Quarter Finals Women's US Open 2011 predictions

The Quarter Finals of the women's US Open is today and here are my predictions.

Match 1 -  Caroline Wozniacki   vs   Andrea Petkovic

Caroline Wozniacki

Ranking - 1

YTD record - 53-12

Best US Open - Final, 2009

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Vives - 6-3, 6-1

Round 2 vs Rus - 6-2, 6-0

Round 3 vs King - 6-2, 6-4

Round 4 vs Kuznetsova - 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-1

Andrea Petkovic

Ranking - 11

YTD record - 45-15

Best US Open - Quarter Finals, 2011

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Bychkova - 6-2, 6-2

Round 2 vs Zheng - 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

Round 3 vs Vinci - 6-4, 6-0

Round 4 vs Suarez Navarro - 6-1, 6-4

Head to Head

1-1

Each player has one encounter and both matches were this year

Predictions match 1

The world number 1 has played well here and will be hoping to gain her first Grand Slam. She passed her first test against Kuzntsova in 3 sets. Petkovic has had an easier route to this point only having to play 1 seeded player, Vinci, who she beat in straight sets. 

Conclusion - I think this will be a close match, which could go either way but I will go for Wozniacki in 3 sets

Match 2 - Anastasia Pavlychenkova   vs   Serena Williams

Serena Williams

Ranking - 27

YTD record - 16-2

Best US Open - Winner, 1999, 2002, 2008

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Jovanovski - 6-1, 6-1

Round 2 vs Krajicek - 6-0, 6-1

Round 3 vs Azarenka - 6-1, 7-6(5)

Round 4 vs Ivanovic 6-3, 6-4

Anastasia Pavlychenkova

Ranking - 16

YTD record - 32-16

Best US Open - Quarter Finals, 2011

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Tatishvili - 6-2, 6-2

Round 2 vs Martic - 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

Round 3 vs Jankovic - 6-4, 6-4

Round 4 vs Schiavone - 5-7, 6-3, 6-4

Head to Head

Serena Williams leads 1-0

Serena Williams won their only encounter at last year's French Open in 3 sets.

Predictions match 2

Williams has been dominant, since returning from injury and is yet to be tested even though she has played the 4th and 16th seeds. Pavlychenkova has made her second Grand Slam Final of the year and of her career, the first being at the French Open, and she has beaten some good players. Jankovic was playing well prior to the US Open, she also beat Schiavone a player which is hard to beat without a fight but she made it through. If Williams comes in with the form of her previous matches then when will be hard to beat

Conclusion - This should be a standard victory for Williams in straight sets unless she loses her focus and drops a close set.

Match 3 - Flavia Pennetta   vs   Angelique Kerber

Flavia Pennetta

Ranking - 25

YTD record - 24-17

Best US Open - Quarter Finals, 2008, 2009, 2011

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Rezai - 6-1, 6-4

Round 2 vs Oprandi - 6-0, 6-3

Round 3 vs Sharapova - 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

Round 4 vs Peng - 6-4, 7-6(6)

Angelique Kerber

Ranking - 92

YTD record - 15-18

Best US Open - Quarter Finals, 2011

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Davis - 7-6(3), 6-3

Round 2 vs Radwanska - 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Round 3 vs Kudryavtseva - 6-3, 6-1
Round 4 vs Niculescu - 6-4, 6-3

Head to Head

Flavia Pennetta leads 1-0

Flavia Pennetta won their only meeting, which was earlier this year

Predictions match 3

The world number 25 has beaten some tough competition and has lost just one set to Sharapova. She is in form and hopes to advance further. Kerber used to have never gone past the 3rd round in a Grand Slam but here has made the Quarter Finals and her only set was lost to 12th seed Radwanska. 

Conclusion - I expect Pennetta to win in straight sets but Kerber could cause an upset as is the trend in the women's game.

Match 4 - Vera Zvonareva   vs   Sam Stosur

Sam Stosur

Ranking - 10

YTD record - 31-18

Best US Open - Quarter Finals, 2010, 2011

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Arvidsson - 6-2, 6-3

Round 2 vs Vandweghe - 6-3, 6-4

Round 3 vs Petrova - 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5
Round 4 vs Kirilenko - 6-2, 6-7(15), 6-3

Vera Zvonareva

Ranking - 2

YTD record - 45-15

Best US Open - Final, 2010

Previous matches

Round 1 vs Foretz Gacon - 6-3, 6-0

Round 2 vs Bondarenko - 7-5, 3-6, 6-3

Round 3 vs Medina Garrigues - 6-4, 7-5

Round 4 vs Lisicki 6-2, 6-3

Head to Head

Stosur leads 7-2

Stosur has won their last 7 matches, including twice this year and twice last year.

Predictions match 4

Stosur has been in great form recently, overcoming 2 seeds in 3 sets and has won the last 7 meetings against Zvonareva. The world number 2 has shown good form as well and thrashed the in form Lisicki in straight sets. This could be a close match.
Conclusion - I think Stosur will overcome Zvonareva in 3 sets to advance to the Semi-Finals