WTA Moscow/Luxembourg: Quarter-Final Predictions

Caroline Wozniacki

1.  Caroline Wozniacki v Dominika Cibulkova (Moscow)

Caroline Wozniacki was in fine form in her first match in Moscow last night.  Many of the players have noted the slow court surface, but that actually favours Wozniacki's game and she is looking good for a strong assault on the title.  She defeated Urszula Radwanska, 6-3 6-1, hitting an impressive 25 winners to 19 unforced errors.  Her quarter-final opponent is the defending Moscow champion, Dominika Cibulkova.  The Slovakian world number 14 had been on a barren spell of form, but has managed to string two solid wins together.  She came from a set down to beat Ekaterina Makarova in her opener before easing past Tsvetana Pironkova in her second round match.  Wozniacki and Cibulkova last squared off in an odd encounter in New Haven where an injured Wozniacki got into Cibulkova's head with a 6-2 6-1 rout... I am expecting more of the same this time round.

Prediction - Wozniacki to beat Cibulkova in 2 sets

2. Venus Williams v Roberta Vinci (Luxembourg)

Venus Williams set up a all-star quarter-final with the number one seed, Roberta Vinci.  Venus overcame Mona Barthel in a tight two setter, 7-6 6-4, meanwhile Vinci edged a tight first set before strolling to a 6-4 6-1 victory over the lucky loser, Anne Keothavong.  This will be a tough match for Vinci who has fallen to Venus in both her previous matches in straight sets.  The only thing going in her favour is that those matches took place in 2010 and Vinci is a much more consistent and dangerous player these days.  I am still sticking by my original prediction of Venus making the semi-finals and onwards...

Prediction - Venus to beat Vinci in 3 sets

3. Andrea Petkovic v Ksenia Pervak (Luxembourg)

There is a lot up for grabs in the quarter-final between Andrea Petkovic and Ksenia Pervak.  Both have played little tennis in recent months due to injuries and lucrative ranking points are on offer for the winner.  Petkovic beat a struggling Jelena Jankovic, 7-5 6-0 in the second round for her best win since returning the tour from that horrid ankle injury she picked up in Stuttgart.  Pervak, whose ranking has dropped to 106, defeated Sorana Cirstea, 7-6 6-1 for an impressive victory over one of the most inconsistent performers on the tour.  The pair have only played once where Pervak had one of her best wins on the tour at Wimbledon last year.  Petkovic has been struggling, particularly with her serve but I think she can nick a win here...

Prediction - Petkovic to beat Pervak in 3 sets

Best of the rest:

Moscow QF's:

Ana Ivanovic to beat Vesna Dolonc in 2 tight sets

Maria Kirilenko to beat Sofia Arvidsson in 2 tight sets

Luxembourg QF's:

Daniela Hantuchova to beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino in 3 sets