches and it looks like she’s back! She beaten Vandeweghe in the previous round 7:6(5) 7:5. Cibulkova leads against Kerber in their head-2-head 4-2, but Kerber won their last two matches in straight sets. Dominika will be the aggressor in this match. Her explosive shots will make Kerber run all over the court. Her forehand is especially good. Angelique will be mostly in defense. She’ll counter Dominika’s massive shots with her flat, but accurate shots. Kerber will chase down everything she can and she’ll force Dominika to commit unforced errors. Angelique can play really good in offense too.Both players still have a chance to play in Singapore and they’ll fight until the end. I think that Kerber will edge Dominika in the end.

Prediction: Kerber in 3 sets

 

Ana Ivanovic vs Lucie Safarova

Ana had amazing season, but she’s really struggling at the Grand Slams. She lost to Pliskova at the US Open in the 2nd round in straight sets. Ana was impressive in her last match. She beaten Azarenka in straight sets. Lucie had amazing season too, highlighted by her SF appearance at the Wimbledon. In the previous round, she beaten rising star Bencic after a comeback 3:6 6:4 6:2. Ivanovic is favorite here, but she’s playing against her nemesis. Lucie leads in their head-2-head 5-2. Ana won first two matches, but Lucie won last five! Both players are playing pretty aggressive. Ana’s main weapon will be her atomic forehand. She’ll use lot of variations in her game – slices, drop shots, net play and passing shots. Ana improved her movement a lot this year. Safarova will use her tricky serve and her unpredictable, but powerful shots to fight against Ivanovic. I’m not sure how this match will end, but I believe that Ivanovic will come trough.

Prediction: Ivanovic in 3 tight sets

 

Kaia Kanepi vs Maria Kirilenko

Kaia’s season wasn’t really good before Wimbledon, but after that she’s playing very well. She struggled against Krystina Pliskova in the previous round, but she managed to win that match 3:6 6:3 6:2. Maria’s season was destroyed by her injury, but she looks like she’s back now. She beaten Klara Koukalova in the 2nd round 6:7(4) 6:4 6:0. This match should be very interesting. Both players are playing aggressive, but Kaia is more powerful. With her massive groundstrokes and good serves she’ll control a lot of things. However, Maria won’t just sit down and watch how Kanepi is making winners. She’ll make some by herself. Maria will play patient and aggressive. But honestly, I don’t think that she’s ready to beat Kanepi. She needs more matches under her belt.

Prediction: Kanepi in 2 tight sets

 

Agnieszka Radwanska vs Varvara Lepchenko

Radwanska’s season was full of ups and downs. She lost in the second round of the US Open to Shuai Peng in straight sets. In the second round of Seoul, she gave Chanelle Sheepers a double-bagel. Lepchenko had solid season. She lost in the third round of the US Open to eventual champion Serena Williams 3:6 3:6, but it was very good match for Varvara. In the previous round, she beaten Han 7:5 6:1 after she saved set point in the first set. These two played once this year and Varvara actually won in three sets in Stanford. Radwanska will play her game. She’ll use her trick shots to disrupt Lepchenko’s rhythm and she’ll be very consistent as almost always. Lepchenko will play aggressive and her main weapon is that she’s playing with left hand. Agnieszka almost always struggles against lefties. However, I think that Radwanska will be more patient and steady and that she’ll win this match. Lepchenko won’t give Agnieszka an easy victory, so anything is possible.

Prediction: Radwanska in 3 sets

 

Other predictions:

—Tokyo—

Muguruza df. DellAcqua in 2 sets( one tight, one easy )

Wozniacki df. Suarez Navarro in 3 sets

—Seoul—

Ka.Pliskova df. Gibbs in 2 sets

Rybarikova df. McHale in 2 sets

—Guangzhou—

Niculescu df. Wang in 2 tight sets

Cornet df. Bacsinszky in 3 tight sets

 

BONUS!!! Predictions for Wuhan qualifying! 🙂

Diyas df. Cirstea in 3 sets

Pironkova df. Mattek-Sands in 3 sets

Schiavone df. Van Uytvanck in 2 sets

Knapp df. Kudryavtseva in 2 tight sets

Hercog df. Voegele in 3 sets

Tomljanovic df. Vekic in 3 tight sets

Watson df. Mladenovic in 3 sets

Puig df. Yang in 2 sets

Soler-Espinosa df. Zhu in 2 sets

Beck df. Minella in 3 sets

Gajdosova df. Davis in 2 sets

Gibbs vs McHale( still playing in Seoul )

Niculescu vs Kr.Pliskova( Niculescu – still playing in Guangzhou )

Sheepers vs Bacsinszky( Bacsinszky – still playing in Guangzhou )

Schmiedlova vs Wang ( Wang – still playing in Guangzhou )

 

Tokyo, Seoul, Guangzhou 2014 – day 4

Jelena Jankovic vs Garbine Muguruza

Jelena’s year was full of ups and downs. She wasted great opportunity to reach at least SFs at the US Open when she lost to Bencic in the 4th round. Garbine’s year was full of ups and downs too. She lost to an in-form Lucic-Baroni in the first round of the US Open. This match should be interesting. Garbine was impressive in her victory over Pavlyuchenkova. It means that Muguruza already played one match while Jankovic had a bye in the first round. However, JJ played 2 matches in doubles and she reached SFs with Parra-Santonja. Muguruza will be the aggressor in this match. She will be able to control the game with her explosive groundstrokes. Jankovic will play her game. She’ll be aggressive too.She’s not that powerful like Garbine, but she’s faster and more patient. JJ’s main weapon will be her backhand. She improved her serve a lot, so I believe that it will brought victory to Jankovic. Draw is now open for JJ and it’s NOT a good sign. She almost always loses her matches when she have an open draw. If she wins here, she won’t play against her nemesis( Errani), so it think it’s good for her. This match will be very close, but I believe that JJ will be steadier in the end.

Prediction: Jankovic in 3 tight sets

 

Klara Koukalova vs Maria Kirilenko

Klara had a good start of the year, but now she’s not in really good form. She beaten Kiki Bertens in tight three sets in the first round 6:0 4:6 6:4. Maria is struggling with her injury almost for the whole year and that’s main reason why she isn’t it the top 100 anymore. Last year she reached top 10, but she’s far from that success this year. She beaten Donna Vekic in the first round after a comeback 3:6 6:2 6:4. Koukalova have flat powerful groundstrokes and she’ll control the game with them. However, Kirilenko isn’t passive neither. She have patient aggressive game and great running shots. Like every Czech player, Klara is very unpredictable. She can play amazing, but she can play poorly too. I’ll chose steadier one to win this match – Kirilenko. Klara is always unpredictable and maybe she’ll surprise us, but I don’t think it’ll happen in this match. Good chance for Maria to reach her first QF this year!

Prediction: Kirilenko in 3 sets

 

Alize Cornet vs Hsieh Su-Wei

Alize struggled against Peer in the second round, but Alize’s year overall was pretty solid. Alize survived that match somehow and she won 3:6 7:5 6:1. Peer had 5-3 and 30-love on her serve, then she had 5-4 and love-30 on Alize’s serve, after that she had 5-5 30-15 on her serve again and after that she had 5-6 and love-30 on Alize’s serve again. Cornet won somehow that second set and after that she won third set easily 6:1. Hsieh had less problems, but her opponent was weaker. She beaten Zhu 6:4 6:2 to reach her first QF this year!This match should be full of shots that you won’t see that often. If we add drama that will be probably caused by Alize, I can say that this match will be really amazing and full of fun. Alize have topspin forehand and pretty good backhand. All that is backed-up with good footwork, slices and drop shots. Hsieh have flat two-handed strokes, wicked slices and drop shots and amazing net play. Her main problem is her inconsistency and her lack of fitness. She lost some long matches because she was too tired. Su-Wei won’t give Alize easy victory, but I still believe that Cornet will win this match in straight sets. One thing is sure. This won’t be boring!

Prediction: Cornet in 2 tight sets

 

Monica Puig vs Monica Niculescu

Puig finally found some form. After she won her first title, she just disappeared. She beaten Zhang Ling in the second round 6:4 6:4. Niculescu struggles with her form this year, but she started playing better after Bucharest where she reached SFs. She beaten solid Misaki Doi in the second round 6:2 6:1. These two Monica’s have completly different play styles. Puig is an aggressive player with powerful groundstrokes. She’s going for her shots and her game is pretty risky. Niculescu have different play style than the other players on the tour. She mostly uses forehand slice and solid two-handed backhand. However, she’s using one-handed forehand, two-handed forehand and backhand slice too. She’s good at the net and quick around the court. She can hide her drop shots very well because she’s using lot of slice. She’s using moonballs too. Puig must play aggressive and patient tennis if she wants to beat Niculescu. I’m not sure how this match will end, but I have a feeling that Niculescu will win this match. We’ll see am I right!

Prediction: Niculescu in 3 tight sets

 

Other predictions:

—Tokyo—

Erakovic df. DellAcqua in 3 tight sets

Suarez Navarro df. Gavrilova in 2 sets( one tight, one easy )

Wozniacki df. Gajdosova in 2 sets

—Seoul—

Rybarikova df. Wickmayer in 2 sets

Gibbs df. Kovinic in 2 tight sets

Kanepi df. Kr.Pliskova in 2 sets

—Guangzhou—

K.Zhang df. Wang in 3 sets

Bacsinszky df. Torro-Flor in 2 tight sets

 Note: Congratulations to Nicole Vaidisova for winning her first match since 2010 against Karatantcheva 6:3 6:4! You can read this article about her on the official site of the WTA. Here’s the link for that article: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/4149272/title/vaidisova-wins-comeback-match

Tokyo, Seoul, Guangzhou 2014 – day 2

Victoria Azarenka vs Kimiko Date-Krumm

Victoria finally found some form at the US Open. She’s still not on her best, but she’s improving every day. Evergreen Kimiko is still playing pretty well and she’s always dangerous opponent for everyone. Azarenka is consistent hard-hitter, but her movement is not that great in this moment. Kimiko’s flat powerful shots, wicked slices and good net play can trouble anyone on the tour. However, she lost some matches lately because she was getting too tired to play well for the whole match. Victoria’s shots will make Kimiko run and she’ll get tired after probably one set. She will give a good fight in first set, but Victoria will win second easily.

Prediction: Azarenka in 2 sets( one tight, one easy )

 

Donna Vekic vs Maria Kirilenko

Donna really struggles with her consistency this year. She’s capable of wining titles, but she had some shocking loses too. Maria is making a comeback after her injury, but it’s not going well. She didn’t play a lot of matches this year and she must keep playing if she wants to make a real comeback. This match should be interesting. Donna is a powerful hard-hitter, but her shots lose their purpose sometimes. Maria is a patient hard-hitter and she have good running shots too. If Maria can play consistently, Donna will beat herself. I really want Vekic to reach her full potential, but I don’t think that this will happen in this match. Maria have experience on her side and she should be able to beat Vekic.

Prediction: Kirilenko in 2 tight sets

 

Magdalena Rybarikova vs Francesca Schiavone

Magdalena is playing pretty well lately. She reached finals of the New Haven and she pushed Wozniacki to three set at the US Open. Unfortunately, Magdalena had to retire that match in 3rd set. Schiavone is playing pretty solid. She reached semi-finals at the Hong Kong. Magdalena is an aggressive player who uses a lot of backhand slices, powerful forehands and net play. Schiavone is always dangerous with her topspin shots and amazing defence. This match will show you how two players with lot of variations can make an amazing match. This will be tight, but Magdalena is in better form now, so I believe that she’ll win this match.

Prediction: Rybarikova in 3 sets

 

Bojana Jovanovski vs Monica Niculescu

Bojana played well in Tashkent where she reached finals. She’s not really consistent this year, but still she showed some signs of improvement. Monica’s year was full of ups and downs. She played solid at the US Open where she lost to Zahlavova-Strycova in 3 sets.This match will be interesting. Bojana is consistent baseliner, but her main weakness is that she’s afraid to come to the net. Baseliners mostly are not good at the net, but Bojana is really bad. She have a lot of potential, but she must learn how to play at the net. Monica is a player who uses A LOT of variations. With her tricky shots, she’s pretty dangerous for hard-hitters with no variations. Jovanovski will fight till the end, but Niculescu will edge her.

Prediction: Niculescu in 3 tight sets

 

Other predictions:

–Tokyo—

Flipkens df. Cibulkova in 3 sets

Vandeweghe df. Kudryavtseva in 2 sets

Davis df. Gavrilova in 2 tight sets

Gajdosova df. Hantuchova in 3 sets

Suarez Navarro df. Nara in 3 tight sets

Lisicki df. DellAcqua in 2 sets

Errani df. Erakovic in 3 sets

—Seoul—

Bertens df. Koukalova in 3 sets

Kanepi df. Kulichkova in 2 sets

Kovinic df. Schmiedlova in 3 sets

Watson df. Gibbs in 3 sets

Radwanska df. Hercog in 2 sets

Wickmayer df. Minella in 3 sets

Voegele df. Kr.Pliskova in 3 sets

Ka.Pliskova df. Glushko in 2 sets( one tight, one easy )

—Guangzhou—

Van Uytvanck df. Hsieh in 3 sets

Xu df. Mayr-Achleitner in 3 sets

Diyas df. L.Zhang in 2 sets

Cirstea df. Martic in 2 sets

Stosur df. Wang in 2 sets

K.Zhang df. Cepelova in 3 sets

Knapp df. Puig in 3 sets

Stephens df. Soler-Espinosa in 3 sets

 

 

US Open 2014 – day 1

I can’t hide how excited I am about last Grand Slam of the season 2014. Today I will analyse five matches instead of four, because there’s lot of great matches! When you read my predictions, you can vote for a player who will win US Open 2014 in your opinion on the bottom of the page 🙂

 

Venus Williams vs Kimiko Date-Krumm

When we mention these two, It’s hard not to remember their fantastic match at Wimbledon 2011. One of the best matches ever! Venus showed her good form in Montreal where she reached finals. Kimiko struggles with her form lately, but it’s not surprising. She’ 43! I think that both ladies can show how it’s important to never give up. Venus will control game with her massive shots. Kimiko will chase down everything she can and she’ll wait for opportunity to absorb Venus’ power and send even more powerful shot. Kimiko has good hands at the net, flat strokes, good slice and good drop shot. However, I think that she will be able to handle pressure of Williams’ power just for one set. This will be fun match to watch, but Venus should have no problem to win this.

Prediction: Venus in 2 sets( one tight, one easy )

 

Maria Sharapova vs Maria Kirilenko

Maria plays against Maria! Sharapova had fantastic year highlighted with her victory at French Open. Kirilenko, however, struggles with her form. She showed that she’s still capable of playing well in her match against Stephens which was fantastic. Kirilenko needs to play patient and aggressive if she wants to harm Sharapova. Sharapova is more powerful of these two, so she’ll be the aggressor in this match. Kirilenko need to slow down rallies with her two-handed slice and to try to draw errors from Maria. This will be close match, but Maria will win it in two sets.

Prediction: Sharapova in 2 tight sets

 

Jelena Jankovic vs Bojana Jovanovski

Two Serbs plays against each other for fourth time. Jankovic leads 2-1. Jankovic had solid year, but she struggles with form lately. Jovanovski had solid year too, but I know that she is capable of doing more damage on the WTA tour. Jovanovski is not that powerful like Serena or others, but she’s really aggressive and patient. However, Bojana’s game is one-sided. She’s just a baseliner and she only hits normal shots without some variations. She’s pretty powerless at the net. Jelena needs to exploit Bojana’s weaknesses with lot of variations. With deep balls, drop shots and going to the net she’ll make Bojana nervous. Jankovic can control game with her massive backhand too. Jovanovski will fight till the bitter end, but JJ will win this in two.

Prediction: Jankovic in 2 sets

 

Shuai Peng vs Jie Zheng

Peng against Zheng. This should be interesting. This two met last time in 2010. Both players are aggressive and they love to play on the grass. Peng have two-handed forehand, unpredictable shots and she’s good at the net.Her favorite shot is forehand, but her backhand is her better shot. She have good drop shot too. Zheng is aggressive and quick around the court. Her better shot is forehand which is more powerful. In this match, lot of points will be very interesting and creative. Peng is in better form this year, so I believe she’ll win this. However, Zheng plays her best tennis at Grand Slams and maybe she’ll surprise us.

Prediction: Peng in 3 sets

 

Sabine Lisicki vs Francoise Abanda

I was really hoping that Abanda will get some easy opponent in first round, but that didn’t happen. Abanda played amazing in qualies, losing just six games in 3 matches! However, main draw is something different. Lisicki is very hard opponent. Sabine have powerful flat strokes and she knows to surprise her opponent with drop shots. Abanda have powerful forehand and solid net skills. The only chance that Abanda have is that Lisicki don’t know her play style. Francoise will show flashes of brilliance, but Lisicki will prevail in two.

Prediction: Lisicki in 2 sets

Other predictions:

Halep df. Rose Collins in 2 sets

Radwanska df. Fichman in 2 sets

Stephens df. Beck in 2 tight sets

Kerber df. Pervak in 2 sets

Wozniacki df. Rybarikova in 2 tight sets

Brengle df. Glushko in 3 sets

Petkovic df. Jabeur in 2 sets

Cornet df. Hesse in 2 sets

Konta dr. Peer in 3 sets

Flipkens df. Errani in 3 tight sets

Nara df. Wozniak in 3 sets

Safarova df. Babos in 2 tight sets

Vinci df. Ormaechea in 2 sets

Hantuchova df. Oprandi in 3 sets

Giorgi df. Rodionova in 3 sets

Muguruza df. Lucic-Baroni in 2 tight sets

Begu df. Soler-Espinosa in 3 tight sets

Voegele df. S. Zheng in 3 sets

Kudryavtseva df. Duan in 3 sets

Bascinszky df. Bertens in 3 sets

Bencic df. Wickmayer in 3 tight sets

Smitkova df. Puig in 3 sets

Razzano df. Larsson in 3 sets

Sasnovich df. Schmiedlova in 2 sets

Torro-Flor df. Cepelova in 3 tight sets

Knapp df. Pironkova in 3 sets

Dulgheru df. Kr. Pliskova in 3 sets