The 4th round of the women's US Open is today and here are the predictions, there will also be a video for these predictions later.
Match 1 - Wozniacki vs Kuznetsova
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
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Ranking - 17
YTD record - 27-17
Best US Open - Winner, 2004
Previous matches
Round 1 vs Errani - 7-5, 6-1
Round 2 vs Baltacha - 6-4, 6-3
Round 3 vs Amanmuradova - 6-4, 6-2
Head to Head
Wozniacki leads 4-2
Wozniacki has won last 3 meetings, including in a 4th round meeting of the US Open 2009
Predictions match 1
The world number 1 has shown great form at this year's US Open and will be hoping to gain her first Grand Slam. The world number 17 is past her best form from a few years ago and hasn't performed very well this year, however, has come into the US Open in better form. I feel the world number 1 has higher confidence against Kuznetsova considering her record against Kuznetsova and her form at this year's US Open, dropping just 12 games in 6 sets.
Conclusion - I think it will be a close straight sets victory for the world number 1.
Match 2 - Suarez Navarro vs Andrea Petkovic
Suarez Navarro
Ranking - 76
YTD record - 22-16
Best US Open - 4th round, 2011
Previous matches
Round 1 vs Johansson - 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
Round 2 vs Halep - 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
Round 3 vs Soler-Espinosa - 6-0, 6-4
Andrea Petkovic
Ranking - 11
YTD record - 45-15
Best US Open - 4th round, 2010, 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
Head to Head
Suarez Navarro leads 1-0
Suarez Navarro won their only meeting at the Australian Open 2010 in straight sets
Predictions match 2
Petkovic has had a harder run of matches including the 18th seed and has looked more comfortable in her play this year. While Suarez Navarro is more of an outsider, having less experience and having to work harder against less famous players.
Conclusion - I think the world number 11 won't have much trouble winning in straight sets.
Match 3 - Serena Williams vs Ana Ivanovic
Best US Open - Winner, 1999, 2002, 2008
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)
Best US Open - 4th round, 2007, 2010, 2011
Round 1 vs Pervak - 6-4, 6-2
Round 2 vs Cetkovska - Ret
Round 3 vs Stephens - 6-3, 6-4
Serena Williams leads 2-0
Serena Williams won both meetings in straight sets but they were in 2006 and 2009
S Williams has been in incredible form after recovering from injury and has played very well at this year's US Open. Ivanovic hasn't had any challenging matches and got a walk over in her second round match.
Conclusion - The 3 times champion is definitely the favourite for this match if she has the form from her first 3 matches and it will probably be a straight sets victory.
Match 4 - Anastasia Pavlychenkova vs Francesca Schiavone
Best US Open - Quarter Finals, 2003, 2010
Round 1 vs Voskoboeva - 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
Round 2 vs Lucic - 6-1, 6-1
Round 3 vs Scheepers - 5-7 , 7-6(5), 6-3
Best US Open - 4th round, 2010, 2011
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
Francesca Schiavone leads 3-1
Francesca Schiavone won the last 2 meetings, last year at the same stage in the US Open in straight sets, and another time at this year's French Open in 3 sets
Schiavone has shown been a bit shaky at this year's US Open but has once again shown her fighting spirit, saving a match point in her 3rd round match, however, is yet to face a seed. Pavlychenkova has shown good form and beat the 11th seed in straight sets.
Conclusion - This will be a close match but I think Pavlychenkova will squeeze a win in 3 close sets
Match 5 - Monica Niculescu vs Angelique Kerber
Best US Open - 4th round, 2011
Round 1 vs Mayr-Achleitner - 6-3, 6-3
Round 2 vs Dulgheru - 6-3, 6-0
Round 3 vs Safarova - 6-0, 6-1
Best US Open - 4th round, 2011
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
Monica Niculescu leads 1-0
Niculescu won their only meeting but that was back in 2008
Both players are quite unheard of. Niculescu has, however, dropped just 10 games in 3 matches, one of which was against the 27th seed. She is showing good form here and could be dangerous. Kerber on the other hand has also taken down a seed, the 12th, in 3 sets. Both are showing good form and it could go either way.
Conclusion - A hard match to call but I think Niculescu will win in 2 or 3 sets
Match 6 - Peng Shuai vs Flavia Pennetta
Best US Open - Quarter Finals, 2008, 2009
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
Best US Open - 4th round, 2011
Round 1 vs Lepchenko - 6-3, 6-4
Round 2 vs Pironkova - 6-2, 6-4
Round 3 vs Goerges - 6-4, 7-6(1)
Pennetta has won all 4 meetings but they were in 2006, 2007 and 2008
Both players are seeded have performed well this tournamnent. Pennetta dropped just 8 games in her first 2 matches and then shocked Sharapova in her next. Peng is yet to drop a set and has had a great year breaking her own records in every Grand Slam this year and has won twice as many matches as Pennetta. This could be a close match but it mainly depends on the form on the day.
Conclusion - Both could win but I think Peng can take victory in 3 sets.
Match 7 - Maria Kirilenko vs Sam Stosur
Best US Open - Quarter Finals, 2010
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
Best US Open - 4th round, 2011
Round 1 vs Makarova - 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(3)
Round 2 vs Dushevina - 6-1, 6-2
Round 3 vs Mchale - 6-2, 6-3
Stosur won their last match back in 2009 in straight sets
Stosur had easy matches until reaching 24th seed Petrova, who made her work and their match was the longest women's in the US Open since tie breakers were introduced. Kirilenko had trouble in her first match but in the next 2 just dropped 8 games.
Conclusion - This match will depend on how tired Stosur is after that marathon match. If she can recover I see her winning in 3 sets.
Match 8 - Vera Zvonareva vs Sabine Lisicki
Best US Open - Final, 2010
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
Best US Open - 4th round, 2011
Round 1 vs Bondarenko - 6-3, 6-3
Round 2 vs V Williams - Ret
Round 3 vs Falconi - 6-0, 6-1
Zvonareva has won all 3 meeting, 2 of which this year, which were both in 3 sets, the third was at last year's US Open
Lisicki has been in great form this year and made the semi-finals at wimbledon and did a demolition job at the Dallas Open, winning without losing more than 3 games in any of her matches. On the other hand Zvonareva has also shown good form and made 3 semi-finals, 2 finals and won 1 tournament on the american tour and also made the semi-finals at the Australian Open as well as the Finals at last year's US Open.
Conclusion - This is a hard choice but I think Lisicki will win this match either a quick 2 set match or a long 3 set match.
Today and tomorrow we will find out who wins these matches and later I will release a video of these predictions. Thank you for reading.
