2011 US Open – Nick’s Picks – Women’s Singles Round 2
Coco Vandeweghe (USA) vs. Sam Stosur (AUS)
Many of you will recognize Coco’s last name as her uncle, Kiki Vandeweghe, played and coached in the NBA. Coco comes in ranked #112 in the world and this is the first time in three appearances that she has advanced to the second round of the US Open.
Stosur has had an up-and-down season in 2011, posting a 31-18 record, but she has played better as of late. She went to the finals in Toronto and was a quarterfinalist in Cincinnati. In both events she took out Na Li, which is no easy task. She is always a threat and she is someone I am keeping a close eye on in this tournament.
Match-Up:
This is the first career meeting between the 19-year old Vandweghe and the 27-year old Stosur. Vandeweghe has all the tools and the physical make-up of a top player. She can hit any shot in the book and sometimes for a youngster that can cause problems. Both women are in excellent shape so I don’t think fitness will be an issue here. Vandeweghe is going to have a tough time against Stosur. The Aussie has a huge kick serve and she this very heavy balls. This will put a great deal of pressure on the young American and will force her backwards. Vandeweghe is going to have to try and keep Stosur off-balance, which is much easier said than done. I have to give the edge to Stosur here, but this should be a fun one to watch.
Nick’s Pick – Stosur in 2 sets
Sabine Lisicki (GER) vs. Venus Williams (USA)
Lisicki advanced with a relatively easy win over Alona Bondarenko in the first round and comes into the tournament full of confidence. She just won the WTA event in Dallas last week and has had an excellent summer, which included a run to the semis at Wimbledon. If she gets on a roll like she did on the grass, watch out!
There were questions as to whether or not Venus was going to play in this tournament at all, and she looked a bit shaky in her first round win. It was good for her to get that out of the way though and I saw her practicing earlier and she looked to be in good shape.
Match-Up:
When the draw first came out, this was a match that I had my eye on. These two have met twice before, and have split those matches. We all know what Venus is capable of when healthy, but she hasn’t played very much tennis in 2011 and for that reason there is a big question mark over her. In her first match, she displayed a good backhand, her movement was excellent, she came forward and seemed comfortable at the net but her forehand and serve were a little tentative. When her serve is on, it is one of the best in the game, but I don’t know right now where she is at health-wise.
Lisicki played well in her win over Bondarenko. She had a few too many unforced errors and double faults, but that is how she plays. She goes for it all on every shot and that has been a successful recipe for her thus far in 2011. If Venus tries to slug it out from the baseline, I have to give the edge to Lisicki. Venus must try and come in and force the issue a bit. Lisicki should be able to put some pressure on Venus’ serve and this is going to be a big test for both girls.
Nick’s Pick – I have to give a slight edge to Lisicki because she is healthier, but this is going to be a great match!
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Jelena Dokic (AUS)
Jankovic moved on with an easy win over American Alison Riske in the opening round and she seems to be more confident now that she has been in the past year. She didn’t face a single break point on her serve and only committed 11 unforced errors in the match. If she plays like that, she is going to be very tough to beat.
Dokic has spent time at my Academy over the last few years and I have enjoyed working with her. I watched her first round win over Govortsova and she played extremely well. She has always had the talent and if she can stay focused, she is going to be a tough out.
Match-Up:
Dokic is 1-0 against Jankovic, but that match was eight years ago in 2003. Dokic was able to control her emotions in her first round victory, and that is a big key to her game. She plays one way: hit it hard and if all else fails, hit it harder! She has a great support team with her now, she’s moving brilliantly and her serve is consistent. This is going to be a very tough match for Jankovic. Dokic is going to bring it from the first ball, hitting flat groundstrokes to both wings. Jankovic is going to have to use her excellent footwork and her superb backhand to control the match. I have to give Jankovic a slight edge because of her experience and her recent results, but watch out this could be an upset.
Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 3 sets
Sloane Stephens (USA) vs. Shahar Peer (ISR)
Stephens is another one of the young American girls who has a chance to be special. She picked up her first Grand Slam win, beating Reka-Luca Jani in three sets in the first round. She got a little tight at the end of the match and had to battle back from the brink a couple of times, but she calmed her nerves and held her composure which was great to see.
Peer won a thriller over Sania Mirza in the first round, battling back after dropping the opening set in front of a raucous crowd. She’s a former quarterfinalist at the US Open, and she always has great support from the fans here. If she can remain confident, she can go a long way.
Match-Up:
This is the first career meeting between these two, and there will be plenty of intrigue surrounding this match. Stephens spent some time at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy a few years ago and I had a chance to work with her. Her natural athletic ability is off-the-wall, but sometimes you have to question her shot selection and strategy. Just having talent isn’t enough, you have to know how and when to use that talent at the right time to win on the big stage.
On the other side, Peer’s career has been up and down, but she seems to be heading in the right direction again. She got to the top by having a warrior mentality out on the court and refusing to back down from any challenge. She showed some of that against Mirza in the first round, and if she continues to do that she will be in good shape. I sure hope that Stephens is able to push Peer, but I have to nod to the veteran as she has been in the spot before and understands what it takes to win.
Nick’s Pick – Peer in 3 sets
