US Open day 1: Veterans in the spotlight

Schedule of play:

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/index.html?promo=subnav

Match focus:
Kimiko Date-Krumm vs. Venus Williams

With the tour filled with youngsters, it's refreshing to see veterans battle it out. Instead of the bolsterious come-ons and fist pumps, veterans tend to keep it classy and dignified. Two of the tour's class acts will face off in Arthur Ashe stadium, where Venus will remain the firm favourite. Kimiko has the game to trouble most players, but she always falters at the crucial points. I don't see a surprise here as the hard courts suits the American more.

Pick: Williams in 2 sets

Maria Sharapova vs. Maria Kirilenko

Even though Kirilenko famously shocked Sharapova in Melbourne before, it will be extremely tough for her to replicate that success here. Kirilenko has been struggling with her knee injury, and was never the same player after her comeback. She is capable of playing good tennis, but her body doesn't allow her to do so. Against Sharapova who has nothing to defend and nothing to lose here, she will almost definitely be annihilated.

Pick: Sharapova in 2 easy sets

Magdalena Rybarikova vs. Caroline Wozniacki

Even though Rybarikova conquered Giorgi who ousted Wozniacki in New Haven, the organizers did the Dane a huge favour by scheduling them to play this early. The Slovak will be fatigued by her final appearance in New Haven, and Caroline will gladly run her around the court. Caroline was a bit uninspired in her loss to Giorgi, but it's tough when your opponent hits everything as hard as she can and lands it in. I believe Wozniacki will have ample rest this time, and make a good run here in New York.

Pick: Wozniacki in 2 sets

Sara Errani vs. Kirsten Flipkens

Sara Errani is struggling very badly this year in the American hard court season. This makes her a vulnerable seed and Flipkens will be optimistic of her chances. The Belgian had a good run in New Haven, reaching the quarter-finals, and prefers the hard courts more than Errani. Still, it will take someone with power to overcome Errani, and I'm not too sure if Flipkens' game is enough. I believe Sara will pick on Kirsten's weaker backhand, and grind out a hard fought win.

Pick: Errani in 3 sets

Peng Shuai vs. Zheng Jie

Sadly for Zheng, it seems that her body just cannot hold up anymore. The aging Chinese had some good runs in selected tournaments this year, but the rest of her events are all early round exits. Peng will be the clear favourite here as Zheng was barely playing in the warm-up tournaments. It seems like the end is near for Zheng, but she definitely maximized her potential given her petite frame.

Pick: Peng in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Agnieszka Radwanska, Alize Cornet, Sabine Lisicki, Simona Halep, Jelena Jankovic
Upset alert: Tsvetana Pironkova, Kiki Bertens, Stefanie Voegele, Daniela Hantuchova, Roberta Vinci

New Haven QF: Kvitova the sole seed left

Schedule of play:

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

Match focus:

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova vs. Petra Kvitova

With only one seed left, it's difficult to go against Kvitova. The Czech annihilated Makarova in their Montreal rematch, and seems to be finding her groove again. Strycova is a dangerous all court player, but Kvitova's power will just blow her away. I will be very surprised if Petra doesn't hold the trophy come Saturday.

Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets

Magdalena Rybarikova vs. Alison Riske

These 2 players surprised everyone by breaking their slumps in spectacular fashion. Rybarikova took out top seed Simona Halep, while Riske ended Pennetta's campaign. Alison plays a high risk game and it paid off well against Flavia. However, Rybarikova's game incorporates a lot of slices, which doesn't give Alison much rhythm to get into her zone. Besides, Magdalena is definitely on a high after getting her first career top 5 win. I believe the Slovak will prevail this time.

Pick: Rybarikova in 2 tight sets

Camila Giorgi vs. Garbine Muguruza

When Giorgi's playing well, not even the Great Wall of Denmark can stop her. The Italian hits every ball as hard as she can and it paid off very well against the in-form Wozniacki. Caroline was a bit flat though, but Camila stuck to her game and reaped the rewards. Garbine will be a different case as she hits the ball with authority. She can boss Camila around and make the Italian try to make outrageous shots. Given her better shot selection, I predict Muguruza will emerge the winner.

Pick: Muguruza in 3 sets

Kirsten Flipkens vs. Samantha Stosur

Look who's back. Stosur dominated rising star, Eugenie Bouchard, and raced to her first quarter-final since January. Just when we thought that Stosur can be labelled as a has-been, she showed the form that carried her to the US Open title. If she continues her form, she will sweep away Flipkens as well, who struggled to put away a stubborn Petkovic. While both players play a similar game, Stosur does everything better than Flipkens, so it should be a no-brainer.

Pick: Stosur in 2 sets

Cincinnati day 4: How much has Eugenie improved?

Schedule of play:

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

Match focus:

Samantha Stosur vs. Eugenie Bouchard

There is no doubt that Eugenie Bouchard is one of the tour's most improved players. This match against Stosur will show how much she has improved since last year, where she lost a close match to Samantha in Osaka. However, it can also be said that Stosur has regressed, suffering shock losses this year with no real upsets of any kind. I believe Eugenie is back on track with her easy win in her previous round, and will hand Stosur another early exit.

Pick: Bouchard in 3 sets

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Camila Giorgi

Camila announced herself to the tennis world with her upset win over Caroline last year in US Open. Can she repeat that feat? The Dane was not in her peak form last year that's for sure, so it is safe to say that Caroline of the old is back. When the Dane is playing well, players will need to hit through her, which is very tough to do. Camila isn't as patient as the other players, so I expect an easy win this time for Wozniacki.

Pick: Wozniacki in 2 sets

Andrea Petkovic vs. Kirsten Flipkens

Flipkens had the good fortune of drawing a lowly ranked Doi in her first round. I'm sure Petkovic will be the favourite here as the Belgian has been struggling with her form for quite some time. Andrea overcame Cibulkova in her first round, and despite not playing well herself, managed to win in straight sets. The German's confidence seems to be back and when she's hitting her shots, Flipkens cannot do much. Looks like the Belgian has peaked and might never return to the top 20 again.

Pick: Petkovic in 2 sets

Miami day 5: Overranked, overhyped

Schedule of play:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/837/title/sony-open-tennis

Match focus:

Kirsten Flipkens vs. Sabine Lisicki

These 2 players are guilty of riding on their Wimbledon points and doing almost nothing with it. Flipkens did reach a couple of quarter-finals but Lisicki is the ultimate disappointment. She only reached the 3rd round after Nadia gifted her the match by hitting 4 consecutive double-faults in the final game. This shouldn't happen to a Wimbledon finalist, and under the guidance of Martina Hingis. The German is just lost now and I think she cannot wait until the grass season approaches.

Pick: Flipkens in 2 sets

Ana Ivanovic vs. Flavia Pennetta

Ana dumped Davis in convincing fashion, and will be challenged by Indian Wells winner, Pennetta. Good thing or Ana is that she leads the heads to heads with 4 victories, but Flavia is going into the match with renewed confidence. 2 equally matched players will equate to a mouth watering clash. I think Pennetta has a chance to get her first win over Ivanovic, given her recent form. Whoever wins here will have a chance to reach the semi-finals, so I expect a tough fight.

Pick: Pennetta in 3 sets

Tsvetana Pironkova vs. Angelique Kerber

Angelique Kerber was having a pretty good season until Dubai, where she lost a close match to Ivanovic. Kerber used to be the player who never gives up and wins the tight matches. However, she has so far lost a few tiebreaks and proceeded to lose the match. No idea what's going on with her but she needs to be ready for Pironkova, as she just trounced her in Sydney earlier this year. Tsvetana will be feeling good with such a recent victory and Kerber being vulnerable now. An upset is possible.

Pick: Pironkova in 2 tight sets

Sure win bets: Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova, Samantha Stosur
Upset alert: Sara Errani, Angelique Kerber, Ana Ivanovic

Melbourne day 1: Another early exit for Stosur?

Schedule of play:

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/index.html

Match focus:

Samantha Stosur vs. Klara Zakopalova

A rematch of Hobart's semi-final, Stosur will have to meet her vanquisher in the first round. Will the Czech be able to replicate the win against Australia's highest ranked player? It's no secret that Stosur cannot handle the pressure of playing at home, and compounded with the fact that she just lost to Klara 3 days ago is going to plague her mind. Still, the organizers did her a huge favour by scheduling the match on the first day, meaing Zakopalova gets minimal practice and rest before this match. This match might be close, but I believe Samantha will tough this one out.

Pick: Stosur in 3 sets

Ekaterina Makarova vs. Venus Williams

Unseeded Venus Williams is in unfamiliar territory as she's the unseeded player here. Makarova has just made a statement in Sydney, having brushed aside Jankovic in straight sets. Can she do the same to the multiple slam champion? I commend Venus for her love of the game and refusal to give up. But her speed and power isn't as before, and the only thing that she's got for her is her hunger to win. If she can hang on long enough with the Russian, Makarova might succumb under the pressure. Still, there is a possibility of the younger Ekaterina just running away with the match.

Pick: Williams in 3 tight sets

Julia Goerges vs. Sara Errani

Struggling Goerges is going to take another tumble in the rankings if she loses here to Errani, which is extremely possible. The steady Italian has the perfect game to counter the erratic flashy game of Julia. The German is showing signs of a comeback though, as she played a close match with Wozniacki and won some qualifying matches there. If Julia can play to her 2011 standard, Errani might be in trouble. Although chances of that happening is extremely small.

Pick: Errani in 2 sets

Laura Robson vs. Kirsten Flipkens

Robson has been hampered by a wrist injury last week, but I'm sure she's only taking precautionary measures. She now has a winnable match against Flipkens, who can be prone to being overpowered. Laura just needs to know when to pounce against the craft Belgian. The Brit can be a little bit impatient with her aggressiveness, resulting in unnecessary errors. If she can rein it in a little, a win here is very much possible.

Pick: Robson in 3 sets

Casey Dellacqua vs. Vera Zvonareva

Look who's making a comeback! Zvonareva makes her long awaited return to the tour, sporting a fuller figure. The former world number 2 has nothing to lose against Dellacqua, and will go out there swinging for winners. Casey has been slowly playing herself to form in the challenger events as well. She should be able to give Vera a close fight given Vera's recent return to tour. A win here for Zvonareva is possible, but I wouldn't be surprised or worried if she loses here. Not everyone is like Kim Clijsters, who can go into match mode immediately.

Pick: Dellacqua in 3 sets

Sydney, Hobart day 2: Tough opening for Kerber

Sydney schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/636/title/apia-international-sydney

Hobart schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/415/title/hobart-international

Match focus:

Dominika Cibulkova vs. Angelique Kerber

One of the highest ranked non-seeded players, Cibulkova is a dangerous floater for anyone. Last year's finalist will attempt to overpower the feisty Kerber in their first round match. What's working against the German is her poor head to heads against Cibulkova. The Slovak leads 4-0, including a win here last year in Sydney. With that in mind, Dominika will be confident of her chance against the 5th seed. Kerber tends to start her year slow, so I wouldn't be surprised if she crashes out early.

Pick: Cibulkova in 3 sets

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Julia Goerges

Caroline Wozniacki's off court activities might be distracting her from fulfilling her full potential. Being recently engaged, I'm not too sure how much work she put in during off season. Against the dreadful Julia Goerges, Caroline should have a soft match to start her tennis season. Not to mention that Julia retired in her final round of qualifying, so I'm not too sure how she will be able to play this match fully fit. It won't be a pretty match, but the steady player will win.

Pick: Wozniacki in 2 sets

Marina Erakovic vs. Kirsten Flipkens

In my opinion, Flipkens and Erakovic play a similar game. Kirsten is helped by the fact that she is higher ranked and has more confidence. Marina dropped out of her home tournament early, so she needs to get over that disappointment. The New Zealander has a chance of upsetting the Belgian, but I think she will be too eager to end points, resulting in numerous errors.

Pick: Flipkens in 3 sets

Sure win bets: Kaia Kanepi, Alize Cornet, Samantha Stosur
Upset alert: Angelique Kerber, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Klara Zakopalova

US Open day 1: Williams sisters in action

Schedule of play:

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/index.html?promo=subnav

Match focus:

Kirsten Flipkens vs. Venus Williams

A rematch of Toronto, Venus Williams will try to finish what she couldn't finish in Canada. She bagelled Kirsten, only to run out of energy in the 2nd and 3rd set. In USA, she will enjoy the support of the home crowd, and everyone loves an underdog. Even though she hasn't been in this position for the longest time, Venus will definitely need every single cheer she gets. A very winnable match for the American.

Pick: Williams in 3 sets

Serena Williams vs. Francesca Schiavone

Francesca has the rotten luck of drawing Serena Williams for her opening match, but she is a former Grand Slam champion and can trouble the great American. Serena will need to get her game going from the get-go, as Francesca's wily game can throw her off. Even though Schiavone can make things interesting, a win is almost assured for Serena. Her aura of invincibility is incredible and it's not something the fading tennis player in Schiavone can interrupt.

Jelena Jankovic vs. Madison Keys

Even though Jankovic is seeded high at number 9, she draws the ever dangerous Madison Keys. The teenager possesses one of the biggest serves on tour, and is primed to be the next big thing. Playing in the US will only boost her confidence, spelling trouble for the Serbian. Jankovic needs to put her running shoes on if she wants to avoid the upset. Just keep making Keys hit that extra ball and that unforced error. If she commits the error by doing too much, she might be the highest seed to fall in day 1.

Pick: Keys in 3 sets

Virginie Razzano vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Pavlyuchenkova's pattern of bombing out in big events might very well continue here in New York. Razzano is a dangerous player and had some decent results recently. Even though Anastasia did well in New Haven, I doubt she is truly back to her confident self. She just needs to commit herself to fitness, or else she will be like a poor man's Kvitova, a player whose full potential is not fully realised.

Pick: Razzano in 3 sets

Petra Cetkovska vs. Sofia Arvidsson

Sofia Arvidsson is just a walking bye these days. Cetkovska has the good luck of drawing the formless Swede, who has won 3 main draw matches for the whole of this year and has slid down to 91. Cetkovska will make the hefty Swede move and pay with her lacklustre movement. It is almost a safe bet that Sofia will be going home after the first day.

Pick: Cetkovska in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Marina Erakovic, Urszula Radwanska, Magdalena Rybarikova, Monica Puig, Coco Vandeweghe
Upset alert: Kirsten Flipkens, Laura Robson, Sorana Cirstea, Alexandra Cadantu, Sofia Arvidsson