Beijing’s schedule on Wednesday was ravaged by the weather.  The final second round match from the women’s draw featuring Alize Cornet and Lauren Davis was moved to the main stadium under the roof.  Seven third round matches will take to the court on Thursday including Svetlana Kuznetsova against Angelique Kerber, which was scheduled for Wednesday.  You can read my preview for that match HERE.

1. Andrea Petkovic v Simona Halep (WTA Beijing, R3)

Photo by Omar Boraby

A French Open semi-final rematch is just one of many enticing third round matches that will take place in Beijing on Thursday.  The world number 2, Simona Halep takes on the world number 17, Andrea Petkovic.  Halep’s form has certainly the dipped during the summer.  Since making the final of the French Open, the semi-finals of Wimbledon and winning Bucharest, Halep hasn’t won more than two matches at a tournament.  Halep has set such high standards for herself this year that that stat is a surprise.  In Beijing, Halep has recorded straight set wins over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and Zhu Lin.  In her 6-4 7-5 victory over Zhu, Halep required a MTO for a left leg injury (thanks to @IainFordyce for the clarification).

Petkovic saved match points in her first round match against Monica Niculescu and I was expecting another epic encounter in the second round against Madison Keys.  In the end, Petkovic lost just five games in a surprisingly one-sided scoreline.  I’d be happy to see Keys end her season now.  She’s had a few good results, most notably her superb run to the title in Eastbourne, but I think it’s time for her to rebuild and really try and push on for 2015.  Halep leads the H2H with Petkovic 3-1.  In their only match on hard courts, Halep defeated Petkovic in Tokyo last year, 7-6(4) 6-3.  Under normal circumstances, I would have gone for Halep; however, with the injury, I don’t think she will be at her best and Petkovic is a good enough player to take advantage of that.

Prediction: Petkovic d. Halep in 3 sets

2. Sabine Lisicki v Ana Ivanovic (WTA Beijing, R3)

Photo by Omar Boraby

Before 2014, Sabine Lisicki and Ana Ivanovic had never met on the WTA tour.  In Beijing, they will play each other for the fourth time this year.  Lisicki’s sole win came on the grass courts of Wimbledon.  On the other two occasions, Ivanovic won in straight sets.  Ivanovic hasn’t dropped a set in her first two matches, defeating Belinda Bencic and Romina Oprandi.  Lisicki looked under the weather in her first round victory over the Chinese wildcard, Xu Shilin.  In the second round, Lisicki scored an upset victory over Eugenie Bouchard, who appeared to be struggling with a leg injury.  Lisicki will always be a dangerous player, but she would need to produce a really super display to take out an in-form Ivanovic.

Prediction: Ivanovic d. Lisicki in 2 sets (1 tight, 1 easy)

3. Serena Williams v Lucie Safarova (WTA Beijing, R3)

Photo by Omar Boraby

Serena’s first match in Beijing was a puzzling one; after going 0-5 down to Silvia Soler-Espinosa, she won seven straight games, saved some set points and never looked back, eventually sealing a 7-5 6-2 win in front of bemused fans.  In the second round, Serena defeated Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-2 6-3 in 72 minutes.  Next up for Serena is Lucie Safarova.  After falling in the first round of Wuhan, Safarova has responded well with two straight set wins in Beijing against potentially dangerous opponents in Camila Giorgi and Mona Barthel.  Serena and Lucie last played in Montreal where Serena won, 7-5 6-4.  Lucie was so close to forcing a first set tiebreak, but nerves just got the better of her.  A clean performance from Serena will probably be too much for Lucie to handle, but i’m living in hope that Lucie can sneak a set and then who knows?!

Prediction: S.Williams d. Safarova in 2 very tight sets

WTA Beijing 3rd Round Prediction

Ekaterina Makarova d. Roberta Vinci in 2 tight sets

Sam Stosur d. Alize Cornet in 3 sets

ATP Beijing 2nd Round Predictions

Grigor Dimitrov d. Pablo Andujar in 2 tight sets

Marin Cilic d. Joao Sousa in 2 sets

Andy Murray d. Pablo Cuevas in 2 sets

Ernests Gulbis d. Martin Klizan in 3 sets

Rafael Nadal d. Peter Gojowczyk in 2 sets

ATP Tokyo 2nd Round Predictions

Kei Nishikori d. Donald Young in 2 sets

Kevin Anderson d. Jeremy Chardy in 3 sets

Denis Istomin d. Michal Przysiezny in 3 sets

Milos Raonic d. Jurgen Melzer in 2 tight sets