Venus beats JJ, Lisicki hangs tough in Charleston

Sabine Lisicki

The second round matches wrapped up on Wednesday with Venus Williams scoring a 7-5 6-0 victory over Jelena Jankovic at night.  Jankovic had served for the first set at 5-4, but from that point on lost the next nine games as she suffered her fourth bagel set of 2012.  After a promising run to the semi-finals in Dubai, Jankovic's form has slid rather dramatically and she will hope to pick her game up on the red clay where she has had most success in recent years.

Sabine Lisicki served up a stinker in her first set against Andrea Hlavackova but eventually found her form in a 2-6 6-3 6-4 victory.  Lisicki is a former champion at Charleston and my pick to win the title (although i'm regretting it now!).  She will play Yaroslava Shvedova in the third round, who had her biggest win in several years as she defeated Yanina Wickmayer, 6-2 7-6.  Shvedova is a former top 30 player but has struggled with injuries and has become more well known as a successful doubles player, teaming up with Vania King.

In other matches, Marion Bartoli and Nadia Petrova both came through tough three-setters.  Bartoli fought for over three hours to get past Vera Dushevina, 6-2 6-7 6-4, meanwhile Nadia Petrova had to save two match points to defeat Jill Craybas, 2-6 7-6 6-2.

Third round predictions:

Marion Bartoli to beat Polona Hercog in 3 sets

Nadia Petrova to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in 3 sets

Vera Zvonareva to beat Stefanie Voegele in 2 sets

Aleksandra Wozniak to beat Lucie Safarova in 2 sets

Sabine Lisicki to beat Yaroslava Shvedova in 2 tight sets

Serena Williams to beat Marina Erakovic in 2 sets

Venus Williams to beat Anastasia Rodionova in 2 sets

Sam Stosur to beat Galina Voskoboeva in 2 sets


You can view my original predictions, which I made before the tournament began here...