WTA Charleston QF Predictions for Friday
Kerber d. Begu in 3 sets – Begu’s form has really picked up and she seems to be through the injuries that affected her during the first two months of the year. The Romanian player has had success against Kerber so expect it to be a very close match. Sticking with Kerber to tough it out…
Kasatkina d. Stephens in 3 sets – All in for this one! Daria K. has been superb this week but I do have a concern that if she gets into a winning position whether she can hold her nerve. She has been shaky at the ends of her matches although all the wins should give her confidence. By the sounds of it, Stephens was greatly improved between her two matches. Can’t wait to watch this one tonight (Friday wooo), honestly could see it going either way, but i’m sticking with Daria.
Errani d. Putintseva in 2 sets – Poots is having a good year. This will be a tester of her consistency against someone who gets as many balls back as Errani. Fancy a tight two setter with Errani reigning supreme on this surface.
Vesnina d. Siegemund in 3 sets – Could be some jangly nerves with such a huge opportunity on the table. Both playing well, giving a slight edge to Vesnina.
WTA Charleston R3 Predictions for Thursday
Kerber d. Kucova in 2 sets – Tough first match for Kerber in the second round but on paper, this is a favourable third rounder for the German player. The pair are tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head with their last match-up on tour taking place in 2009!
Puig d. Begu in 3 sets – Never played before, instinct says Puig.
Kasatkina d. Chirico in 2 sets – Kasatkina has been in awesome form through the first two rounds with the only one negative being closing out sets. Imagine this will be a tougher match than the one against Konjuh but still would fancy the Russian player to have too much variety, and particularly on this surface.
Stephens d. Gavrilova in 3 sets – I wasn’t impressed with the American in her second round match against Kovinic, who had a shocker. Gavrilova’s been shaky this year but had a dominant win over Zhang in the second round. If they continue at the same level as the second round then I would go with Gavrilova… but i’d guess that Stephens will put in a significantly improved performance.
Stosur-Errani – Can’t make my mind up, their last three matches have gone the distance. Originally went for SS in my draw, coming back around to Errani. Stosur loves Charleston though!
V.Williams d. Putintseva in 3 sets – Joy, joy, joyyyy… Venus leads the H2H, 3-0, but they did share a super match in Wimbledon where Poots played especially well. Venus didn’t look entirely comfortable against Riske but played some good ball. Poots is doing much better this year but her matches seem to drag and she gets embroiled in her fair share of epic dramas. This could be very entertaining, fancy it going the distance with Venus coming through.
Lucic-Baroni d. Siegemund in 3 sets – Coin toss… huge opportunity for both players!
Vesnina d. Dominguez Lino in 2 sets – LDL can be a handful on clay but I think Vesnina is playing well enough to advance.
WTA Charleston R2 Predictions for Wednesday
K.Bondarenko d. Kucova in 3 sets – Interesting stat… the last time the pair played in Katowice, it was Bondarenko’s first match after her break from the tour to have her child. Unsurprisingly, Kucova won that match. I think this will be a tough slog with Bondarenko edging it.
Begu d. Mattek-Sands in 2 sets – Credit to BMS for toughing out the win against Pereira because that didn’t look likely after the first set! Begu has been playing better of late so i’d fancy the Romanian player to prevail here.
Petkovic d. Puig in 3 sets – Upset alert for sure, Puig leads the H2H, 3-2 and won their last match in Guangzhou. After a couple of tight losses, I think Petko might squeak out a win here.
Kasatkina d. Konjuh in 2 sets – Fun match-up… Kasatkina has won their two previous matches on the WTA tour in straight sets at the US Open (6-4 6-4, 2015) and the Australian Open (6-4 6-3, 2016). I’d guess this surface suits Kasatkina too but Konjuh can STRIKE the ball so anything is possible.
Zhang d. Gavrilova in 2 sets – Zhang won their only previous match but that was back in 2010. Still, Zhang has continued her good from from Melbourne and I like her in this match.
Kovinic d. Stephens in 3 sets – My WILD pick of the day, preview HERE
*James, when will you learn that wild picks never work out for you :-P*
Errani d. Shvedova in 3 sets – Hmmmm… Errani won their last match in Dubai, 6-3 6-0, but Shvedova leads the head-to-head, 3-2. Fancy it to be much closer and worthy of an upset alert.
Stosur d. Cepelova in 2 sets – Third match this year between the pair with Stosur winning their first two. Both have done well here in the past, but liking Stosur with their recent match-ups.
Lisicki-Putintseva – Can’t call this one… would have said Poots quite confidently but then Lisicki obviously loves Charleston. I have a slight nagging feeling that the win over Falconi might be the start of a banner week for Lisicki but that’s a wild suggestion. I’m torn!
V.Williams d. Riske in 2 sets – Preview HERE
Keys d. Siegemund in 2 sets – Who knows with Maddy but she played well here last year and has looked decent in 2016. Siegemund has improved a lot in the last year.
Bouchard d. Dominguez Lino in 2 sets – Bouchard for the win.
Vesnina d. Bencic in 3 sets – I’m worried about BB’s back injury, plus Vesnina is in excellent form and is also a former Charleston finalist back in 2011.
WTA Charleston R2 Predictions for Tuesday
Kerber d. Arruabarrena in 2 sets – Kerber for the win.
Mladenovic d. Lucic-Baroni in 3 sets – Never played before, expecting a close match between two huge hitters. Both won in straight sets on Monday, a confidence-boosting win for Mladenovic over Maria, her first since Dubai. A toss-up but liking Mlads in this match-up.
WTA Charleston R1 Predictions for Tuesday
Kasatkina d. S.Zheng in 3 sets – I’ve gone for Kasatkina as my champ this week so i’m nervous about this one haha… Saisai has played some good stuff this year so fancy a tight match.
Stosur d. Krunic in 2 sets – Krunic flew through her second qualifying match but guessing this might be a good match-up for Stosur, plus she’s always played well in Charleston.
Bouchard d. Dulgheru in 3 sets – A repeat of handshake gate… Dulgheru won their only previous match in Fed Cup action last year, 6-4 6-4. Dulgheru’s best surface is clay, but she hasn’t won a match since the Australian Open.
Mattek-Sands d. Pereira in 3 sets – Both have been disappointing in singles this year… BMS won two qualifying rounds in Doha, but has suffered R1 losses in her other six tournaments. She did just win doubles though in Indian Wells (w/ Vandeweghe) and Miami (w/ Safarova) so that will be a confidence boost. Pereira’s only win of the year came against fellow Brazilian, Beatriz Haiddad Maia, with six straight set losses elsewhere.
Osaka d. Chirico in 3 sets – Chirico won their last match in three tight sets… expecting another tight match between two big hitters.
Brengle d. Kucova in 2 sets – Brengle won the ITF title in Osprey last week which was on green clay. If she’s got enough left in the tank, going for Brengle.
Puig d. Hradecka in 3 sets – 1-1 H2H record, tough one to call, could see it going either way.
Zhang d. Kerkhove in 2 sets – Based on her recent form, Zhang for the win.
Shvedova d. Rodina in 2 sets – Rodina won their last match in Tashkent, but the Russian player has lost 10 out of her 11 matches this year with nine of those losses coming in straight sets.
Putintseva d. Nara in 2 sets – Poots leads the H2H, 3-0.
WTA Charleston R1 Predictions for Monday
McHale d. Dominguez Lino in 3 sets – Could be a tough one for McHale, she lost to LDL at the French Open last year.
Garcia d. Begu in 3 sets – Could go either way, will take Garcia as she has been reasonably consistent of late.
Lisicki d. Falconi in 2 sets – Hmmm just a feeling that Lisicki might get it together… I hope so for her fans!
Rogers d. Arruabarrena in 2 sets – Tough turnaround for Arruabarrena who just lost a final in Osprey on Sunday.
Mladenovic d. Maria in 2 sets – Mlads has been poor lately and this could be dicey… giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Diyas d. Gavrilova in 3 sets – Diyas won just last week in Miami. Not really sure with this one…
Riske d. Altick in 2 sets – Altick’s first ever match on the WTA tour.
Bondarenko d. Doi in 2 sets – Doi’s year has been a hoot with two titles and first round losses elsewhere. Bondarenko’s year hasn’t had the peaks but has been very solid…
Cepelova d. Sevastova in 2 sets – Cepelova lost a tight qualifying match to Osaka and got in as the lucky loser… always like the LL in these ones! Cepelova won their only previous match a few years back.
Konjuh d. Karatantcheva in 3 sets – A toss up, siding with Konjuh
Peng d. Lucic-Baroni in 3 sets – Peng won her first match in Miami and gave Niculescu a decent battle in the second round. Quite like Peng’s chances based on her improvements match-by-match.
Vesnina d. Burger in 2 sets – Good draw on paper for Vesnina
Kovinic d. Buyukakcay in 2 sets – Buyukakcay saved match points in her first qualifying win. Kovinic did well in Charleston last year.
Full draw predictions
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