WTA Indian Wells: Quarter-Final Predictions

1. Petra Kvitova v Maria Kirilenko (Wednesday)

Petra Kvitova

The improving consistency of Maria Kirilenko has been there for all to see this year as she notched an upset win over Agnieszka Radwanska in the 4th round, recovering from a 3-1 third set deficit to post an impressive 6-1 4-6 7-5 victory in 2 hours and 27 minutes.  Kirilenko now takes on Petra Kvitova in the quarters, who reached her first ever Indian Wells quarter-final with a 6-2 6-3 win over Klara Zakopalova out on court 7.  The pair are tied at 3-3 in their head-to-head and split their two encounters in 2012 (excluding the first one in Australia where Kirilenko retired through injury).  Kirilenko won a tight two setter at the Olympics, but Kvitova rebounded in New Haven with an even tighter victory.  I bet that Kvitova would rather have played Radwanska than Kirilenko, but I stil believe she will be the fresher of the two as all three of Kirilenko's matches this week have gone to three sets and this is her first tournament since coming back from a shoulder injury. I'm going for Petra... 

Prediction - Kvitova to beat Kirilenko in 3 sets

2. Maria Sharapova v Sara Errani (Wednesday)

Maria Sharapova

Sara Errani continues to amaze and surprise with her form as she produced a very strong performance to halt Marion Bartoli's progress with a 6-3 6-2 victory.  Things will no doubt get much, much tougher in the quarter-finals where she takes on Maria Sharapova.  The Russian world number three took a while to get going in her 4th round match against Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino, but finished in style, posting a 7-5 6-0 scoreline.  Sharapova and Errani played for the first time last year when Sharapova claimed the Career Slam in the French Open final.  She racked up another straight sets win over Errani at the season ending championships in Istanbul.  I do not think much will change in this encounter as Sharapova has the ability to hit through Errani and unless Sharapova has a completely off day, there will be no shocks here...

Prediction - Sharapova to beat Errani in 2 sets

3. Victoria Azarenka v Caroline Wozniacki (Thursday)

Caroline Wozniacki

Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki have been projected to meet on several drawsheets this year, but nothing materialised; finally in Indian Wells, both have made it to the quarter-finals where they will meet on the court for the first time in exactly two years.  Azarenka struggled in her 4th round match with a knee injury, but the scoreline did not suggest it as she defeated Urszula Radwanska, 6-3 6-1.  Wozniacki enjoyed a good win over Nadia Petrova, 7-6 6-3, who naturally, fluffed her opportunity to serve out the first set at 5-3.  The head-to-head favours Wozniacki by 4 wins to 2, but since their last encounter, Azarenka has become a Grand Slam champion and Wozniacki has slowly been trundling down the rankings.  If Azarenka's fit, I think she will win this in straight, but my worry is she could pull out or struggle with her knee injury, which would give Wozniacki the chance to very happily sweep up the win...

Prediction - Azarenka to beat Wozniacki in 2 tight sets

4. Angelique Kerber v Sam Stosur (Thursday)

Angelique Kerber

The wide open quarter where I saw upsets a-plenty has been rather a surprise in that Angelique Kerber and Sam Stosur have found some form and matched their seedings to make the quarter-finals.  Kerber has not lost a set this week and defeated the very talented Spanish qualifier, Garbine Muguruza, 6-4 7-5.  Stosur continued to give the younger players on tour a lesson as she followed up her first round win over Madison Keys with a hard fought win over Mona Barthel, 4-6 6-2 6-3.  The only time Kerber and Stosur have played on the tour (excluding Fed Cup) was back at Kerber's ultimate breakthrough tournament at the US Open in 2011 where Stosur prevailed in three sets.  I have been impressed with Stosur this week and I think Kerber is a really good match-up for her.  Many criticised her performances down under, but I think it has taken her significant time to get over the ankle surgery she had in the off-season.  Semi-finals beckon for Sam...

Prediction - Stosur to beat Kerber in 2 tight sets