2009 Australian Open – Nick’s Picks – Women’s Singles Round 3
Once again, Nick’s Picks along with Tennis Week will bring you in-depth coverage of the Australian Open. Check back everyday for insight leading up to the Open and then throughout.
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Ai Sugiyama (JPN)
Jankovic continues to impress me with her play. It appears as though the training and hard work she put in during the off-season is really paying off and I think her chances of winning this tournament are right up there with the Williams sisters.
Sugiyama is truly a veteran, and is playing in her 15th Aussie Open. She was a quarterfinalist back in 2000 and has been to the fourth round as well. She competes extremely hard and is an excellent doubles player too.
The Match-Up:
Jankovic is 2-0 against Sugiyama, with both of those wins coming last year on hard courts. Sugiyama’s game is simple: she moves from side to side and can keep the ball in play with anyone. Well, against Jankovic that isn’t going to be enough. Jankovic can do that, plus she is stronger, plays with more versatility and is more athletic. Sugiyama better roll the dice and hope that she gets all “7′s” and “11′s”.
Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets
Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Kaia Kanepi (EST)
Wow! That is all I have to say about Safina’s physique! She is in fantastic shape and I was awed by the shape she is in. I full expect her to continue playing like she did in the second half of 2008 and possibly even challenge for the #1 ranking.
Kanepi is an extremely talented 23-year old who is currently ranked #28 in the world. She has never been past the second round of the Aussie Open, but she did reach the quarters of the French Open last year.
The Match-Up:
Safina is 3-0 against Kanepi, and beat her twice last year. Safina needed three sets to beat Makarova in the second round, and I think that is really going to help her. Sometimes, a player needs a little scare to help them stay focused, and that is exactly what Safina got. During that match against Makarova she got a little frustrated and at one point her serve went a bit astray. She is past that now and I look for her to stay focused and keep rolling.
Nick’s Pick – Safina in 3 sets
Elena Dementieva (RUS) vs. Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Dementieva moved past Benesova 6-4, 6-1 in the second round and to me she is one of the top three contenders for the title. She is playing at the highest level I have seen from her in quite some time.
Stosur got a good win over NBTA student Sabine Lisicki in the second round, and is into the third round of the Aussie Open for the third time in her career. She will have the full support of the Australian fans behind her and that is a huge plus.
The Match-Up:
Dementieva is 2-0 against Stosur, but they haven’t faced each other since 2006. Like I said before, Dementieva’s game is solely based on her serve. If she continues to serve like she has been thus far in 2009, she is going to be extremely difficult to beat. Stosur is very athletic, she is smart on the court, and moves well. Unfortunately, she is probably going to need more than that to beat Dementieva the way she is playing.
Nick’s Pick – Dementieva in 3 sets
Victoria Azarenka (BUL) vs. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)
Azarenka has quietly made her way into the third round, helped by the retirement in the first set of her second round opponent Tathiana Garbin of Italy. She is trying to reach the fourth round of the Aussie Open for the first time in her career.
Mauresmo is a former champion here, winning the title back in 2006. Since that year, she hasn’t been past the fourth round and has slipped down to #22 in the world. Could resurgence down under be in order?
The Match-Up:
Azarenka is 1-0 against Mauresmo, with that win coming last year in Zurich. To me, all of Mauresmo’s problems are internal. She has all the talent in the world, but can’t seem to put it together anymore. Everyone is writing her off, which may inspire her to play better. Who knows?! All I know is that Azarenka hits big from both sides, has a very good serve, and moves well for a big girl. If Mauresmo gives Azarenka too many defensive balls then she will be in trouble.
Nick’s Pick – Azarenka in 3 sets
Other matches of interest:
Here are some of the other matches that I will be keeping my eye on during the first round.
Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) vs. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) – Kleybanova spent time at the Academy when she was younger and is a big girl. She is not afraid to hit the ball and when she makes contact, watch out! Ivanovic’s serve cannot falter in this match, because if it does Kleybanova will be all over it. This could be a possible upset.
Jelena Dokic (AUS) vs. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) – Dokic got another huge win in front of her home fans and now will look to continue that streak against Wozniacki. The young, talented Dane is just outside the top ten and is ready to break through this year. The question here is: Will Dokic have enough juice left after another big win?
Alize Cornet (FRA) vs. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) – Cornet is the French hope for the next wave of top players. She is really talented, but has yet to get past the third round of a Grand Slam. Hantuchova has it all. She moves well, can volley, has extremely sound groundstrokes, and can serve. She has got to end the points quickly because getting into long rallies in this heat will not benefit her.
Serena Williams (USA) vs. Shuai Peng (CHN) – Serena has yet to play well in her two matches, and she even said herself that she is playing ugly tennis. She needs to be more consistent with her serve and do a better job of placing the ball (not hitting so many balls cross-court and down the line). I think she will win this one, but it may not be pretty.
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) vs. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) – This will be an exciting battle between two Spaniards. Navarro made an incredible run to the quarters of the 2008 French Open and with a big upset of Venus Williams in Australia she looks primed for another. Everyone will be tuning in to see if that was a fluke or if she is for real.
