I did not realise that all eight of the 4th round matches in the WTA draw were taking place today so here are my predictions for the last 4 matches...
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| Caroline Wozniacki |
Marion Bartoli v Lucie Safarova - As is the case, when a player struggles in their first match, they often have a much more straightforward passage in the next round. Bartoli eased past Chanelle Scheepers, 6-2 6-0 in the third round breaking her opponent's serve on every occasion. Safarova has benefitted from two withdrawals with Francesca Schiavone succumbing to the stomach bug that has caused a number of players to pull out of Indian Wells. Safarova will know that this match with Bartoli will require a much more significant fight. Their last two matches have gone to three sets and although I think this will be tight, i'm going for Bartoli to nick it in straight sets...
Prediction - Bartoli in 2 sets
Caroline Wozniacki v Ana Ivanovic - Both Ivanovic and Wozniacki lost the opening set of their third round matches yesterday before coming through against spirited opponents. Ivanovic put in a fighting performance to beat Ksenia Pervak, 6-7 6-3 6-2, meanwhile Wozniacki laboured past Sofia Arvidsson, 3-6 7-5 6-2. Ivanovic has struggled to impose herself on the big matches this year and went down to Wozniacki in Dubai earlier this year. She seems to be in a better frame of mind if you take aboard her comments after the Pervak match. I fancy her to take a set, but i'm not brave enough to say that she can beat the Danish brick wall...
Prediction - Wozniacki in 3 sets
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| Nadia Petrova |
Nadia Petrova v Maria Kirilenko - Petrova caused the biggest upset of yesterday's play when she beat Sam Stosur, 6-1 6-7 7-6. She played some remarkable, lights-out tennis in the first set before fighting through the nerves to finally get across the finish line after wasting an opportunity to serve the match out (and a match point) in the second set. Kirilenko struggled physically against Lourdes Dominguez Lino, but somehow found a way through in 3 sets. The last three encounters between Kirilenko and Petrova have all gone to 3 sets and this will be another close match for sure. If Kirilenko is fighting fit, I will stick by my original quarter-final prediction; otherwise Petrova will be willing to take the chance against a potentially under-the-weather opponent. Petrova has the game to beat anyone on her day but as she proved yesterday, her mental game can seriously hold her back...
Prediction - Kirilenko in 3 sets
Roberta Vinci v Maria Sharapova - Sharapova had to overcome a late fightback from Simona Halep in her previous match before eventually progressing into the 4th round with a 6-3 6-4 victory. She faces a completely different challenge in Roberta Vinci, who produced a stirring comeback to beat Dominika Cibulkova in the third round, recovering from 4-2 40-15 down in the third set. This is a potential banana skin for Sharapova because Vinci has a unique style dominated by penetrating backhand slices that can trouble anyone on their day; however I think Sharapova is playing with enough power and authority at the moment to avoid slipping in this one...
Prediction - Sharapova in 2 tight sets
You can view my WTA and ATP predictions for Indian Wells... i'm having a very good week in both draws :-)
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