Wednesday in Dubai saw quite a few surprises.  Flavia Pennetta’s 6-4 6-1 victory over Agnieszka Radwanska was the biggest upset of the day.  Venus sailed past Ana Ivanovic losing just three games and then Sara Errani lost to Sorana Cirstea in three sets.  In Dubai’s late night match, another shock was served up as Carla Suarez Navarro came from 6-1 4-2 down to beat Petra Kvitova.  My original draw of predictions is looking a little battered and bruised as quarter-finals day beckons with just three of the eight seeds remaining.

1. Serena Williams v Jelena Jankovic (WTA Dubai, QF)

In the only all-seeded match on Thursday, Serena Williams will take on Jelena Jankovic.  Match-ups between these two are always fun and  Serena hasn’t been in vintage form of late, which should give Jelena chances to make this a pretty close match.  Serena won her first match in Dubai against Ekaterina Makarova not without troubles; she saved a couple of set points in the first set tiebreak before powering through the second set to win, 7-6(8) 6-0.  Jankovic followed up her first round win over the qualifier, Maryna Zanevska with a hard fought victory over Lucie Safarova, 7-5 6-4.  In a first set which went largely with serve, it was Jankovic who finally made her pressure count, taking the set on her 8th break point.  Jankovic had a marginally easier time of it in the second set, dropping her serve just once in the 1 hour 41 minute contest.  It was a good victory for JJ because Safarova has been playing reasonably well this year and has beaten her before on two previous occasions.

Serena leads the head-to-head with Jankovic by 8 wins to 4.  Jankovic has one of the best head-to-heads on tour against Serena and despite losing their last four matches, has won a set in two of them.  I fancy Jankovic to get another set in this Dubai quarter-final, but Serena still holds the edge for me and should survive to make the semi-finals.

Prediction: Serena d. Jankovic in 3 sets

WTA Dubai Quarter-Final Predictions

Alize Cornet to beat Carla Suarez Navarro in 3 sets

Caroline Wozniacki to beat Sorana Cirstea in 3 sets

Venus Williams to beat Flavia Pennetta in 2 tight sets