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

Indian Wells day 1: Russians on comeback trails

Schedule of play:

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

Match focus:

Vera Zvonareva vs. Peng Shuai

Former Indian Wells champion Vera Zvonareva hopes to kickstart her comeback at her place of triumph 3 years ago. Judging by her matches this year, I do think that Vera still has a lot of work to do to get back on top. Her weight has ballooned a bit, and her movement is compromised. Against a match fit Peng Shuai, it is just not good enough. It's tough to expect results straightaway without putting the necessary hard work. I hope Vera doesn't get disheartened and continue her efforts, because I do think she has one last run in her. Sadly, it's not now.

Pick: Peng Shuai in 2 sets

Nadia Petrova vs. Silvia Soler-Espinosa

Nadia Petrova did not have a career threatening injury, but she took time off to mourn for the loss of her mother. Nadia's comeback would be less difficult considering she doesn't have injuries to worry about. Another point I like about Nadia's attitude is that she did not ask for wildcards, but instead played qualifying in her first few events. This builds confidence and give a good gauge on where her level is. Against clay courter Silvia, Petrova has the advantage. The Russian needs to serve well and be aggressive, not drawn into long rallies which favours the Spaniard. This is a winnable match for Nadia and she knows it.

Pick: Petrova in 2 sets

Yvonne Meusburger vs. Iveta Melzer

Last of the comeback players, Iveta Melzer meets the vastly improved Yvonne Meusburger. 2 years ago, I would have given Iveta the edge easily. However, I'm not so certain now. Yvonne has improved leaps and bounds since then, and Iveta is still fresh on her comeback. It will be expecting too much from her to defeat a steady top 50 player. I would suggest Iveta to start with lower expectations and play from qualifying to gain confidence. Jumping right into the main draw is too much too soon.

Pick: Meusburger in 2 sets

Madison Keys vs. Tsvetana Pironkova

Big things are expected of Madison Keys, but she falters every time. Against Pironkova, it will be a good chance to show that her mental game has improved. Pironkova is the type of player that Keys doesn't like. A fast player who mixes things up with her slice, Madison will need to be patient and wait for the right moment to attack. If the American passes the tricky Bulgarian test, it will be a testament to her improved game. If not, maybe Keys just doesn't have what it takes to be a top player.

Pick: Keys in 3 sets

Belinda Bencic vs. Heather Watson

Belinda Bencic is the one to watch as she gave Li Na a scare in their match in Melbourne. A youngster who's more crafty than powerful, she has the tendency to get blown away by more powerful opponents. She doesn't have to worry about that against Watson, as the Brit doesn't have the ball bashing game. Watson is recovering from a virus, and is slowly making her way back into the top 100. However, Bencic isn't one to be ignored as she is also rapidly rising up the rankings. A close contest is expected from these 2 and I believe the younger and more fearless player will prevail.

Pick: Bencic in 3 sets

Sure win bets: Lauren Davis, Petra Cetkovska, Yanina Wickmayer
Upset alerts: Shahar Peer, Bojana Jovanovski, Chanelle Scheepers

 

Doha day 1: Petrova's back

Match focus:

Peng Shuai vs. Nadia Petrova

One will be forgiven if they thought Nadia Petrova has given up on singles. After a stellar end to 2012, the Russian faded into oblivion in 2013, and suffered a personal tragedy which made her take some time off the tour. Fresh out of qualifying with a few wins under her belt, Nadia stages her comeback against Peng. With a 4-3 lead in heads to heads and winning their last 2 matches, Nadia would like her chances against the Chinese. Nadia needs to serve well and be prepared to scramble. If she's not 100% fit, there's no way she's going to win this. My heart says Nadia, but my mind says Peng. Fitness will definitely be a factor here if it goes to 3 sets.

Pick: Peng in 3 sets

Tsvetana Pironkova vs. Roberta Vinci

I have no idea what happened to Vinci this year, but her form has been non existent. Apart from her doubles success, she has zero wins this year in singles. Despite owning a 3-0 lead against Pironkova, I don't think it matters as she's obviously feeling the strain/or not motivated enough. This is a golden chance for the Bulgarian to snatch her first win over the Italian.

Pick: Pironkova in 2 tight sets

Petra Cetkovska vs. Sloane Stephens

I've always wondered why Cetkovska wasn't ranked higher. The Czech beauty has the variety and can hit hard when needed. The only thing holding her back is her mental game. These two had epic battles for the past 2 years in Wimbledon, where Cetkovska lost in 3 tight sets. Can she take revenge this time on hard courts? Sloane has the tendency to lose concentration midway through the match. If Petra takes advantage of that, she can snare a rare win over the American. Sadly, her head wouldn't allow to do so.

Pick: Stephens in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Flavia Pennetta, Venus Williams
Upset alert: Roberta Vinci, Annika Beck

Melbourne day 3: Tough match for Samantha again

Upset of the previous day:

Garbine Muguruza def. Kaia Kanepi 6-2 2-6 6-2

Day 2 didn't feature a lot of upsets, and even this loss wasn't really unexpected. Kaia gave a good fight against Muguruza, but it wasn't enough for the young Spaniard to upset the higher ranked Estonian. Pity as Kaia has always been injured and despite her constant struggles, she still manages to maintain a ranking high enough to be seeded. Tough draw for her, but I'm sure Kaia won't be too upset with this loss. She just lost to a future star in the making.

Schedule of play:

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

Match focus:

Samantha Stosur vs. Tsvetana Pironkova

The road certainly doesn't get easier for local hope, Samantha Stosur. After dispatching Hobart finalist, Klara Zakopalova, she faces Sydney titlelist, Tsvetana Pironkova. These 2 are the most dangerous floaters around and it will be a big task for Stosur to overcome them both. Pironkova is just high on confidence now, and she has won the hearts of many with her triumph in Sydney. With her unorthodox forehand, she can cause trouble to Stosur's game, as Samantha needs to hit the ball sweetly or she will shank the balls badly. If she continues her Sydney form, I don't see why Pironkova cannot continue her fine form.

Pick: Pironkova in 2 tight sets

Flavia Pennetta vs. Monica Puig

It's experience vs. youth again in this intriguing 2nd round match. Pennetta has been on the tour for over ten years and she faces one of the youngest player in the main draw. Monica has a bad habit of failing to close out sets, and she almost let loose a huge lead against Tatishvili. Pennetta will not let Puig get away with that so easily. Despite her age, Pennetta moves very well and hits a potent backhand. Puig needs to be fully concentrated to upset the Italian. As evidenced in her match against Vesnina in Hobart, Puig still lacks the killer punch against experienced players. Flavia should be able to ease through this without much hassle.

Pick: Pennetta in 2 sets

Mona Barthel vs. Luksika Kumkhum

Kumkhum captured the hearts of many with her spirited win over Kvitova. Will she be brought back to Earth by the volatile Mona Barthel? The German is the epitome of blowing hot and cold. She can go from winning a Premier title to losing to a player ranked outside the top 300 in a lowly tournament. The thing that Luksika has going for her is that Barthel doesn't know much about her except for her match against Petra. If she can continue her fearless hitting and take the initiative before Mona, Kumkhum has a chance to continue her run. Let's hope the attention hasn't distracted the humble Thai, and she can perform her best against Barthel.

Pick: Kumkhum in 3 sets

Lauren Davis vs. Julia Goerges

Judging by the dominant effort by Goerges in sweeping away Errani, I think she's back to her 2011 form. Julia was unfazed by Sara's retrieving and went after the spinny balls for winners. Against a lesser version of Errani in Davis, Goerges should be able to pass the test. The American had a kind draw, facing unheralded Sashia Vickery in her first round. Provided Julia continues her fine form, a win for the German is expected.

Pick: Goerges in 2 sets

Sure win bets: Li Na, Serena Williams, Ekaterina Makarova, Alison Riske, Kirsten Flipkens
Upset alert: Lauren Davis, Samantha Stosur, Mona Barthel, Daniela Hantuchova

Sydney, Hobart F: Fairytales do come true

Sydney final:

Tsvetana Pironkova def. Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-4

Pironkova goes from strength to strength as she completes her fairytale run from qualifying to winning the title. Sydney has always been one of the strongest events on tour and it's quite miraculous that the Bulgarian got through all her opponents with relative ease. Tsvetana always had a scrappy game but now she has learnt when to go for winners. Against Kerber, she put that to good effect with her backhand winners. Kerber will be disappointed. It seems that she always crumbles against lesser known opponents in finals. Now, let's see how Pironkova carries her momentum forward to Melbourne. Let's hope she doesn't get too contended with her mini success here and concentrate on the main slam.

Hobart final:

Klara Zakopalova vs. Garbine Muguruza

Whoever wins this will be a fairtale come true. For Klara, it will be her first title since 2005, a staggering 8 years gap. I don't think any player has this kind of perseverance to stay on tour despite not having much success. For Garbine, it will be her first title and a sign that she's fully recovered from her career threatening surgery. Being the younger player, Garbine will have nothing to lose and will go all out with her attack. Klara will have to draw on all her experience to weather the storm. Still, one has to favour the younger Spaniard as Klara has an abysmal 2-10 record in her final appearances. Looks like the Kookie might crumble again.

Pick: Muguruza in 2 sets

Sydney F, Hobart SF: Against all odds

Sydney final:

Tsvetana Pironkova vs. Angelique Kerber

Coming through qualifying, Pironkova continues her fairy tale run by upsetting Kvitova in straight sets. What is amazing about her accomplishment is that she has already played 7 matches so far and was able to take out players with vast different game styles, ie. Errani and then Kvitova. She will have her hands full with Kerber, whose defensive game has an added aggressive side now. The German has increased her aggressiveness this year and is the favourite to take the title. Pironkova should be very satisfied with her first final appearance, and go down meekly to the pesky German.

Pick: Kerber in 2 sets

Hobart SF:

Samantha Stosur vs. Klara Zakopalova

Looks like Stosur really tuned her mind to tell herself that she's not in Australia. Taking out the dangerous Jovanovski easily, she faces another flat hitter in Zakopalova. Sam's top spin shots will be sitting nicely for Zakopalova to slam for winners. The Aussie will need to serve well, and punish the Czech's weaker serve. As with Samantha, you'll never know which player will come out to play. But if she plays to her normal standard, Stosur should be able to edge out Klara.

Pick: Stosur in 3 sets

Estrella Cabeza Candela vs. Gabine Muguruza

Nobody would have expected these 2 Spaniards to be facing each other for a place in the finals. Whoever wins here will make their first final appearance, so a few jitters is expected. Candela's game is more suited for the clay courts, while Muguruza's aggressive game is more lethal on hard courts. With more main draw appearances, Garbine has the game and the experience to win this winnable match. She just needs to calm those nerves and play her usual game.

Pick: Muguruza in 2 sets

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

Sofia day 4: Pavlyuchenkova and Cornet vie for semi-final place

Ana Ivanovic vs. Elena Vesnina

Ana proved to be the undisputed queen of this event by winning against Stosur. She maintains her flawless record in Tournament of Champions and looks set to continue her winning ways against Vesnina. The Russian lost a set against Pironkova, which is an indication of her dire form. Ana will wallop Elena and end the Russian's season here.

Pick: Ivanovic in 2 sets

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Alize Cornet

The winner of this match proceeds to the semi-final, so I believe they will be fighting their hearts out. On the fast indoor courts, you have to favour the Russian. Cornet's loopy strokes will be sitting ducks for Anastasia to punish. However, I believe the Frenchwoman will put up a good fight before going down.

Pick: Pavlyuchenkova in 3 sets

Samantha Stosur vs. Tsvetana Pironkova

Stosur in 2 easy sets. I repeat myself, Pironkova doesn't belong here.