Serena Williams will face her first big test in this tournament against the volatile Kvitova. Petra has been pretty decent for this tournament, but she has not yet shown her peak form yet. You'll never know which Kvitova will show up, but against Serena, I think a meek Petra will play. Serena's aura intimidates even Kvitova, judging by their past meetings. If the Czech is firing from all cylinders, she might take a set. But a win for Serena should be coming.
Pick: Williams in 2 sets
Maria Sharapova vs. Li Na
Sharapova is hanging onto her top 10 ranking like she's hanging on for dear life. That's why I believe the Russian is at an advantage her. Maria's mental strength is up there among the best, and against the iffy Li, she will summon all her strength for the win. Their last meeting on clay was a messy affair in Rome, where Sharapova prevailed in 3 sets. I don't expect anything different here. A match riddled with huge momentum swings and high amount of errors should be in store.
Pick: Sharapova in 3 sets
Simona Halep vs. Ana Ivanovic
The admirable thing about Simona is her ability to learn from her mistakes. Losing the first set to Lisicki, she turned it around and stopped doing what wasn't working, and edged out a win. She will definitely have a lot to prove here against Ivanovic, who beat her in Fed Cup a few weeks ago. Ana is playing very good tennis this year, and looks set to break into the top 10 again. A win here will further prove that she belongs among the top. This match will be a close one, and I think both players want this win badly. Mentally, Halep has the upper hand. If Ana comes out firing, it might be too late for Simona to readjust. However, if it goes the distance Simona will prevail.
Pick: Ivanovic in 2 sets OR Halep in 3 sets
Caroline Garcia vs. Agnieszka Radwanska
Garcia is the real deal after she overcame Errani. She will face another hurdle in the form of Radwanska. Garcia's game is pure power, and it will be interesting to see how she deals with Agnieszka's crafty play. I think the French youngster's game is still a bit raw to handle the variety of Agnieszka, so I think the Pole should be able to win this. However, I hope Garcia learns from this meeting and gain the experience, so that it will make her a truly well-rounded top player.
Pick: Radwanska in 2 sets
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