Bucharest, Bad Gastein day 4: Vinci's return of form?

Bucharest schedule of play:

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

Bad Gastein schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/1340/title/nurnberger-gastein-ladies

Match focus:

Silvia Soler Espinosa vs. Roberta Vinci

Just when you think that Vinci will never recover her form, she plays an excellent match against Dulgheru to win without much fuss. Is this a sign that the Vinci we know is back? This match will be a good indicator of her level now, as Silvia is a decent clay-courter who thrives on this surface. If Roberta is able to win this easily, I believe she's back to her good form. I wouldn't bet on an easy win though, as Roberta is still a bit low in confidence.

Pick: Vinci in 3 sets

Petra Cetkovska vs. Kiki Bertens

Both players experienced the highs and lows of dropping down the rankings and picking up the pieces. Right now, I would think Bertens is the one with more confidence with her 4th round showing in Paris. Cetkovska has a tendency to give up and play casual loose shots if she's not confident, so I don't expect a pretty match. However, Kiki might be tired from playing so many matches all the way from qualifying. Pretty even match, but the younger Dutch should have the edge.

Pick: Bertens in 3 sets

Yvonne Meusburger vs. Chanelle Scheepers

Defending champion Meusburger will be eager to defend her title right in her own country Austria. Can Chanelle stop the steady Austrian from repeating? On clay, I will give the advantage to Yvonne. Chanelle's flat strokes loses its sting on the slow surface, and Yvonne will run them down and make Chanelle hit that extra ball. I don't think Chanelle is patient enough to construct points, so Yvonne should be able to advance.

Pick: Meusburger in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Karin Knapp, Camila Giorgi, Carla Suarez Navarro
Upset alert: Petra Cetkovska,

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

Roland Garros scorecard: Queen of clay, Sharapova

A+: Maria Sharapova

Playing clutch tennis through her last 4 matches, Sharapova showed she had the best mental game on the women's tour despite not playing her best.

A: Simona Halep

Very decent showing from Halep given that this is her first slam final appearance. Definitely a future slam winner.

A-: Eugenie Bouchard

Not a fan of her attitude off court, but Eugenie has some serious game. If only she can mature off court, WTA will have another player to market.

B+: Andrea Petkovic

First slam semi-finals in her career made even sweeter given that she almost retired after her injury. Still, might have a Dementieva career. almost there but never reaching it.

B: Garbine Muguruza

What a showing from the Spaniard, displaying consistent power-hitting, and almost ousting 2 former champions. Clinical in her disposal of Serena Williams.

B-: Carla Suarez Navarro

Nobody can call her a mental giant. Wasted a perfect opportunity to make her first slam semi-finals by choking away leads in the sets that she lost. Needs a sports psychiatrist now.

C+: Pauline Parmentier

French wildcard captured the home crowd's imagination with her inspired play. She has the game, but just no faith in executing it. Hopefully this will give her the confidence to play well for the rest of the year.

C: Kiki Bertens

Out of nowhere, came through from qualifying all the way to the 4th round. Was always a competent player let down by her lack of focus. This run will give her the boost needed to get back on the main tour.

C-: Petra Kvitova

Well, she lost to a better clay court player. However, she fought very hard and almost had the win. Still, losing to Svetlana in a tight match isn't a good sign.

D: Agnieszka Radwanska

A strange and uninspired performance from the Pole. Wasted a perfect opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

E: Serena Williams

She was outplayed and out hit by Garbine, who just couldn't miss. Normally, Serena would have fought her heart out, but a flat performance gave her her earliest exit in a slam after her infamous flop against Razzano.

F: Li Na

No excuses for the Chinese. Precisely what she said, she would have lost to anyone who was standing across the net. Horrific performance.

Roland Garros day 9: Errani to reach finals again?

Schedule of play:

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/index.html

Match focus:

Kiki Bertens vs. Andrea Petkovic

Brand new territory for these 2 players as they attempt to reach their first Roland Garros quarter-finals. Berten's resurgence came out of nowhere, and I think she even surprised herself with her good results here. Andrea is the seeded player here, and will be the favourite. Still, Kiki has nothing to lose and will just swing freely. However, on such a big show court in Phillippe Chatrier, I think the occasion might get to her.

Pick: Petkovic in 2 sets

Sloane Stephens vs. Simona Halep

Even though Sloane Stephens has been running on 6 consecutive fourth round showings in slams, the only higher ranked player she beat was an injured Serena during those runs. It would be safe to say that unless Halep has an injury, she has this in the bag. Simona is just going from strength to strength, and as the highest seed left, most favoured to reach the finals. She has barely been losing games, so the Romanian will be too much for the erratic Sloane to topple.

Pick: Halep in 2 sets

Jelena Jankovic vs. Sara Errani

Jankovic is playing just enough to win her matches in straights throughout the tournament. As usual, it isn't without drama, and I expect a lot of drama from this match. Errani famously upset Jankovic in Rome, putting her clay court tennis skills to good use. Can she repeat it again? If you have watched Jelena's matches, you would have seen that the Serbian is still not playing at her best yet. She will need to be at her tip top condition for Sara. The winner of this match is almost a safe bet for the semi-finals. A close match that's for sure, and I'm going with Errani as she's more mentally strong and pesky.

Pick: Errani in 3 tight sets

Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Lucie Safarova

2 of the tour's most volatile ladies will clash for a place in the last 8. Svetlana had a hard fought battle with Kvitova, but she really made things difficult for herself by wasting all those break point chances. It's not a secret that the Russian knows how to play on clay. The question is whether her mind is strong enough. In this case, you can say the same about Lucie, whose career has been speckled with great wins and then puzzling losses. Needless to say, it will be an up and down match, but I believe Kuznetsova has the better clay game and will emerge the winner.

Pick: Kuznetsova in 3 sets

Washington, Carlsbad day 1: Stosur in trouble

Washington schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/2182/title/citi-open

Carlsbad schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/342/title/southern-california-open-

Match focus:

Jana Cepelova vs. Kiki Bertens

Something is going on with Kiki Bertens but she continues to play anyway. Her last win was in Rome and her last 2 losses were to players outside the top 190. No idea what's bothering the Dutch girl, but she needs to take a break to sort out her problems before it snowballs and erodes her confidence completely. Jana is a good ball striker and I guess will be more than happy to take out the troubled blond girl.

Pick Cepelova in 2 sets

Samantha Stosur vs. Varvara Lepchenko

Stosur's US Open preparations fell apart in Stanford and she will face a tougher opponent here in Lepchenko. Will the fragile Aussie crumble again? Lepchenko has a wily lefty serve and will be aiming for Samantha's weaker backhand. Stosur's kick serve will bounce into Varvara's forehand sweet spot for the American to swing freely. The only thing that is preventing Lepchenko from a sure win is her mental strength. I'm still not convinced she believes in herself enough to upset a top player. Maybe this match will be the one where she finishes the job.

Pick: Lepchenko in 2 tight sets

Flavia Pennetta vs. Francesca Schiavone

These 2 Italians meet again after drawing each other in Indian Wells earlier this year. Schiavone won that match and it will be a sign of things to come for this match. Pennetta seems to be struggling with her fitness, unable to maintain her form for the entire match. Schiavone is still fit and speedy around the court, and that will make the difference. I admit I have a soft spot for Flavia but Francesca will be the slight favourite here. I wouldn't mind an upset though.

Pick: Schiavone in 3 sets

Sure win bets: Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Paula Ormaechea
Upset alert: Samantha Stosur, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Kiki Bertens