Madrid 2nd Round Predictions: Cibulkova-Lisicki, Raonic-Verdasco and more

Today's big news saw Laura Robson knock out the 4th seed, Aga Radwanska with a comprehensive 6-3 6-1 victory.  It really is amazing how Laura can zone against the big players; what we need to see more of is backing up those wins against lower ranked players that she is expected to beat.  Sam Stosur also fell today to Carla Suarez Navarro, who continued her solid form of late.  I actually thought Stosur would come through that one, but she was very error-strewn today missing so many straightforward shots.  She needs a good run at Rome or she is going to be really struggling going into Roland Garros... onto Tuesday's best matches...

1. Dominika Cibulkova v Sabine Lisicki (R2)

Sabine Lisicki

One of Tuesday's more flashy encounters is bound to take place between Dominika Cibulkova and Sabine Lisicki.  Both players have had up-and-down years, but enjoyed comfortable and drama-free routes into the second round.  Cibulkova beat the qualifier, Lesia Tsurenko, 6-3 6-2, meanwhile Lisicki came through against the slumping Swede, Sofia Arvidsson, 6-3 6-1.  Lisicki's year has actually been a whole lot better than 2012 with final runs in Pattaya City and Memphis, and a quarter-final in Stuttgart.  Cibulkova started well, but has never really recovered from a double bagel drubbing at the hands of Aga Radwanska in the Sydney final.  This match is not one I would bet on for sure, but I would give the advantage to Lisicki.

Prediction - Lisicki to beat Cibulkova in 3 sets

2. Svetlana Kuznetsova v Nadia Petrova (R2)

An intriguing all-Russian affair between Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova will take to Stadium 3 with the chance to play Angelique Kerber in the third round up for grabs.  Kuznetsova comfortably took out Zheng Jie, 6-2 6-3 in the first round, meanwhile Petrova finally recorded a win over Camila Giorgi having lost twice to the Italian last year, including at Wimbledon.  It was still difficult for Petrova, who lost the middle set, but finished the stronger to post a 6-3 4-6 6-4 victory.  Kuznetsova has always had the edge in their head-to-head winning 5 of their 7 previous encounters, but Petrova did win their last match at the Australian Open, over 3 years ago.  Both like the clay, but I would back Kuznetsova to have the upper edge in this match...

Prediction - Kuznetsova to beat Petrova in 2 tight sets

3. Milos Raonic v Fernando Verdasco (R2)

Yaroslava Shvedova

Milos Raonic definitely looks to be on the up and he enjoyed an excellent first round win over Nikolay Davydenko, 7-5 7-6(5).  His next challenge will be against home favourite, Fernando Verdasco, who snapped a three match losing streak with a surprising straight sets win over David Goffin. The Spaniard has had a terrible year up till now winning just 4 matches in 2013.  Verdasco won his last two encounters with Raonic on the clay, but as Raonic has improved, Verdasco is slowly fading into oblivion.  I fully expect Raonic to march into the third round...

Prediction - Raonic to beat Verdasco in 2 tight sets

4. Kirsten Flipkens v Yaroslava Shvedova (R2)

I am very interested to see the outcome of the first match up on Pista 6 between Yaroslava Shvedova and Kirsten Flipkens.  Shvedova has pretty dramatically flipped her season with a quarter-final showing in Stuttgart and an upset win over Caroline Wozniacki in the first round.  This all came after winning just two WTA matches in the first 4 months of the season and amassing a 6-match losing streak that included 5 three set losses.  Her opponent tomorrow could not have had a more different season, posting consistent results week in, week out and continuing to push new boundaries with her rankings.  Flipkens took out Mona Barthel, 6-4 6-1 in her first match in Madrid.  The head-to-head is split at 1-1 and although Shvedova has the weapons, she also has the nerves.  She is playing better now, but I am still as nervous as she is trying to close matches out and fancy Flipkens to keep rolling...

Prediction - Flipkens to beat Shvedova in 3 sets

Best of the rest: WTA 2nd round predictions

Marion Bartoli to beat Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor in 3 sets

Serena Williams to beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino in 2 sets

Maria Sharapova to beat Christina McHale in 2 sets

Ana Ivanovic to beat Chanelle Scheepers in 2 tight sets

Madison Keys to beat Anabel Medina Garrigues in 3 sets

Best of the rest: ATP 2nd round predictions

Roger Federer to beat Radek Stepanek in 2 sets

Andy Murray to beat Florian Mayer in 2 tight sets

Richard Gasquet to beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver in 2 sets

John Isner to beat Pablo Andujar in 2 sets

Gilles Simon to beat Jeremy Chardy in 3 sets