WTA Champs Istanbul, Day 5: Kvitova-Li and Serena-Jankovic

1. Petra Kvitova v Li Na

Petra Kvitova

I have never particularly enjoyed matches between Petra Kvitova and Li Na, but the one you can expect from these two is a competitive match and that is particularly welcome because of the 12 matches we have seen this week, just 2 have gone the distance.  Li won all 3 group matches including managing her head well in a 6-2 6-1 victory over a hobbled, Victoria Azarenka.  Kvitova has impressed me this week and she did a good job in staying in the moment and beating Angelique Kerber, 6-7 6-2 6-3.  The head-to-head is tied at 3-3 and 4 of those matches have gone to 3 sets.  It promises to be another close one, but I fancy Petra indoors to do the business.

Prediction - Kvitova to beat Li in 3 sets

2. Serena Williams v Jelena Jankovic

I mean no disrespect to Jelena Jankovic when I say that I expect this match to be a formality.  Jelena had a great win over Victoria Azarenka, but was struggling with a cold as she was beaten in straight sets by Sara Errani.  Serena has been impeccable through the first three matches so a duff performance from the world number one would be a surprise.  You can at least rely on JJ to make this an entertaining match no matter what the scoreline is.

Prediction - Serena to beat Jankovic in 2 sets

Best of the rest: Valencia semi-final predictions

Dmitry Tursunov to beat Mikhail Youzhny in 3 sets

David Ferrer to beat Nicolas Almagro in 2 sets

Best of the rest: Basel semi-final predictions

Juan Martin del Potro to beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin in 2 sets

Roger Federer to beat Vasek Pospisil in 2 tight sets