As day 5 featured a string of interesting matches, the same cannot be said for day 6.  The four highest seeds all have, on paper, reasonably straightforward looking matches and the other four don’t have a great deal of star appeal.  I was looking forward to the prospect of Kvitova-Keys, but Madison was knocked out in a really entertaining three setter to the deserving, Aleksandra Krunic.  After Sam Stosur and Ana Ivanovic both fell in the second round, Serena’s route to the semi-final suddenly looks rather dreamy…

TFF DreamTeam Update: Wild Briar Village is still top of the league with woo in second place and #teamwoz in third place.

Poll Results: 62% correctly predicted that Safarova would beat Cornet, 36% correctly predicted that Bencic would beat Kerber, 19% correctly predicted that Errani would beat Venus, 58% correctly predicted that Sharapova would beat Lisicki and 74% correctly predicted that Wozniacki would beat Petkovic.

1. Kaia Kanepi v Carla Suarez Navarro (WTA US Open, R3)

Kaia Kanepi saved a match point to defeat former US Open champion, Sam Stosur in an exciting second round match.  Kanepi won, 3-6 6-3 7-6(8) having failed to serve out the match at *5-4.  Kanepi is a tremendous ball striker, but remains one of the most nervous closers.  She did well to get across the finishing line in this one, but it’s always a struggle.  Kanepi next plays Carla Suarez Navarro.  The Spaniard is certainly underrated away from the clay and has notched up two good wins over big hitters, Ajla Tomljanovic and Coco Vandeweghe.  Kanepi leads the H2H 4-3; the two matches they have played in 2014 have both been very one-sided with Kanepi winning in Brisbane, 6-2 6-2 and CSN winning in Miami, 6-2 6-1.  I’d say this one will be much closer, but would give the edge to the steadier and more consistent, CSN.

Prediction: Suarez Navarro d. Kanepi in 3 sets

WTA US Open 3rd Round Predictions

Serena Williams d. Varvara Lepchenko in 2 sets

Flavia Pennetta d. Nicole Gibbs in 2 tight sets

Karoline Pliskova d. Casey Dellacqua in 3 sets

Petra Kvitova d. Aleksandra Krunic in 2 tight sets

Victoria Azarenka d. Elena Vesnina in 2 sets

Ekaterina Makarova d. Zarina Diyas in 2 sets (1 tight, 1 easy)

Eugenie Bouchard d. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in 3 sets