Baku day 1: Surprisingly strong field this year

Baku schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/2184/title/baku-cup

Match focus:

Pauline Parmentier vs. Alexandra Dulgheru

Pauline Parmentier enjoyed an inspiring run in Paris, but continued her bad run of results immediately after that. Looks like that Paris run was a fluke. Alexandra will be the slight favourite here, being a former top 30 player. However, the hard courts will suit Pauline more, so Dulgheru will need to make the Frenchwoman work for her points. If the Romanian stays healthy, she should be able to outlast Pauline.

Pick: Dulgheru in 2 sets

Alexandra Cadantu vs. Stefanie Voegele

Stefanie Voegele must be thanking her lucky stars upon drawing slumping Cadantu. The troubled Romanian is utterly dismal this year, and even though Voegele herself isn't in sparkling form, it will definitely be enough to defeat the dire Cadantu. Not too sure what is wrong with Alex, but I think she needs to take a break to regroup herself. Her losing ways cannot be good for her mentality.

Pick: Voegele in 2 sets

Patricia Mayr-Achleitner vs. Bojana Jovanovski

As a former champion here, Jovanovski will be confident of her chances here. Mayr-Achleitner's game is more to annoy her opponent than outplaying them, so I don't expect Bojana to fall for that trap. With a better field this year, Bojana may not be able to repeat her triumph 2 years ago, but should be able to cruise through her opener.

Pick: Jovanovski in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Yvonne Meusburger, Stefanie Voegele, Bojana Jovanovski,
Upset alert: Pauline Parmentier

Budapest, Bad Gastein day 3: Roberta to sink further

Budapest schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/3823/title/bucharest-open--bucharest-romania

Bad Gastein schedule of play:


Match focus:

Alexandra Dulgheru vs. Roberta Vinci

I really have no idea how to make sense of Vinci's massive slump. If she's just playing badly, her doubles results would have suffered as well. However, she just completed her doubles Grand Slam last week. Maybe age is catching up with the Italian, making her unable to cover the entire court. Dulgheru will enjoy homecrowd support, and coupled with the Italian's absolute-no-form-to-speak-of, she will be the favourite here.

Pick: Dulgheru in 2 sets

Kiki Bertens vs. Irina Camelia-Begu

Kiki Bertens enjoyed a good run in Paris, winning her matches from qualifying all the way to the 4th round. Will she have what it takes to take down Irina, who's playing in front of her home crowd? These 2 have met 2 times previously, and Irina has won both times, including one this year in Oeiras. Can Kiki reverse the trend and clinch her first win? I believe Irina's form has dropped off again after picking up during the clay season. Kiki will be confident after her 4th round run, and can score her first win over the Romanian. Sometimes, support can also mean pressure.

Pick: Bertens in 3 sets

Stefanie Voegele vs. Elina Svitolina

Stefanie Voegele should be sending Julia Goerges a thank you card for her gifts during their first rounf match. Julia was just hitting everything way out and not bothering to craft out any sort of rally. Basically all Stefanie did was keep the ball in. I hope whoever paid to watch that match gets a refund. Elina will not be as nonsensical as Goerges, and will probably teach Voegele a lesson. Stefanie has been slumping this season, and I don't see her breaking out of her slump with such a horrific performance in her first round.

Pick: Svitolina in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Simona Halep, Monica Niculescu, Karolina Pliskova
Upset alert: Roberta Vinci, Irina Camelia Begu, Grace Min

Acapulco, Florianopolis day 4: Future of WTA

Acapulco schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/87/title/abierto-mexicano-telcel

Florianopolis schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/3024/title/brasil-tennis-cup

Match focus:

Caroline Garcia vs. Eugenie Bouchard

It seems like yesterday when Garcia was slated to be the next big thing after she pushed Sharapova to the limits in Roland Garros. Caroline didn't capitalize on her good form and has since languished in the bottom half of the top 100. Compared to the meteoric rise of Bouchard, Garcia has a lot to catch up. She is one year older than Eugenie, but the Canadian has already accomplished more than her. If Garcia can get her mental game going, I believe this match-up has a potential to be a good rivalry. Right now, Bouchard has all the confidence in the world. Garcia did well against 2 retrievers in her first few rounds, which shows growth in her mental game. Eugenie should be able to win this, but it might go the distance.

Pick: Bouchard in 3 sets

Klara Zakopalova vs. Alexandra Dulgheru

Klara Zakopalova continues her busy schedule with wins here in Florianopolis. After reaching the finals in Rio, she continued her good form despite the surface change, and will vie for a spot in the semi-finals with resurgent Dulgheru. The pair has met twice before in 2011, splitting both meetings, but Klara has won their hard court meeting. I believe the surface suits the flat hitting Czech, but she might be fatigued from all the matches so far. Dulgheru also had to come through qualifying, so she will also be feeling the strain. Because of that, I believe Klara will snatch another win against the Romanian.

Pick: Zakopalova in 3 sets

Carla Suarez Navarro vs. Monica Niculescu

Defending champion Monica Niculescu faces a tough test against top seed, Carla Suarez Navarro. Monica clinched her first title here last year, but did relatively nothing after that. Carla is still seeking her first title and like Zakopalova, has the tendency to blank out during finals. The good thing for the Spaniard is that this is not a final On hard courts, I believe Carla's variety will be enough to counter Monica's junky balls.

Pick: Suarez Navarro in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Garbine Muguruza, Dominika Cibulkova
Upset alert: Alexandra Cadantu, Zhang Shuai

Bastaad, Bad Gastein day 3: Unknowns galore

Bastaad schedule:

Klara Zakopalova vs. Arantxa Parra Santonja
Rebecca Peterson vs. Simona Halep
Johanna Larsson vs. Nina Bratchikova
Teliana Pereira vs. Lourdes Dominguez Lino
Virginie Razzano vs. Alexandra Dulgheru

Bad Gastein schedule:

Karin Knapp vs. Alexandra Cadantu
Jasmina Tinjic vs. Yvonne Meusburger
Mona Barthel vs. Lisa-Maria Moser
Andrea Hlavackova vs. Viktorija Golubic

Match focus:

Klara Zakopalova vs. Arantxa Parra Santonja

Arantxa Parra Santonja is still playing? It is shocking to see her in the main draw after disappearing for the past 2 years. Parra used to be a top 50 player 10 years ago and it's good to see her continuing despite her drop in form. However, it is almost certain that she makes her exit against an equally experienced but on form opponent. Klara is playing her best tennis despite her age and will almost definitely take out the Spaniard.

Pick: Zakopalova in 2 sets

Virginie Razzano vs. Alexandra Dulgheru

The other matches all features unknown players so it's impossible to predict. Dulgheru used to be in the top 30 but was derailed by a serious knee injury. She makes her comeback on her favourite surface and if she plays to her maximum capability, she can cause an upset. Let's not forget she owns 2 premier clay court titles, both coming from Warsaw. The main thing for her is to remain healthy enough to complete the match.

Pick: Dulgheru in 3 sets

Karin Knapp vs. Alexandra Cadantu

Cadantu is coming off a good week in Budapest and will be looking forward to bringing her form here to Bad Gastein. However, Karin is also playing well and this will be an interesting match. Karin will possess the advantage with bigger shots, but the clay nullifies the power and Alexandra and grind her way to victory. Still, I believe fortune favours the brave and I'm going to pick the Italian for the win.

Pick: Knapp in 2 tight sets

Sure win bets: Simona Halep, Lourdes Domingues Lino, Mona Barthel
Upset alert: Virginie Razzano