New Haven day 2: Last min preparation before the big one

Schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/535/title/connecticut-open

Match focus:

Dominika Cibulkova vs. Andrea Petkovic

The American hard court season is normally where Cibulkova excels. However, this year, she is in absolutely horrific form, winning only 1 match against an unheralded Abanda. Looks like her woes will continue against Andrea Petkovic, who is playing good tennis once again. Not too sure what's bothering Dominika, but she needs to either take a break to regroup herself, or get a new coach. The constant losing will not be good on her mental game.

Pick: Petkovic in 2 sets

Garbine Muguruza vs. Sara Errani

Like Cibulkova, Errani has been struggling for the American hardcourt swing. She will face another hard-hitter, Muguruza after being ousted twice by Lisicki. Muguruza might not serve as hard as the German, but she can hit a mean ball from the ground. Sara will need to be patient and make Garbine commit the error. The good thing for Sara is that Garbine can lose to grinders, as evidenced by her puzzling loss to Annika Beck last week. Sara's game is better than Beck's, so the Italian looks poised to win another match here.

Pick: Errani in 3 sets

Bojana Jovanovski vs. Eugenie Bouchard

Major alarm bells will ring if Bouchard manages to lose this one. The hyped-up Canadian hasn't won a match so far in the American hard court season, so she has to prove herself here against Jovanovski. To be fair, Eugenie only played badly against Shelby Rogers, while Kuznetsova is always a dangerous opponent. So I believe Eugenie will right the ship and cruise to an easy victory here. If she manages to lose this, it will seem like she has crumbled under the heavy expecations laid upon her.

Pick: Bouchard in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Kirsten Flipkens, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki
Upset alert: Dominika Cibulkova, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Magdalena Rybarikova

Baku final: Svitolina repeats

Baku final:

Elina Svitolina def. Bojana Jovanovski 6-1 7-6(2)

Elina Svitolina successfully defends her title to become the first teenager to have multiple titles after Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in 2011. With Jovanovski starting out nervously, Elina stamped her authority by playing her own game well. The first set was over in a flash. Bojana settled down in the 2nd and gave a good fight, but Elina was too steady in the end. It is difficult for a young player to win a title these days, and to repeat it's even more difficult. Hopefully this will give Elina the confidence and become a steady top 20 player that she's capable of.

Baku final: Multiple Baku winner will emerge

Bojana Jovanovski vs. Elina Svitolina

The past 2 winners of this event will fittingly vie for the Baku trophy in this final. Both came through their tricky semi-final opponents and earned their spot deservingly. The edge definitely has to go to Svitolina, the steadier of the 2. The Ukrainian has been more consistent this year, and looks to be assering herself as a consistent top 30 player. Jovanovski's year has been up and down, but when she's hitting the ball well, she can do real damage. It really depends on which player will turn up. From their performances in their previous match, I believe Elina will triumph with a 3 set win.

Pick: Svitolina in 3 sets

Baku SF: Can Svitolina repeat?

Stefanie Voegele vs. Bojana Jovanovski

Stefanie Voegele seems to have snapped out of her awful slump this year with some good wins in recent tournaments. She will face 2012 champion, Jovanovski for her first tour final appearance. Even though she is playing well, much has to be attributed to her opponent's level of play. Cirstea was just woeful in her match against Voegele, so the Swiss didn't have to do much. Bojana obviously loves this tournament given how well she has performed her before, so the edge has to go to her.

Pick: Jovanovski in 3 sets

Francesca Schiavone vs. Elina Svitolina

Francesca gained sweet revenge over Mladenovic with a win over the Frenchwoman after the umpire overruled a call that was way out last week in Istanbul. It wasn't Kristina's fault, but Francesca really didn't deserve such an appalling call. It's nice to see Schiavone still fighting hard at the twilight of her career. She will have an uphill task to beat defending champion Svitolina. The Ukrainian looks good to defend her title but Francesca definitely has the game to trouble her. Let's see if Schiavone can hold her stamina.

Pick: Svitolina in 3 sets

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

Oeiras day 3: Torro-Flor, the real deal?

Schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/292/title/portugal-open

Match focus:

Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor

Marrakech champion Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor continues her winning streak here in Portugal. She will face a major test here with former French Open winner, Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian played extremely well in Stuttgart, losing in 3 tight sets to eventual finalist Ana Ivanovic. If Torro-Flor is the real deal, she will give Kuznetsova a good fight for her money. However, I think the vast experience of Svetlana will overcome the wild hitting of Maria-Teresa.

Pick: Kuznetsova in 2 sets

Jovanovski played well against Monica Puig in her opening match, but was lucky that Puig was broken while serving to stay in the set and the match. Vesnina is a more experienced opponent, so she will not suffer from the jitters. These 2 players are ranked relatively the same so it will be a close fight. The only thing that's in doubt is Vesnina's recent injury. If she's fully recovered, she should be able to clinch this.

Pick: Vesnina in 3 sets

Yanina Wickmayer vs. Roberta Vinci

With both players struggling with their forms, it can be a guaranteed horror show for this match. Yanina barely made it out of her first round against Urszula Radwanska, where she was helped majorly by the Pole. Against Vinci, she will have to step it up as Vinci is not playing club level tennis. The Italian might be struggling, but she did well against Cadantu in shorter rallies. If Yanina wants to win this, she needs to be patient and extend the rallies. The longer the rally goes, the more advantageous it will be for Yanina. However, given Wickmayer's wham-bam game, I doubt she will have the patience.

Pick: Vinci in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Kaia Kanepi, Carla Suarez Navarro
Upset alert: Ons Jabeur, Lucie Safarova

Oeiras day 1: Strong field for small event

Schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/292/title/portugal-open

Match focus:

Yanina Wickmayer vs. Urszula Radwanska

 

 

Urszula Radwanska is just in dire need of a win and she might get a chance here. Wickmayer is very shaky for the past couple of years and her form fluctuates wildly. Gone are the days where she's a consistent top 30 player. Radwanska needs to be her normal scrappy self and frustrate the Belgian on the slow clay. If she succeeds, she might get her first win on the main tour this year. Still, I feel that Yanina will edge out the Pole in 3 tight sets.

 

Pick: Wickmayer in 3 sets

 

Bojana Jovanovski vs. Monica Puig

 

Jovanovski's form has been abysmal recently, so it will be a good opportunity for the young Puig to win here. Still, Monica is turning into a headcase as she wasted her best chance to reach her maiden semi-finals in Monterrey. Looks like all Bojana needs to do is to irritate the youngster. I am not hoping for much from Puig, just hopes that she makes this competitive. Maybe her success came too soon and she's not ready for it.

Pick: Jovanovski in 3 sets

Yaroslava Shvedova vs. Karin Knapp

Karin Knapp is on a 5 match losing streak and I don't see her ending it here. Yaroslava is a streaky player, and she has notched up a few wins recently. At this rate, she's going to beat the Italian and carry on her good form. Not sure what's happened to Karin but I guess the close loss to Sharapova stung for a long time. She needs to refocus and not dwell on the past. Because her favourite part of the season is here and she needs to be ready for it.

Pick: Shvedova in 2 sets



Indian Wells day 3: Seeds in action

Schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/543/title/bnp-paribas-open

Match focus:

Bojana Jovanovski vs. Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline will be feeling the heat this two weeks as the bulk of her points came from her final appearance here last year. She will face a tough opponent in Jovanovski, who has beaten her last year. Caroline has been nothing but disappointing since this event last year, and an early exit here will be a rude reminder to her that she has been regressing. As a player, you always seek to improve yourself but I don't see that in the Dane. She seems to be happy with what she has or can achieve and more focused on off court activities.

Pick: Jovanovski in 3 sets

Roberta Vinci vs. Madison Keys

Vinci is still winless this year and it looks like she will continue this trend against the hyped Keys. Roberta is just trouble by low confidence and seems to be more focused on her doubles career. Madison needs to take this opportunity and build her confidence. She has the talent to be a top player, but just needs to be more disciplined in her shot selections. 

Pick: Keys in 2 sets

Eugenie Bouchard vs. Peng Shuai

Bouchard has the weight of the world on her shoulders now after her Melbourne semi-final appearance. Will she succumb to the pressure against the Chinese? As the new darling of WTA, Bouchard did seem to be buckling under th expectations laid on her in the events after her breakthrough. This will be a good time to steady herself and show that she's not a one trick pony. Peng barely got pass Zvonareva, so I believe the Canadian is safe here. 

Pick: Bouchard in 2 tight sets

 Elena Vesnina vs. Annika Beck

Vesnina's year so far had been forgettable, while Beck is building on her success from last year. The German has claimed some impressive wins this year and will actually be the marginal favorite here. While these two players play similar games, I believe Vesnina is too brittle at this moment. She seems to be always injured and more focused on doubles. 

Pick: Beck in 2 sets 

Sure win bets: Agnieszka Radwanska, Kaia Kanepi, Alize Cornet, Simona Halep

Upset alert: Caroline Wozniacki, Roberta Vinci, Kirsten Flipkens

Sydney SF, Hobart QF: Surprise package Pironkova

Sydney SF:

Tsvetana Pironkova vs. Petra Kvitova

After a disastrous 2013, nobody would have expected Pironkova to rise from the ashes again. The Bulgarian is out to prove everyone wrong as she upsets the ever steady Errani to reach her first semi-final since... I honestly have no idea. She will face an uphill task against Kvitova though, as the Czech looks to be in top form in her dismissal of Safarova. Pironkova will need to keep her first serve percentage up to have a chance, as Petra will thump her weak second serves for winners.

Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets

Madison Keys vs. Angelique Kerber

Madison Keys first broke through here last year and she seems to be in love with this tournament as she advances to her first Premier semi-final. Even though she didn't complete her quarter-final match, she deserves to be here with her improved consistency. The American will need to use all of her court sense to outhit the gritty German. Kerber's retrieving game can be undone by smart power players, kind of like how Mattek Sands took out Radwanska. Keys will need to know when to pull the trigger. Given that this is her first semi-final appearance, I doubt Keys is ready to snatch the win away from Angelique. I might be close, but the German will emerge victorious.

Pick: Kerber in 3 sets

Hobart QF:

Samantha Stosur vs. Bojana Jovanovski

Samantha is just plain lucky to be still in this tournament. She needs a hypnotherapist to get her to think she's not playing in Australia. In her homeland, she folds like a cheap tent. Against lesser opponents, she got out of jail twice. But against the hard hitting Jovanovski, she should be shown the door now. Sadly, she's like the modern Mauresmo, who always had to live up to heavy expectations in their home slam, and fail miserably every time.

Pick: Jovanovski in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Petra Kvitova, Kirsten Flipkens, Monica Niculescu
Upset alert: Klara Zakopalova, Samantha Stosur

Luxembourg, Moscow QF: Caroline in danger?

Luxembourg schedule:

Annika Beck vs. Katarzyna Piter
Stefanie Voegele vs. Sloane Stephens
Caroline Wozniacki vs. Bojana Jovanovski
Sabine Lisicki vs. Karin Knapp

Moscow schedule:

Samantha Stosur vs. Ana Ivanovic
Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Roberta Vinci
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs. Daniela Hantuchova
Simona Halep vs. Alisa Kleybanova

Match focus:

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Bojana Jovanovski

Stat of the match is that Bojana Jovanovski won their last 2 meetings this year. Can the Serb make it 3 in a row? One has to note that the wins came on clay, Wozniacki's least favourite surface. In the Luxembourg fast indoor courts, Caroline will be the slight favourite. Jovanovski will try to prove that she's no flash in a pan by replicating her win over the Dane, but I believe the number 1 seed should have enough resistance to get past this match.

Pick: Wozniacki in 3 sets

Samantha Stosur vs. Ana Ivanovic

Former Grand Slam champions will fight for a place in the semi-finals in this mouth watering clash. A rematch of last year's semi-finals, Stosur looks poised to replicate her win over Ana. With a neat winning streak from Osaka, the Australian eased through her first 2 matches with ease. Ana has enjoyed a fine run in Linz too, but you can always count on her to lose/choke to better players. I love Ana, but she's proven to be too mentally fragile to complete an impressive win.

Pick: Stosur in 2 tight sets

Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Roberta Vinci

Kuznetsova's up and down season looks set to rise again in her country, Russia. Playing in front of her home crowd, she will be lifted by their support against Vinci. However, Roberta has already accounted for a Russian in Vesnina. Will Kuznetsova be her next victim? Svetlana's weakness will always be her head. She has all the shots, but just doesn't know when to use which shot. Against someone as patient and tricky as Vinci, she will tend to rush. Nevertheless, I believe Svetlana has enough game to eventually overcome the Italian.

Pick: Kuznetsova in 3 sets

Sure win bets: Annika Beck, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Sabine Lisicki
Upset alert: Roberta Vinci,