US Open Day 6, 3rd Round Predictions: Kirilenko-Halep, Gasquet-Tursunov and Wozniacki-Giorgi

1. Maria Kirilenko v Simona Halep

Maria Kirilenko

Many, including me, had picked out Simona Halep as the dark horse to watch at this year's US Open and she faces her first substantial test of the fortnight against Maria Kirilenko.  Halep was rusty in her opener against Heather Watson, but had no such problems against Donna Vekic in the second round losing just 3 games.  Halep, surely already a bagsy for a WTA award at the end of year, has gone on an absolute tear lately winning 4 titles in as many months, losing just 5 matches in that period and most recently, securing wins over Caroline Wozniacki and Petra Kvitova on her way to the New Haven title. 

Kirilenko's form has been disappointing since the French Open where she made the quarter-finals.  Since then, she fell at the first hurdle in SW19 and lost in the second round of both Toronto and Cincy.  However Kirilenko has looked solid so far at the US posting straight set wins against two dangerous opponents on their day, Yanina Wickmayer and Michelle Larcher de Brito.  This should be a really interesting match because Kirilenko is no slouch, but I am well aboard the Halep train this week...

Prediction - Halep to beat Kirilenko in 2 tight sets

2. Richard Gasquet v Dmitry Tursunov

Richard Gasquet

The most intriguing of the mens matches for today pits the out-of-form, Richard Gasquet against the definitely in-form, Dmitry Tursunov.  Gasquet started the year well, but has really regressed since suffering another heartbreaking loss at the last 16 stage of a Grand Slam.  To be fair, I thought Gasquet played a pretty great match against Stanislas Wawrinka in Paris, but his body let him down towards the end where Wawrinka managed to find another gear.  Tursunov meanwhile has been rolling back the years with a terrific run of form over the past couple of months that has seen him rise to number 34 in the world with a quarter-final appearance in Cincy and semi-final showing in Washington.  

I thought Tursunov had a chance in this one, but the head-to-head backs it up even more as he leads 5-2 including a win in their last match in Tokyo back in 2010.  I really do like Gasquet and I would like nothing more than to see him snap out of it and produce some world beating performances.  Unfortunately I do not see it happening anytime soon...

Prediction - Tursunov to beat Gasquet in 4 sets

3. Caroline Wozniacki v Camila Giorgi

Caroline Wozniacki

I think it is pretty ludicrous that Caroline Wozniacki has managed to bag the lucrative night session for the second match in a row although this third rounder should be on a good one.  Woz takes on Camila Giorgi, who has won five matches this week after coming through qualifying.  The Italian player has had a very disappointing year, but definitely possesses talent which she demonstrated when blasting her way into the round of 16 at last year's Wimbledon.  Wozniacki is constantly gaining points to her ranking this week after suffering a first round exit to Irina-Camelia Begu last year and she has looked solid so far this week.  I think Giorgi will have some confidence going into this match and will give Wozniacki a good test under the lights.

Prediction - Wozniacki to beat Giorgi in 2 very tight sets

Best of the rest: US Open 3rd round womens predictions

Roberta Vinci to beat Karin Knapp in 3 sets

Svetlana Kuznetsova to beat Flavia Pennetta in 2 tight sets

Petra Kvitova to beat Alison Riske in 3 sets

Daniela Hantuchova to beat Julia Glushko in 2 tight sets

Ana Ivanovic to beat Christina McHale in 2 tight sets

Victoria Azarenka to beat Alize Cornet in 2 tight sets

Best of the rest: US Open 3rd round mens predictions

Milos Raonic to beat Feliciano Lopez in 4 sets

Jack Sock to beat Janko Tipsarevic in 5 sets

David Ferrer to beat Mikhail Kukushkin in 3 sets

Roger Federer to beat Adrian Mannarino in 3 sets
Tommy Robredo to beat Daniel Evans in 4 sets

John Isner to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber in 3 sets

Rafael Nadal to beat Ivan Dodig in 4 sets