I’m busy this evening so this will be my only preview for the day.  Thankfully there is one match already confirmed and it will be one of the highlights for Friday.  Singapore is on the horizon and Moo’s Tennis Blog will be previewing the year-end-championships once the draw for the groups have been confirmed.

Lucie Safarova v Svetlana Kuznetsova (WTA Moscow, QF)

An all-seeded quarter-final match between two of the strongest players left in the draw, Lucie Safarova and Svetlana Kuznetsova will take top billing on Friday in Moscow.  In her first match of the week, Safarova defeated Ajla Tomljanovic, 7-6(4) 6-2. Lucie served 15 aces and saved 7 break points in a high quality match.  2014 has been a great year for Lucie, but the one thing missing is an appearance in a final or even a title.  This is a great opportunity, if she can overcome Kuznetsova.  The Russian player needed three sets to get past the qualifier, Kateryna Kozlova in the second round, 3-6 6-3 6-3.  In their last match-up, Kuznetsova defeated Safarova at the French Open, 6-3 6-4.  The H2H is pretty even with Kuznetsova leading 4-3.  I’m really on the fence with this one.  Perhaps a bit of reverse psychology will work as when I normally go against Lucie she wins! As always, i’m rooting for Lucie.

Prediction: Kuznetsova d. Safarova in 3 sets

Here’s a video focussing on Lucie’s coach, Rob Steckley, which was recently featured on the WTA website.

WTA Moscow Quarter-Final Predictions

Tsvetana Pironkova d. Irina-Camelia Begu in 2 sets

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova d. Vitalia Diatchenko in 2 sets

Camila Giorgi d. Katerina Siniakova in 2 tight sets

WTA Luxembourg Semi-Final Predictions

Annika Beck d. Denisa Allertova in 2 sets

Mona Barthel d. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in 3 sets *I’m sticking by my original champion Mona, but this is a tough match*

ATP Moscow Quarter-Final Predictions

Mikhail Youzhny d. Mikhail Kukushkin in 3 sets

Marin Cilic d. Tommy Robredo in 3 sets

Roberto Bautista Agut d. Ricardas Berankis in 3 sets

Ernests Gulbis d. Andreas Seppi in 2 sets

ATP Stockholm Quarter-Final Predictions

Bernard Tomic d. Fernando Verdasco in 3 sets

Adrian Mannarino d. Matthias Bachinger in 2 sets

Grigor Dimitrov d. Jack Sock in 3 sets

Tomas Berdych d. Marius Copil in 2 sets

ATP Vienna Quarter-Final Predictions

Viktor Troicki d. Thomaz Bellucci in 2 sets

Ben Becker d. Philipp Kohlschreiber in 3 sets

Andy Murray d. Jan-Lennard Struff in 2 sets

David Ferrer d. Ivo Karlovic in 3 tight sets