1. Jelena Jankovic v Li Na
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| Jelena Jankovic |
Jelena Jankovic and Li Na both won their second round matches handily to set up a first match since 2009; so much has changed for both since then with JJ sliding down the rankings, meanwhile Li has claimed her first Grand Slam title. After an early exit in Madrid, Jankovic has powered through her first two rounds in Rome and took out Bojana Jovanovski, 6-2 6-0 today, who must have been feeling the effects from her epic match with Caroline Wozniacki yesterday. Li beat Zheng Jie, 6-3 6-1 to put that first round loss in Madrid well and truly behind her.
Jankovic is very solid on the clay and particularly in Rome, where she won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008, and made the final in 2010. Li has also competed well here and has made the semi-finals for the last two years. I think this will be a very interesting match, but Li is the more solid player these days. I believe it would take a pretty magical performance from Jankovic or a horrendous showing from Li for the Serb to progress...
Jankovic is very solid on the clay and particularly in Rome, where she won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008, and made the final in 2010. Li has also competed well here and has made the semi-finals for the last two years. I think this will be a very interesting match, but Li is the more solid player these days. I believe it would take a pretty magical performance from Jankovic or a horrendous showing from Li for the Serb to progress...
Prediction - Li to beat Jankovic in 2 tight sets
2. Petra Kvitova v Sam Stosur
There are some good third rounders in Rome on Thursday and one to watch out for is Petra Kvitova up against the rebounding, Sam Stosur. The Aussie has struggled to get back to her best following a calf injury that she picked up in Indian Wells; however she seems to finding her feet on clay once again and having struggled in the opening set of her second round match to Peng Shuai, which Peng served for, she powered through the tiebreak and the second set to post a 7-6(5) 6-0 victory. Kvitova had a typically Kvitova-style match yesterday as she was dished a second set bagel by Sabine Lisicki, which was largely due to her own undoing (0 winners to 14 unforced errors), but eventually toughed out the win, 6-4 0-6 7-5. It seems that Kvitova can rarely finish a match in two sets these days, but beating Lisicki was still a respectable effort. Stosur has never beaten Kvitova in four tries, but on her favoured surface of clay, I have a feeling she might snap that run of losses...
Prediction - Stosur to beat Kvitova in 3 sets
Best of the rest: 3rd Round Predictions
Serena Williams to beat Dominika Cibulkova in 2 sets - Serena was pushed all the way by Cibulkova in Miami earlier this year, but I think that loss will have hurt the Slovak and she won't offer much opposition here.
Maria Sharapova to beat Sloane Stephens in 2 sets - A nice effort from Sloane to beat Kiki Bertens today in 3 sets and good to see her coming back to form in time for RG. Sharapova should still win this comfortably though...
Carla Suarez Navarro to beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino in 2 tight sets
Roberta Vinci to beat Simona Halep in 3 sets
Sara Errani to beat Maria Kirilenko in 3 sets
Stosur's weaker flatballing is exactly what Kvitova preys upon-like Hantuchova-but Stosur is weaker than Hantuchova. And I have to disagree-the clay will favor Kvitova more than Stosur cuz Stosur's improved shape is irrelevant to Kvitova's power and fast points. Ofcourse with Kvitova you never know-she just lost to Hantuchova for the first time-and was happy about it apparently from the way she congratulated her after the loss. She won't have so much sympathy for Stosur. Stosur is from the opposite part of the globe. Stosur will need everything she has in her toolbox including Vinci-esque variety which she is somewhat capable of. And accept with gratitude the Kvitova errors. Tough call. But 3 sets again lol even though Kvitova the 3 set drama queen should obliterate Stosur among others but esp Stosur in 2 sets. It all depends on Kvitova. Does she care? don't care? Would she give a warm smile for losing to Samantha after the match?... I think she will care and the atmosphere suits her better in Rome than in Madrid. Also lazy Kvitova can wake up late for the match and the Golden Roman sun that shined upon Caesar and Augustus will shine upon Kvitova too. Just my opinion Moo:)
ReplyDeleteBut I'm going to experiment tomorrow since its 50-50 for me i all other matches and make it all the more exciting esp since I'll be working most of the day and can't watch most matches. You know how? I'll put in 10 euros for most of your other Women's draw predicitons including 3 setters...well let me think about it...suspense...
ReplyDeleteI just don't get it-After first break in last set Kvitova loses the next 6 games. You were right once again Moo...
ReplyDeleteI don't get it either, Kvitova is a mystery these days!
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