Qualifying for the US Open has already begun and you can keep up to date with the draws HERE.  Both singles draws will be out on Thursday.  The final Grand Slam previews will be posted on Moo’s Tennis Blog on Friday and Saturday! If you missed it, I wrote a feature post about Lucie Safarova HERE.  It’s got a bit of everything with photos, videos, some stats and also, how to pronounce Lucie’s name correctly!  New Haven has produced some excellent second round matches.  Here’s a pair of previews for Wednesday…

1. Caroline Wozniacki v Camila Giorgi (WTA New Haven, R2)

In a rematch of their absolutely fascinating quarter-final match in Eastbourne, Caroline Wozniacki and Camila Giorgi will meet in the second round of New Haven.   That match was a delightful slice of drama that featured an umpire howler that frustrated Caroline, an angry Camilla blasting a ball into the stands and hitting someone, and then one of the best handshakes of the year.  Oh and the tennis was pretty good too.  Wozniacki won that match, 6-7(9) 6-4 6-2.

Wozniacki needed three sets to get past Timea Bacsinszky in the first round of New Haven.  She dropped the opening set, 6-4, but rebounded strongly in the next two sets and even managed to get 100% first serves in the third set.  This was in stark contrast to her semi-final in Cincy where her serve let her down in a three set loss to Serena Williams.  Giorgi hadn’t won a match during the summer hard court season before New Haven, but changed all that with a surprisingly straightforward victory over the in-form Coco Vandeweghe, 6-3 6-1.  Giorgi has a win over Wozniacki (2013 US Open) and has the kind of aggressive and ball-bashing game that troubles Wozniacki WHEN it is on.

Prediction: Wozniacki d. Giorgi in 3 sets

2. Sam Stosur v Eugenie Bouchard (WTA New Haven, R2)

After three consecutive losses, Eugenie Bouchard stopped the rot with a thumping 6-1 6-1 victory over Bojana Jovanovski.  It was a much needed win for Genie, who now takes on Sam Stosur in the second round of New Haven.  Stosur defeated the DC finalist, Kurumi Nara, 7-6 (5) 6-7(10) 6-2 in a marathon match lasting two hours and 37 minutes.  Stosur was unable to convert on three match points in the second set, but sealed the win with three breaks of serve in the deciding set.  The only completed match that Stosur and Bouchard have played was in the final of Osaka at the end of 2013.  It was an excellent contest which Stosur won, 3-6 7-5 6-2.  Sam has been playing better lately and played well against Serena Williams in Cincy.  Bouchard has become a much more aggressive player this year and she will need to play with those tactics to earn the win against Sam.

Prediction: Bouchard d. Stosur in 3 sets

WTA New Haven 2nd Round Predictions

Simona Halep d. Magdalena Rybarikova in 2 sets

Garbine Muguruza d. Peng Shuai in 3 sets

Andrea Petkovic d. Kirsten Flipkens in 2 tight sets

Ekaterina Makarova d. Petra Kvitova in 3 sets