WTA Carlsbad: Final Predictions

Dominika Cibulkova

Lets take a look at what has happened over the past few days and towards todays finals:

WTA Carlsbad:

Three of the four quarter-finals in San Diego reached epic proportions in the soaring heat; Jelena Jankovic wasted two match points against Yung-Jan Chan, 6-7 7-6 7-5, Marion Bartoli survived Christina McHale, 7-5 4-6 6-4 and Nadia Petrova edged Varvara Lepchenko, 6-4 2-6 7-6.  In the end, it is the two top seeds in Marion Bartoli and Dominika Cibulkova who have progressed to the final, which is somewhat of a rarity on the WTA tour.

Prediction - Cibulkova to beat Bartoli in 3 sets

WTA Bastad:

My predictions were looking somewhat good up until the quarter-finals when the upsets started flying leaving just one seed left in the semi-finals.  That player was Mona Barthel who had had an impressive week up until then before she was swept away by the defending champion, Polona Hercog.  The Slovenian meets Mathilde Johansson in the final, who took out Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-4 6-0 in the quarter-finals in what was her most noteworthy performance of the tournament,

Prediction - Hercog to beat Johansson in 2 sets

ATP Hamburg:

Tommy Haas has had another smashing week in Germany taking out Gilles Simon, Florian Mayer and then saving his best for his semi-final clash with the in-form Marin Cilic, who he beat, 7-6 6-0.  His opponent in the final will be Juan Monaco who has been remarkably consistent this year, particularly on the clay.  He was runner-up in Stuttgart last week and will have to be at his best if he is to avoid being second best once more.

Prediction - Haas to beat Monaco in 2 tight sets

ATP Atlanta:

My predictions for Atlanta have gone down the drain with Andy Roddick and Gilles Muller reaching the final!  Roddick beat John Isner in an all-American semi-final, meanwhile Gilles Muller beat Go Soeda in a surprising semi-final.  Soeda had trounced his compatriot, Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals, meanwhile Mardy Fish was forced to retire in his second round match with Muller when he collided with the netpost.

Prediction - Roddick to beat Muller in 3 sets