WTA Charleston 2nd Round Predictions: Best buds Robson and Bouchard to clash, Venus plays Puig

1. Venus Williams v Monica Puig

The late night match in Charleston on Wednesday will see Venus Williams take on the world number 104, Monica Puig.  Venus was forced to pull out of her third round match with Sloane Stephens in Miami due to a persistent back injury and there are still some concerns about her fitness for this week.  Her opponent, Puig, started the year well down under in Brisbane where she pushed Angelique Kerber to a third set tiebreak in one of the better matches of 2013 so far.  She had an excellent win over the slumping Andrea Hlavackova in round one, 6-4 6-0.  Puig will be a dangerous opponent for Venus because she is hungry for success and will be playing with nothing to lose.  I fancy Puig to get a set, but I think Venus will come through her first match...

Prediction - Venus to beat Puig in 3 sets

2. Laura Robson v Eugenie Bouchard

The only match not to be televised on any streams today is actually one of the more intriguing as best buds and creators of the gangnam style video from last year, Laura Robson and Eugenie Bouchard will meet in the second round.  Bouchard came through two rounds of qualifying in straight sets and then defeated Nastassja Burnett, 6-2 6-3.  Robson had a comfortable-for-once 6-2 6-2 win over Estrella Cabeza Candela, 6-2 6-2.  Robson and Bouchard have played once before in an ITF event last year in Osprey where Bouchard prevailed in a very tight three setter.  I fancy another very close match, but I'll stay loyal and go for Robson to edge into the third round.

Prediction - Robson to beat Bouchard in 3 sets

Best of the rest: 2nd round predictions
Julia Goerges to beat Olga Govortsova in 3 sets
Caroline Wozniacki to beat Silvia Soler-Espinosa in 2 sets
Sam Stosur to beat Marina Erakovic in 3 tight sets
Lucie Safarova to beat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in 3 sets
Madison Keys to beat Grace Min in 2 sets
Sabine Lisicki to beat Mallory Burdette in 2 tight sets
Andrea Petkovic to beat Vania King in 2 sets
Jelena Jankovic to beat Caroline Garcia in 2 tight sets

My posts are likely to be the bare minimum as I am once again away from my computer!