NOTE: This is my own version of draw analysis on 2010 Sony Ericsson Open. In this self-version of draw analysis, I will pick who I think will be 2010 Sony Ericsson Open Women's Champion.
This is the second WTA Premier Event where Victoria Azarenka will try to defend her title. Serena Williams withdraw because of injury, as well as Dinara Safina and Maria Sharapova. Svetlana Kuznetsova is the top seed of this event and it won't be a surprise if Venus Williams be on top of them. The field in this event consists of too many youngsters. Will one of them performs well and breaks through or a veteran will dominate the field? Most probably but not quite.
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| Victoria Azarenka 2009 Sony Ericsson Open Women's Champion |
The Quarters - Part 1
Kuznetsova has an easy path through quarterfinals though she can't assure herself to be there yet because of too many sleepers in her draw. Of course, she can avoid upset like what had happened to her at Indian Wells where she was stunned by Carla Suarez Navarro. This time, a possible third round encounter with either Alicia Molik or Agnes Szavay. I believe she can get past to it but she had to work hard when she meet either Gisela Dulko, who upset Henin in the second round of Indian Wells, or Marion Bartoli. The highest seeded player Kuznetsova's quarter is Chinese player Li Na. Should Li gets past Polona Hercog or Aleksandra Wozniak in the third round, she will have a possible encounter with Belgian Yanina Wickmayer. Whoever performs well, will ensure a spot in a semifinal.
Semifinalist: Wickmayer
Player to watch: Hercog is one of the hottest rising star on tour today
Player to watch: Hercog is one of the hottest rising star on tour today
The Quarters - Part 2
This might be a relatively tough path for Williams in her road to semifinals. Given a bye in the first round, she will open her match against teen phenoms Sorana Cirstea or Michelle Larcher De Brito. But I would say her path going to fourth round will be easier. Williams will have a possible meeting with either Daniela Hantuchova or Nadia Petrova, who was bageled by Wozniacki in third set in their fourth round encounter at Indian Wells. What's trickier in Williams' quarter is her possible opponent in the semifinals?
Ana Ivanovic, with her recent performance tells that she can do no damage at this moment. But this will Ivanovic's time to shine or even get inspired by her fellow Serbian Jankovic, who claims her first title in seven months. Therefore, I would say that Agnieszka Radwanska is automatically have a spot in the fourth round where her opponent will either be Italian Flavia Pennetta or big serving teen German and rising star Sabine Lisicki. Pennetta has a winning record over Williams with their last encounter in 2009 Cincinnati. Williams will have a chance to tie their head-to-head record in quarterfinals if Pennetta gets past Lisicki and Radwanska, in third and fourth round.
Semifinalist: Williams
Match to watch: Kimiko Date-Krumm faces Anna Chakvetadze in first round. Date-Krumm has a shot in this matchup.
Match to watch: Kimiko Date-Krumm faces Anna Chakvetadze in first round. Date-Krumm has a shot in this matchup.
The Quarters - Part 3
It's hard to believe that Azarenka needs to work hard to be able to defend her Miami title as she has a very tough draw. Azarenka has a possible third round encounter with Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, the player who upset her in the same round at Indian Wells. Should Azarenka get revenge of that upset, in-form player Shahar Peer and the Belgian comeback mom Kim Clijsters will battle it out for a possible fourth round clash. This time Jelena Jankovic need not to make a lot of sweat going into the round of 16. The real sweat will drop when Jankovic meets either the dangerous Chinese ace Jie Zheng or the new member of the elite Samantha Stosur. Will Jankovic wins the second time around over Stosur?
Semifinalist: Jankovic
Player to watch: Peer, with her current form will cause too much damage in this event. We'll see how far she goes.
Player to watch: Peer, with her current form will cause too much damage in this event. We'll see how far she goes.
The Quarters - Part 4
I can consider Caroline Wozniacki's quarter a battle of the youngsters. It would be a possible that a teen will make a breakthrough in this Premier event a feat achieved by Azarenka last year. There will be a possible rematch of Kirilenko-Wozniacki in the third round. This will be Maria Kirilenko's chance to get revenge. Whoever gets through will have a possible fourth round encounter with either Francesca Schiavone or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who wins her first WTA title at Monterrey Open.
Another possible rematch is between wildcard Justin Henin and Elena Dementieva. Henin has a lot of time in terms of preparation than Dementieva as she was defeated by Dulko in the second round of Indian Wells. This rematch will be widely anticipated by many tennis spectators. Will Dementieva gets revenge on her lost to Henin in the second round at this year's Australian Open?
Whoever wins, two Russians are going to clash for a place in the fourth round, Alisa Kleybanova, who wins her first WTA title at Malaysia Open or Vera Zvonareva, but she must avoid an upset over American teen phenom Melanie Oudin. In this quarter, the youngsters have the better results and have the chance to win big. The quarterfinal matchup between Oudin and Wozniacki or Pavlyuchenkova is not impossible.
Semifinalist: Wozniacki
Player to watch: A repeat of 2009 US Open performance? That will be great to see from Oudin. But to show another captivating performance and a possible matchup against former world No.1 and her idol Henin, it's an additional spice.
Player to watch: A repeat of 2009 US Open performance? That will be great to see from Oudin. But to show another captivating performance and a possible matchup against former world No.1 and her idol Henin, it's an additional spice.
The Semifinals
Wickmayer vs. Williams: The Wickmayer-Williams match will be one-sided as I can see Williams is too strong for Wickmayer. Considering Williams has won three consecutive titles this year with the last one over Clijsters at Billie Jean King Cup and has a 10-match winning streak. Williams in straight sets.
Jankovic vs. Wozniacki: Did I expect a rematch of Indian Wells final between Jankovic and Wozniacki, but this time a clash for a place in the final? No, I didn't. I saw how Jankovic shows her aggressiveness on the court as Wozniacki has nothing to do but bring the ball back to the court only to be hit by Jankovic for a winner. Will the momentum is still on Jankovic and gets the chance to win the rare Indian Wells-Miami double? Surely, it will be an exciting match but this time the Dane will prove that she is the second best player in the world. Wozniacki in three sets.
Finalists: Williams, Wozniacki
The Finals
This will be the fifth encounter of the two with their last meeting in this Premier event two years ago where Venus trashed the Dane 6-3 6-3 in the round of 16. Also, Venus already scored four wins over her younger opponent. Azarenka stunned Serena in an unexpected lopsided final and cracked the top 10. I anticipate this exciting matchup and I want to see Wozniacki get the same fate Azarenka had achieve last year. Is she ready or mature enough to consistently register wins over fellow top player? But how about to dominate women's tennis? This is Wozniacki’s chance to cement her status as the No.2 player in the world. Wozniacki in three sets.
Champion: Caroline Wozniacki
Does my prediction correct? Check WTA website for daily results.
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