The 4th round wrapped up and more big seeds fell by the wayside. I only guessed two right before the tournament began, unsurprisingly Williams and Azarenka!
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Williams handled the most hyped match of the tournament thus far, beating (16/15) Stephens 64 61. As expected, Williams was focused from the outset and looked in the mood for revenge. The first set was a real struggle, whereby Williams was often the one on the defence. Stephens battled back from a break down to level the set but ultimately didn't play as well as Serena on the big points.
2/2 Azarenka was forced once again to fight back from a set down to beat (15/13) Ivanovic 46 63 64 in a rain postponed match. Throughout the match, Victoria struggled to find her range against the hit and miss style of her opponent. In the end, Ivanovic's 42 unforced errors helped Azarenka break her serve 9 times, which contributed to her downfall.
4/3 Radwanska failed for a 4th time to go beyond the 4th round at the US Open, as (25/24)Makarova scored a 64 64 win; her 1st win in 4 meetings with the Pole. Radwanska was guilty of complacency in the 1st set as she lost 8 games from 4-0 up, to trail 46 0-2. As always, the dangerous left handed was dominant as soon as she had shrugged off the nerves, reaching her 2nd major quarter final of the year. For Radwanska, it's the only major in which she hasn't reached the quarters this year.
6/5 Li was ruthless against (12/9) Jankovic, breaking her opponents serve on all 7 opportunities to win 63 60 under the lights.
20/18 Suarez Navarro put everything on the line to edge (9/8) Kerber 46 63 76(3), having initially led 4-2 in the 1st set and served for the match at 5-4. She is the 1st Spaniard to reach the quarters here since 1998, whilst Kerber has now failed to reach any major quarter final since Wimbledon 2012!
Elsewhere, (13/10) Vinci beat the rain and a 1-4 deficit to end the run of qualifier Giorgi 64 62, moving through to her 2nd straight quarter final here. Pennetta defeated the red hot (19/21) Halep 62 76(3) for her 3rd win in as many attempts to move through to her 4th quarter final here. Hantuchova ended the run of wildcard Riske 63 57 62, hitting 15 aces to move into her 1st major quarter final since 2008; her 1st in New York since 2002!
Showing posts with label Ivanovic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ivanovic. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Quarter final predictions
So, the final Grand Slam of the year is upon us. Sadly, world number 3 Maria Sharapova is absent with bursitis in her shoulder and so too of course is Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, who of course stunned everyone recently with her confounding and abrupt retirement. So, most (including myself) believe the title will be decided between Williams and Azarenka. Here are my predictions, though Wimbledon surprised everyone, so here's hope that the US Open follows the script a little more closely.
1st Quarter: Serena Williams VS Kanepi
Williams has a tough draw but I assume she'll handle it; including a potential 4th round clash with Stephens. I think Kerber will lose before the quarters and Kanepi will take advantage. Venus may beat Flipkens in the 1st round, but doesn't have the necessary stamina any more to pose a big threat, whilst Bouchard doesn't yet have enough experience.
2nd Quarter: Radwanska VS Cirstea
Radwanska's consistency will put her in good stead to reach her 1st US Open quarter final, though Lisicki is a dangerous floater. Cirstea is in good form and seeing as she has recently beaten Jankovic and Li, she should advance through her section.
3rd Quarter: Wozniacki VS Halep
Wozniacki has a good chance to return to the late stages of a Grand Slam here, seeing as Vinci is her biggest threat. Halep comes into the event in great form and I can see her handling anyone like Kirilenko, Kuznetsova or Errani in her section.
4th Quarter: Stosur VS Azarenka
Stosur should take advantage of an earlier Kvitova exit here; perhaps at the hands of Petkovic in the 2nd round, though Petrova's always unpredictable. Azarenka has a tough draw, with either Ivanovic or Cibulkova potentially waiting in the 4th round, but is expected to pull through.
1st Quarter: Serena Williams VS Kanepi
Williams has a tough draw but I assume she'll handle it; including a potential 4th round clash with Stephens. I think Kerber will lose before the quarters and Kanepi will take advantage. Venus may beat Flipkens in the 1st round, but doesn't have the necessary stamina any more to pose a big threat, whilst Bouchard doesn't yet have enough experience.
2nd Quarter: Radwanska VS Cirstea
Radwanska's consistency will put her in good stead to reach her 1st US Open quarter final, though Lisicki is a dangerous floater. Cirstea is in good form and seeing as she has recently beaten Jankovic and Li, she should advance through her section.
3rd Quarter: Wozniacki VS Halep
Wozniacki has a good chance to return to the late stages of a Grand Slam here, seeing as Vinci is her biggest threat. Halep comes into the event in great form and I can see her handling anyone like Kirilenko, Kuznetsova or Errani in her section.
4th Quarter: Stosur VS Azarenka
Stosur should take advantage of an earlier Kvitova exit here; perhaps at the hands of Petkovic in the 2nd round, though Petrova's always unpredictable. Azarenka has a tough draw, with either Ivanovic or Cibulkova potentially waiting in the 4th round, but is expected to pull through.
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