The white group was turned on its head after Tuesday’s match so much so, that Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova will be battling for the survival when they play each other on Thursday.  To be honest, I expected them to be playing each other in the second set of matches, but not having both lost their first match! Sharapova was embroiled in an epic match with Caroline Wozniacki, eventually running out of steam in a three set loss, 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 6-2.  The match lasted three hours and 13 minutes and featured plenty of twists and turns.  Sharapova served for the first set, but lost it on the tiebreak.  Wozniacki served for the second set, but lost it on the tiebreak.  In the final set, Wozniacki’s superior fitness helped her over the finish line as Sharapova fell to her second consecutive defeat to the Dane.

Kvitova went into her first round robin match with Agnieszka Radwanska as the heavy favourite, but suffered a surprising straight sets loss to the Pole, 6-2 6-3.  It was just the second time that Radwanska had beaten Kvitova.  Curiously, that also came at the WTA Championships where Petra only won five games.  The match didn’t start until after 11pm local time and as the match wore on, Petra looked very sluggish and was not moving well.  I think the late match really hindered her chances, but then again, the situation was exactly the same for both players and Radwanska dealt with it much better.

Kvitova and Sharapova last met in the final of Beijing just two weeks ago; Sharapova came through in three sets, 6-4 2-6 6-3.  Sharapova was the more aggressive player and gained the crucial foothold in the final set, overcoming some late, steely resistance from Kvitova.  Petra had played a lot of tennis, having won Wuhan the week before so it is likely she would have been fatigued in that final.  However Sharapova has an excellent record against Kvitova.  Apart from the Wimbledon final in 2011, which Kvitova won 6-3 6-4, Sharapova has won their last five matches.

A gripping three set battle in Australia back in 2012 saw Sharapova record an unlikely win, having been on the back foot for much of the deciding set.  I’ve always felt that that match really hurt Kvitova’s confidence, not only in this head-to-head, but throughout the 2012 season.  I think both players will be hurting after their first round loss and be out to prove something.  The odds will be in Sharapova’s favour and i’m not quite sure why I am doing this but… i’m sticking by my champion, Petra.

Prediction: Kvitova d. Sharapova in 3 sets

Poll Result from Day 3: 69% of readers correctly predicted that Ivanovic would beat Bouchard

Photo by Omar Boraby