Quebec City, Tashkent day 4: Pesky and resilient Lauren

Quebec City schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/590/title/challenge-bell

Tashkent schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/759/title/tashkent-open

Match focus:

Lauren Davis vs. Andrea Hlavackova

Lauren Davis seems to be a feisty competitor, shaking off her double bagel embarrassment in double quick time. She will face another brainless ball basher, Andrea Hlavackova. Unlike Hrdecka, Hlavackova carried her doubles confidence into her singles play as well. She is also one of the rare players who won both doubles and mixed doubles of a grand slam. As a singles player, her results are sadly mediocre. Against someone who's a resilient scrappy player, Andrea might just self implode.

Pick: Davis in 2 sets

Petra Martic vs. Kristina Mladenovic

The unpredictable Martic strikes again, taking out US Open doubles champion Lucie Hrdecka. Against Mladenovic, she is clearly not the favourite but let's see if she can surprise again. With a huge serve, Mladenovic should be able to take advantage of quick points. However, she might be bothered by Petra's variety and low balls to her forehand. This will be a test for Kristina, to see if she has it in her to consistent beat the players she's supposed to beat. She wouldn't want to end up like her opponent, posting irregular results throughout her career.

Pick: Mladenovic in 3 sets

Alexandra Cadantu vs. Olga Govortsova

Govortsova's game is a hard one to tame. She has huge groundstrokes but tends to go for too much. If she can get a decent coach, she has the game to be a consistent top 30 player. However, it's a bit too late in her career to post any remarkable results. Against a claycourter like Cadantu, Olga should be able to hit her off the court. Cadantu's game just isn't enough on any other surface other than clay.

Pick: Govortsova in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Mandy Minella, Eugenie Bouchard, Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Upset alert: Alexandra Cadantu, Lucie Safarova

Quebec City, Tashkent day 3: Bouchard shoulders Canadian hopes

Quebec City schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/590/title/challenge-bell

Tashkent schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/759/title/tashkent-open

Match focus:

Eugenie Bouchard vs. Sofia Arvidsson

Bouchard will be the focus of this tournament as the Canadians pin their hopes on this youngster. Bouchard's game is handy, but prone to being overpowered. She will like her chances against the slumping Sofia Arvidsson though. Eugenie just needs to stay focused and not let the pressure get to her. This match is a perfect warm up to get used to the crowd and courts.

Pick: Bouchard in 2 sets

Lucie Hrdecka vs. Petra Martic

The newly crowned doubles champion of US Open takes on the unfulfilled Petra Martic. Both players will blow hot and cold, so it's difficult to predict who will take this match. Confidence wise, Hrdecka definitely has the advantage, posting an impressive win in doubles over the Williams sisters. Martic has gone into the woods again and if she doesn't find her game back, she will be languishing in the ITF challenger events soon.

Pick: Hrdecka in 2 sets

Yvonne Meusburger vs. Petra Cetkovska

Yvonne lost all her form by taking a prolonged break after her title in Bad Gastein. Will she regain it against the dangerous Petra Cetkovska? A natural ball striker, Cetkovska's game is pleasing to the eye when she's on. Compared to Meusburger's scrappy play, Petra makes the game look easy. If she's playing to her normal standards, the Czech should have this in the bag. Let's hope Cetkovska gets the results because she belongs to the top 50.

Pick: Cetkovska in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Mandy Minella, Nastassja Burnett, Polona Hercog, Eugenie Bouchard
Upset alert: Galina Voskoboeva, Irina-Camelia Begu, Caroline Garcia

Quebec City, Tashkent day 2: Giorgi to continue her form

Quebec City schedule:

http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/590/title/challenge-bell

Tashkent schedule:



Match focus:

Lauren Davis vs. Camila Giorgi

Camila's game is so hit or miss that you'll never know what will happen to her. But based on her recent US Open form, she seems to have hit her stride and will carry her form forward. Davis was unceremoniously dumped out with a double bagel in US Open. That is going to hurt for a while. Facing an in form player, her hopes are bleak.

Pick: Giorgi in 2 sets

Anna Tatishvili vs. Lucie Safarova

Can somebody tell me what Tatishvili has done to warrant so many main draw appearances? It seems that she loses in every one of them but yet continues to be grant main draw entry. Lucie will be delighted at facing Anna, as she is dropping down the rankings herself. Not too sure what's going on for Lucie but maybe she just needs a break. Anyway, the Czech should be able to take this match. If Lucie loses this, she should really consider taking the rest of the year off.

Pick: Safarova in 2 sets

Yaroslava Shvedova vs. Vesna Dolonc

Coming off a good showing in US Open, Shvedova should be the favourite to take this title. She faces Vesna Dolonc, a steady but unimpressive player who can outlast players who are not having their day. Dolonc doesn't have a huge weapon whereas Shvedova has tons of them. It's just that Yaroslava has the tendency to think too much and lose her concentration. If she puts her mind to it, she will blow Dolonc in 2 easy sets.

Pick: Shvedova in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Julia Glushko, Petra Cetkovska, Maria-Tereza Torro-Flor, Bethanie Mattek Sands, Lucie Safarova
Upset alert: Lauren Davis, Eleni Daniilidou, Mirjana Baroni-Lucic