Stanford and Palermo: Where are all the top players?

Stanford:

(1)Serena Williams (USA) v BYE
(wc)Nicole Gibbs (USA) v Q
(wc)Michelle Larcher De Brito (POR) v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)
Q v (6)Chanelle Scheepers (RSA)

(3)Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v BYE
Q v Q
Ayumi Morita (JPN) v Stephanie Dubois (CAN)
Vania King (USA) v (7)Petra Martic (CRO)

(8)Marina Erakovic (NZL) v Sorana Cirstea (ROU)
Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) v Urszula Radwanska (POL)
Melinda Czink (HUN) v Bojana Jovanovski (SRB)
(4)Jelena Jankovic (SRB) v BYE

(5)Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) v Kai-Chen Chang (TPE)
Sloane Stephens (USA) v Heather Watson (GBR)
(wc)Mallory Burdette (USA) v Anne Keothavong (GBR)
(2)Marion Bartoli (FRA) v BYE

Palermo:

(1)Sara Errani (ITA) v Edina Gallovits-Hall (ROU)
(wc)Nastassja Burnett (ITA) v Patricia Mayr-Achleitner (AUT)
Alexandra Cadantu (ROU) v Kiki Bertens (NED)
Mariana Duque-Marino (COL) v (7)Alize Cornet (FRA)

(4)Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) v (wc)Maria Elena Camerin (ITA)
Q/LL v (wc)Anastasia Grymalska (ITA)
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) v Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP)
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) v (6)Polona Hercog (SLO)

(8)Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) v Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP)
Julia Cohen (USA) v Vera Dushevina (RUS)
Q/LL v Valeria Savinykh (RUS)
Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) v (3)Julia Goerges (GER)

(5)Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v Q/LL
Anna Tatishvili (GEO) v Q/LL
Laura Robson (GBR) v Q/LL
Karin Knapp (ITA) v (2)Roberta Vinci (ITA)

Stanford is the first stop in the US Open series as we gear ourselves for the last grand slam of the year in New York. Serena Williams is committed but I don't think she will actually show up. Pity as her draw is awfully easy. Let's see if Serena will make an effort here. I think she can just show up an clinch the title as nobody playing here is a threat. For those reluctant to accept reality, there is still Palermo for them as they attempt to collect cheap points that is totally irrelevant to US Open.

Predictions:

Stanford:

QF:

(1) Serena Williams def. (6) Chanelle Scheepers

(3) Dominika Cibulkova def. Vania King

Sorana Cirstea def. Bojana Jovanovski

Sloane Stephens def. (2) Marion Bartoli

(1) Serena Williams def. (3) Dominika Cibulkova

Sloane Stephens def. Sorana Cirstea

(1) Serena Williams def. Sloane Stephens

If an half-arsed Serena appears, I predict her to retire during or before her match with Cibulkova. In which case, Cibulkova will win the title. I expect Sloane to make a breakthrough here and maybe clinch the title (if her opponent isn't GOATrena).

Palermo:

(1) Sara Errani def. (7) Alize Cornet

(4) Anabel Medina Garrigues def. Irina-Camelia Begu

(3) Julia Goerges def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa

(5) Carla Suarez Navarro def. (2) Roberta Vinci

(1) Sara Errani def. (4) Anabel Medina Garrigues

(3) Julia Goerges def. (5) Carla Suarez Navarro

(1) Sara Errani def. (3) Julia Goerges

Another clay mickey mouse title for Sara. Nothing much to analyse here as it is of no consequences for US Open.