WTA New Haven 2nd Round Predictions: Lisicki-Pavlyuchenkova and Halep-Suarez Navarro

US Open qualifying is underway and the draws will be out on Thursday evening (5pm UK time).  I am not really that interested in New Haven or Winston-Salem, but there are some good potential match-ups for the women.  Let's take a look at the best of the 2nd rounders...

1. Sabine Lisicki v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Sabine Lisicki

Sabine Lisicki won her first match post-Wimby final as she defeated a struggling Kristina Mladenovic, 7-5 6-1.  It was an encouraging win and she now takes on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who progressed because of a retirement from Sorana Cirstea at 3-0 up in their first round match.   Pavlyuchenkova had some good results between the Australian Open and the French Open, notably winning Monterrey and Oeiras; however when it comes round to the big events, she never performs to her potential.  This should be a intriguing match, but not one that I expect to be of high quality.  Pav can beat a lot of players on her day, but I fancy Sabine to notch the win.

Prediction - Lisicki to beat Pavlyuchenkova in 3 sets

2. Simona Halep v Carla Suarez Navarro

An eighth encounter on the WTA tour between Simona Halep and Carla Suarez Navarro will grace Wednesday's schedule in New Haven.  Halep has continued to flourish with a quarter-final appearance in Cincy and a 6-1 6-2 battering of Daniela Hantuchova in the first round.  Suarez Navarro has been remarkably consistent this year, but her results through the summer hard court season have been disappointing.  She did score her best win for a while as she defeated Roberta Vinci in the first round, 6-3 7-5.  CSN leads the head-to-head by 4 wins to 3, but Halep won their last match in s'Hertogenbsoch.  There is absolutely no pattern in their head-to-head and I would fancy Halep to win this one comfortably.

Prediction - Halep to beat Suarez Navarro in 2 sets

Best of the rest: WTA New Haven 2nd Round Predictions

Sara Errani to beat Ekaterina Makarova in 3 sets

Caroline Wozniacki to beat Karin Knapp in 2 sets

Sloane Stephens to beat Julia Goerges in 3 sets