Brussels and Strasbourg: Day 4 preview

QFs day for both tourneys.

Brussels:

Sofia Arvidsson vs. Urzsula Radwanska
Tsvetana Pironkova vs. (8) Kaia Kanepi
(1) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. (WC) Alison Van Uytvanck
Simona Halep vs. (4) Dominika Cibulkova

Strasbourg:

Ayumi Morita vs. Sloane Stephens
(2) Francesca Schiavone vs. Johanna Larsson
(4) Anabel Medina Garrigues vs. (WC) Alize Cornet
Pauline Parmentier vs. (Q) Alexandra Panova

Match focus:

Tsvetana Pironkova vs. (8) Kaia Kanepi

Kaia Kanepi has already collected 2 titles this year including a premier event in Brisbane. Is Tsvetana back? This is the first time she won back to back matches since February. This is pretty much a no-brainer. Kaia will plummet Pironkova's joke of a second serve and win this easily.

Pick: Kanepi in 2 easy sets

Simona Halep vs. (4) Dominika Cibulkova

Interesting clash here. Simona has been in red hot form, upsetting Jankovic and blitzing through Niculescu. Cibulkova handled herself well against McHale and Wickmayer. I guess it will be a tough and tight match between these 2 players. My head says Cibulkova but my heart says Halep. Cibulkova has defeated quality opponents so far and is higher ranked. But I think Halep is ripe for another upset.

Pick: Halep in 3 tight sets

(2) Francesca Schiavone vs. Johanna Larsson

Slump queen Francesca won 2 matches in a row! Another tough test faces her in the form of Sweden's Johanna Larsson. Larsson has a heavy forehand and packs a pretty good punch for a serve. It will be up to Schiavone to see if she will take advantage of the Swede's weaker backhand. I do not see the slices of Francesca bothering Johanna as she will run around and deploy her massive forehand.

Pick: Larsson in 3 sets

Pauline Parmentier vs. (Q) Alexandra Panova

Will Alexandra take out another higher ranked player? I'm guessing not. Pauline is playing at home and took out the top seed Sabine Lisicki. She should be high on confidence now. As for Alexandra, let's not forget she is a qualifier and already has played a handful of matches. I predict the Frenchwoman will win this easily as Alexandra runs out of steam.

Pick: Parmentier in straights