WTA Sydney: Semi-Final Predictions

Li Na

Agnieszka Radwanska v Li Na

Two of the unbeaten 2013 records will go up against each other in the first of the Sydney semi-finals. Agnieszka Radwanska was solid as a rock as she edged past Roberta Vinci in a tight two setter, 6-4 7-5.  Li Na was forced to battle hard for her semi-final place in a tough match against the talented hard-hitter Madison Keys, which she prevailed 4-6 7-6 6-2.  Li has dominated their recent head-to-head with three straight set wins towards the back end of 2012, but Radwanska is unlikely to fold as easily as she did then when she appeared to be fatigued.  I still give the edge to Li in this one, but I think the winner will be the player who succumbs to defeat as more matches is just not necessary with the Australian Open so close now...

Prediction - Li to beat Radwanska in 3 sets

Angelique Kerber v Dominika Cibulkova

Angelique Kerber played her best match of 2013 so far as she came through an entertaining encounter with comeback kid Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-3 7-5.  Her opponent in the semi-finals will be Dominika Cibulkova who destroyed Sara Errani, 6-2 6-1.  It was a surprising result because Errani had enjoyed two very comfortable victories in Sydney, meanwhile Cibulkova had struggled in her second round match against Ekaterina Makarova.  Cibulkova has won their only two previous match-ups, but both matches were before Kerber hit the big time and head-to-head records are there to be broken... I think Kerber has got a final appearance in the bag.

Prediction - Kerber to beat Cibulkova in 2 sets

WTA Hobart Predictions:

Kirsten Flipkens to beat Monica Niculescu in 2 sets

Mona Barthel to beat Tsvetana Pironkova in 2 tight sets

Elena Vesnina to beat Jarmila Gajdosova in 3 sets

Sloane Stephens to beat Lauren Davis in 2 sets

ATP Sydney Predictions:

Ryan Harrison to beat Julien Benneteau in 3 sets

Kevin Anderson to beat Denis Istomin in 2 tight sets

Marcel Granollers to beat Andreas Seppi in 3 sets

Bernard Tomic to beat Jarkko Nieminen in 2 sets

ATP Auckland Predictions:

David Ferrer to beat Lukas Lacko in 2 sets

Gael Monfils to beat Tommy Haas in 3 sets

Sam Querrey to beat Jesse Levine in 2 sets

Philipp Kohlschreiber to beat Xavier Maliise in 3 sets

The predictions have been pretty good this week (excluding WTA Sydney!!!).  If I can keep my finalists alive in Hobart through quarter-final play tomorrow, I will be happy.