This will be my last preview from New Haven with the US Open draws out on Thursday afternoon at 11.30am local time (4.30pm UK time). I’ve enjoyed New Haven this week although I was disappointed that the match between Caroline Wozniacki and Roberta Vinci wasn’t streamed on TennisTV last night. It was a strange decision, particularly with Wozniacki one of the star names this week in New Haven. Of course, it would turn out to be the most intriguing match of the day with Wozniacki saving three match points to defeat Roberta Vinci, 6-4 6-7(6) 7-6(7) in two hours and 52 minutes.
Wozniacki will play Caroline Garcia in the quarters in what will be just a second career match-up. After a winless streak between Eastbourne and Toronto, Garcia has won back-to-back matches at her last two tournaments. After comfortably defeating Timea Bacsinszky in the first round for the loss of just four games (wish it had been streamed), Garcia secured an impressive victory over last year’s New Haven finalist, Magdalena Rybarikova, 7-6(5) 6-4. I’m completely in love with Rybarikova’s game and the first set was fascinating to watch. Her chip-and-charge game worked wonders at times but Garcia dealt with it and all the slices reasonably well. There were some huge errors from Garcia in the first set tiebreak which were approaching the back fence but when Rybarikova got into a winning position, she became awfully passive and was unable to take advantage of her opportunity.
There were definitely more positive signs for Garcia as she didn’t look to be so aggressive on the return and looked to get more balls back in court rather than going for the risky winner on every ball. In their only previous match, Wozniacki beat Garcia, 6-2 6-3 in Seoul in 2012. After such a long match on Wednesday, it will be interesting to see how the leg holds up for Wozniacki. Garcia is more than capable of throwing in a shocker, particularly against a player like Wozniacki who is one of the best retrievers out there. Garcia has all the weapons there to win this match but she still makes me nervous.
Prediction: Wozniacki d. Garcia in 2 sets
Moo's Tennis Blog 
I am a big fan of Garcia,still there are elements in her game that need addressing,her focus at times in matches is an area she needs to address ASAP! in saying that she is a great striker of the ball and I love watching her play.Hopefully in her match against Caroline she can continue to play the tennis she has demonstrated so far in this tournament,Caroline will test her,making her play that extra ball,Garcia needs to be patient,Garcia to win in 3 sets:)
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Yeah it’s a question of mental fortitude here, not game.
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Petra has the shots and power to hit Radwanksa off the court,though she needs to show patience.As long as Petra plays first strike tennis,hopefully her serve will be intact:) Petra to win in straight sets.
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Petra will take it in two sets. If it was Madison I would have given Radwanska a slight edge, but not against Petra.
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I am so happy that Petra won, you have no idea. It was Keys, it was Petra, and mono, and three sets and basically no confidence and she won!!! I am insanely proud. I just hope she can keep going now and get at least one more win. But I am so, so proud she got this win. This wasn’t exactly coherent or something but oh well (‘:
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So happy to see that Petra finally managed to win a match! Hopefully she’ll end up in the finals again.
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Just a bit of coaching news,Eugenie Bouchard has hired Jimmy Connors has her coach? remember last time Jimmy coached on the WTA,his coaching duties lasted one match,that was coaching Sharapova:)
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Interesting match up…
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Andrew,reading more about Bouchard and Connors,apparently at this stage it is not a long term arrangement,at this stage it is only for the USO.
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It may well work if it’s not a long term arrangement. It’s two very big ego’s about to collide though.
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Impressive win from Caroline handing out Garcia a bagel in the 2nd set.Caroline was more proactive on court,Garcia at times just played the ball down the centre of the court? she should have moved Caroline around the baseline more,also Garcia committed 27 UFE for just 5 winners.
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I still think there is a lot of unnecessary hoopla around Garcia. In the whole match Wozniacki was clearly the better striker of the ball.
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Final between Safarova and Kvitova,Petra has a h2h 6-0 over Lucie,I know James will want Lucie to get her first win against Petra,these two players know each other’s games so well,practice partners as well.Sorry James I am going for a Petra win,still I will be delighted if Lucie wins:)
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