Men

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Bernard Tomic (AUS) - It is impossible to find the words that describe how good Roger Federer has been throughout his illustrious career. To me, the question is: What can’t he do?? His versatility is astounding and it drives his opponents crazy because they are thinking more about him than their own game. Federer is able to read the ball and know exactly where it will bounce and whether it is hit flat or with spin and the height/direction. His finishing shots are some of the best ever, his initial reaction is something you cannot teach, and he is a master with placing his serve using the same exact toss.

On the other side, you have Tomic. There is no doubt that he will be around for a long time. He will have to get used to making the quarters, semis and finals of many more tournaments. He is a big, strong boy and gives the audience an impression he is sleeping standing up, but in reality it is his opponents that are having the nightmare! His game enables him to hit offensive serves, big forehands, and a wicked two-handed backhand. Against Federer, Tomic may have to come out of his comfort zone at times and attack more to win this match. I look for Federer to win, but this should be really fun to watch. Federer in 4 sets.

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) – Generally, when Lopez takes the court he has the advantage of being a lefty – not in this case. It makes it much easier for Nadal to return that booming serve, especially to the ad court. Keep in mind, that Nadal is really a right and because of this, his backhand is superb with the top-hand doing all the work. Lopez must understand that beating Nadal from the baseline and with his serve will not work. He must do a little of this and a little of that including coming in to the net. No matter what way I break this one down, Nadal comes out on top. Nadal in 3, maybe 4 sets.

Women

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Caroline Wozniack (DEN) – It’s true, I picked McHale to upset Jankovic in the last round and I was proved wrong! Maybe my comments motivated her! Jankovic played great tennis in that match and if she continues to play like that, it will not be long before she is back in the top 10 and maybe even the top 5. She is an excellent athlete and her movement has helped her win so many matches. She has very consistent groundstrokes with very little spin, and her two-handed backhand is one of the best. Her second serve is attackable, but then again, so is Wozniacki’s.

Both girls are in great shape, but Caroline comes out a little ahead by being more hard-nosed and confident. This match will include several long rallies and the stat-box favors Wozniacki. I don’t think Jankovic can beat Woznaicki solely from the baseline. If I were her coach, which I used to be, I will tell Jelena to press Caroline, including attacking the net. Jankovic must also be more explosive and take the ball earlier. She has to hit angled shots and even mix in a few drop shots at times. Wozniacki should do what she does, play consistent tennis but when inside the baseline she should go for it! The rankings certainly favor Wozniacki, but I feel Jankovic is on the right path after that last win. The longer this match goes, the more it favors Wozniacki. I am really torn here, but I have to give a slight edge to Wozniacki. Wozniacki in 3 sets, but this could be a close one.

Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Li Na (CHN) – This should be a really good match if both women are playing their best tennis. It’s great to have Clijsters playing again, she brings a great energy to the Tour. She can play from any position on the court, she hits with power, she has a darn good serve, she’s very comfy at the net and she always puts pressure on her opponents. Her one question is lack of match play, but with her experience I don’t think that will be a big issue. Li Na’s game is simple. She will stand right on the baseline taking the ball early. She has a super foundation with very compact strokes, solid serve, comfortable at the net and her movement is above average. I don’t know what goes on inside her head, but at times she tends to look at her box too much which affects her performance. Like the Wozniacki/Jankovic match, this one could go either way. With Kim’s history in Australia though, I have to give her a slight advantage. Clijsters in 3 sets.

Men

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs. Roger Federer (SUI) – When you play Mr. Karlovic you must know going in that he has some big weapons, but he also has some areas that are very attackable. His serve is like a rocket coming at you and he can also hit a big, kicking second serve as well. His forehand is excellent and he hits with with very little spin. His backhand is where he lacks the punch. When he spent a month at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy a few years ago I started my conversation with him by telling him that if I had him as a youngster I wouldn’t have let him hit a backhand with slice until he was 18 years old. Why? With a ballistic serve, killer forehand and his touch at the net he should be a more consistent player, but the backhand holds him back. Almost 99% of the time, he slices his backhand. When you play against the best they will hit it wide to your forehand and then make you move to hit your backhand. Quite often, your slice will be defensive and that’s all it takes for your opponents like Djokovic, Murray, Federer, etc. to get the upper hand.

Federer will not be overly impressed or worries about Karlovic’s big serve, as he knows he only has to break serve one time in each set to win it. Roger has no real weakness, he seems to be healthy and he just got a walkover in the second round. It will be interesting to see his strategy against Karlovic, but he should win this going away. Federer in 3, maybe 4 sets.

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) – Wawrinka knocked off Marcos Baghdatis (and forced him to break four rackets) in the second round and that is no easy feat as Baghdatis always plays well in Australia. Wawrinka is a big, strong dude with the ability to hit any type of shot with his one-handed backhand. He’s also got a monster forehand and a very aggressive serve. On the other side, Almagro is Almagro. He isn’t going to hurt Wawrinka, but he isn’t going to hurt himself either. He stays within his comfort-zone by playing very consistently. He gets to darn near every ball and this takes a toll on his opponents and often times forces them to overhit. This is going to be a long match and if played under real hot and humid conditions that could help Almagro. Keep in that both men had longer matches in the second round so you don’t know if that is going to have any effect. I have to give a slight edge to Almagro, but this could really go either way. Almagro in 4 or 5 sets.

Milos Raonic (CAN) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) – I watched Raonic play his last match and as I got into the match I found myself thinking how the heck can he hit the serve 140-150 mph consistently without his arm coming lose from his shoulder!! He is winning close to 90% of the points on his first serve, which is amazing and he also has a great forehand, a steady, offensive two-handed backhand, he’s a darn good volleyer and he moves well for his size. He is still young and at times he gets frustrated, but nothing overly bad. On the other side, you have the cagey veteran Hewitt. He just knocked off Andy Roddick and has been through many battles. He fights like no other and he will try to keep Raonic on the court for at least 5 sets! He knows that the longer this match goes the more it favors him. I just don’t know if he has enough firewpower at this point. I am going to go with Raonic, but watch out for those Aussie fans, they may be enough to inspire Hewitt to a victory! Raonic in 4 sets.

Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA) – Nishikori had a great comeback win against Australian Matt Ebden in the second round as he was down two sets, but came back to win it in five. Kei is the definition of a shot-maker , with his fantastic ability to move and force errors from his opponents. Benneteau is really tough though, he has a big serve, he isn’t afraid to come into the net and his backhand is sweet. The longer this match goes, the more it favors Benneteau, but I am sticking with Kei! Nishikori in 4 sets. 

Women

Christina McHale (USA) vs. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) -This should be a good one. Jelena has slipped down in the rankings a bit and comes in seeded #13. She came to the Academy when she was a very young girl and joined the likes of so many talented youngsters like Maria Sharapova and Tatiana Golovin. There is no two ways about it – she is truly a character and that has helped her and hurt her at times. Her major strength is her movement. Her forehand is compact, with limited spin, and is consistent but it is not a major weapon. Her backhand is her bread-and-butter shot especially when hitting down the line. Her first serve is solid, but her second serve is a weakness and is a good volleyer. Jelena must not start complaining and looking to the stands for help. She is strong enough to control the situation and she doesn’t need any distractions out there.

McHale is a spit-fire out their and she is very competitive. Her style of play is very simple. She is aggressive and wants to hit as many forehand as possible and when she hits those forehand she knocks the tar out of the ball. She moves well and she knows how to get the crowd on her side. She still needs to work on her serve as her first serve could be bigger and her second serve is tentative at times. Pat McEnroe has done a great job working with her and he is very high on her potential and if you are an American tennis fan that is a really good sign. If you look strictly at the rankings here, the edge would go to Jankovic, but she better be careful especially if they get into long rallies and Jankovic is struggling with her serve. I think I am going to go with the upset here, but this could really go either way. McHale in 3 sets.

Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) – Hantuchova is a former student of mine and trained at the Academy when she as between the ages of 14-16. She is truly an outstanding person and has always been a major asset to the WTA. Her game is simple. She has superb groundstrokes and excellent techniques from both wings. She is also a top doubles player and because of that she is really comfy at the net. Yes, she has no apparent weaknesses, but she doesn’t have the aggressive weapons to push Clijsters around the court. Clijsters, on the other hand, is totally different and will come after Hantuchova from the first ball. Her movement is beyond description and no matter where the ball is she gets there and turns defense into offense. I know Clijsters hasn’t played much as of late, but she is still the favorite to win this match and advance deep into the tournament. Clijsters in 2 sets.

Sabine Lisicki (GER) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) – Lisicki has trained at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy for several years. She is a big, strong young lady who only knows one way to play tennis. She takes the ball early, hits it hard and then she hits it harder! She has had several injuries have sidelined her, but she keeps coming back and if she stay physically fit she has a strong chance of being a top-10 player very soon. Kuznetsova is very strong as well and even though she has fallen back in the rankings a bit, she is still a very tough out. Lisicki must get in a high percentage of first serves and be ready to attack any defensive returns. She must also move Kuznetsova around with controlled offensive shots. This should be a close match, but I am going with my girl! Lisicki in 3 sets. 

Men

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs. Andy Roddick (USA) – Their will be no surprises between these two veterans in this match. Hewitt had to give everything and more to win his first rounder and now he has to turn around and face a difficult opponent in Roddick in the second round. Roddick showed a bit of zip in his first round win over Robin Haase and will definitely have an advantage on the serve against Hewitt. Roddick needs to move Hewitt side-to-side and keep the points short to beat the Australian and I have to give him the edge. Roddick in 4 or 5 sets. 

Gael Monfils (FRA) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) – For many years, Monfils was more famous for his antics on the court than his winning. He seems to have turned that around and is playing great tennis. The crowd loves watching him play and he is definitely a showman, but he is hitting fewer errors and isn’t committing as many mistakes and the wins have been piling up. Bellucci is no push-over, and for many years he has been touted as one of the best young guys on the tour, but so far he hasn’t lived up to the billing. Monfils will be tested, but in the end he should pull it out. Monfils in 3 or 4 sets. 

John Isner (USA) vs. David Nalbandian (ARG) – This match has all the makings for a barn-burner. Isner comes in playing good tennis and Nalbandian is always a difficult out. He was beating Jarkko Nieminen pretty handily in the first round when Nieminen retired, so Nalbandian was able to get some rest. Nalbandian isn’t going to make many mistakes so Isner is going to have to pick his spots to attack. He needs to serve well and win as many easy points their as possible, but the longer this match goes the more it is going to swing to Nalbandian. I like Isner here in 4 sets, but watch out this could be an upset!

Tommy Haas (GER) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP) – I am thrilled to see Tommy back and playing good tennis again. He has been training with me for so long that I consider him part of my family. Throughout his whole career it’s seemed as if he is cursed with injuries, but he comes back more resilient each time. He has one of the greatest one-handed backhands you will ever see, a killer forehand and a fantastic slice. Nadal is going to do what he does to Federer’s one-handed backhand. He is going to hit heavy top-spin forehands to it and try to break it down. Tommy cannot get into long rallies with Nadal, especially cross-court rallies to Nadal’s forehand this will only spell trouble. If Nadal is able to jump out to a fast start, then watch out because once he gets rolling he is almost impossible to stop. I have to give the edge here to Nadal, but this will be a fun match. Nadal in 4 sets. 

Women

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Anna Tatishvili (GEO) – This match is all about Wozniacki. She has the goods to win it and probably will, but I will be watching to see how she plays. Everyone is waiting for her to claim her first major title and until she does their will always be chatter. I want to see her play more aggressive. She needs to get a high percentage of her first serves in and she cannot start pushing her second serve because her opponent will jump all over that. I would also like to see her go for her forehand when she has the opportunity and not play as defensive. I look for Wozniacki to advance but she is going to have to play better tennis if she wants to capture this title. Wozniacki in 2 sets. 

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Kai-Chen Chang (TPE) – Jankovic looked great in her first round win over Laura Robson as she controlled the points from the first ball. Now, she gets a qualifier in Chang and should be able to do the same. Jankovic has tested about every coach imaginable, but it all really boils down to her own mentality. She has the tools to compete with the best and she is super athletic, she just needs to focus mentally. Jankovic in 2 sets. 

Sabine Lisicki (GER) vs. Shahar Peer (ISR) – Lisicki, who trains at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, needed three sets to win her first round match and now she faces an even more difficult opponent in Shahar Peer. Lisicki’s game is to hit the crud out of the ball from anywhere on the court. She has a big-time serve and her groundstrokes are some of the very best. Her issue is that sometimes she presses a little and overhits, so if she can avoid that she should be in good shape. Lisicki should be able to win this match, but Peer will not go down without a challenge. She is very competitive and will make Lisicki work for every point. As long as Lisicki stays within herself and can avoid injury she should be just fine. Lisicki in 3 sets. 

Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. Sloane Stephens (USA) – You don’t hear much chatter about Kuznetsova these days and if you are on the women’s side that should make you nervous. She is always dangerous and she looks like she is in excellent shape right now. She has a great foundation and generally makes little to no errors on the court. Stephens is a young American who has all the physical gifts to be a top player. Her biggest weakness is her mental game. She looked much better at the 2011 US Open, and if she can play like that consistently she will be in good shape. At this point, I don’t think she has enough to beat Kuznetsova right now, but that day may come very soon. Kuznetsova in 2 or 3 sets. 

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

Peer hasn’t had a great year, posting a 20-17 record but she did reach the finals in Washington, DC before falling to Nadia Petrova in straight sets. She then lost in the first round at Toronto and the third round in Cincinnati. Her best result at the US Open came back in 2007 when she reached the quarterfinals, but she has yet to repeat that performance since.

Mirza’s career has been up-and-down and sometimes it seems like she is more focused on what she has going on off the court rather than what’s happening on the court. If she stays focused though, she has the potential to be a real player and she could be a huge star in India.

Match-Up:

Mirza is 4-1 against Peer, but the two haven’t met since 2009. When Peer first came on the tour, her advantage over many of the women was her fitness and her focus. It seems like she has lost a bit of that over the last few years, but she still is a very dangerous player. She covers the court well, has excellent groundstrokes and is usually in great shape. Against Mirza, she needs to keep the pressure up and force her backwards and if she does that she should win. This is not going to be an easy win for Peer, but I look for her to advance.

Nick’s Pick – Peer in 3 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Alison Riske (USA)

Jankovic comes in ranked #12 in the world and she should have plenty of confidence after reaching the finals of Cincinnati. It will be interesting to see how she rebounds after that performance and to see if she can sustain that level of play for two weeks. She was a finalist here just three years ago and she definitely has the talent to reach that point again.

Riske is a 21-year old American who was given a wild card into the tournament. She’s ranked #117 in the world and has a 22-21 record thus far in 2011. This is his first appearance in the main draw of the US Open, and only the fourth Grand Slam main draw appearance overall.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Jankovic and Riske and whenever you have young Americans involved against top players, you know there is going to be some interest. To me, this match is all about Jankovic. A couple of years ago her movement was off the charts, but she doesn’t seem to be covering the court as well as she used to. Her two-handed backhand is still one of the best and when she is able to step in and hit it down the line, she is very difficult to beat. Against Riske, she needs to get down to business right away and not let the crowd get into it. Jankovic is a bit unpredictable because of her emotions, so the longer this match goes the better Riske’s chances are at winning. I look for Jankovic to win, but this will be a fun match.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets

Heather Watson (GBR) vs. Maria Sharapova (RUS)

Watson has been training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy for many years and she is, without a doubt, one of the best up-and-comers on the tour. She won the Junior US Open a few years ago and that really propelled her into the spotlight, especially in her home country of England. She has all the tools, and as she gets more experience she is only going to become more dangerous.

Sharapova is definitely one of the favorites to win this tournament, especially after winning Cincinnati. She’s had a great year, posting a 39-10 record and reaching the finals of Wimbledon and it is absolutely fantastic that she is back inside the top five and winning again because the tour needs her to be a competitor at every stop!

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Watson and Sharapova, but they know each other well as they both train at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy. Wow, this is going to be a big one! Watson has a very solid game. She serves well, has fantastic groundstrokes and her movement is great. She can sometimes lose focus, but I doubt that will happen in a match of this magnitude. Sharapova is going to try and dictate play and win quick points with a big serve and devatstating forehand. If Watson can play longer points and force Sharapova to cover more court then she has a chance. She doesn’t want to get into a slugging match with Sharapova, so she needs to change the pace a bit and try and keep her off balance. I have to give Sharapova the edge because of her experience and consistency on the big stage, but this one could definitely go three sets.

Nick’s Pick – Sharapova in 3 sets

Sabine Lisicki (GER) vs. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)

Lisicki comes in ranked #23 in the world, which is only two spots lower than her career high of #21. She reached her first career Grand Slam semifinal earlier this year at Wimbledon and she is certainly a threat every time she steps on the court. Like Watson and Sharapova, she grew at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy and I have worked with her for many years. She always has a great attitude on the court and if she can stay healthy, she has an extremely bright future.

Bondarenko has been ranked as high as #19 in the world, but right now she’s #125. She missed the first part of the year and didn’t compete until May due to a wrist/right knee injury. She’s been to the third round here three times in her career, and if she is healthy she is a tricky out.

Match-Up:

These two have met once before, back at the 2008 US Open and Bondarenko won that in three sets. Bondarenko is an experienced player who has had excellent results on both the singles and doubles side. She doesn’t have any huge weapons, but she will make you cover the court and she will not roll over. Lisicki likes to go for everything. She hits the tar out of the ball from both wings and her serve is one of the best on tour. She needs to get a high percentage of first serves in to win this match, and she also needs to remain patient. I give her the edge because of Bondarenko’s injury issues and the fact that Lisicki has had an excellent year and loves playing on the hard courts.

Nick’s Pick – Lisicki in 3 sets

Bartoli is 4-0 against Dulko, but the two have never met on the dirt. Dulko picked up a great win over last year’s runner-up, Sam Stosur, in the third round and she is into the Round of 16 for the second time in her career. She is a very good clay-court player as she moves well, can play with variety and is crafty. Her record against Bartoli isn’t great, but on clay I think things may be a bit more even.

Bartoli came from behind to win in three sets in the third round and once she gets on a roll she is tough to stop. She pounds the ball with two hands from both sides, moves well and really takes it to her opponents. She will have the crowd behind her and that always helps and I just feel that her relentless groundstokes will be the difference in this match. I like Bartoli in three sets.

Nick’s Pick – Bartoli in 3 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Francesca Schivaone (ITA)

Wow, this a must-see match!! They have met four times previously and Jankovic has won three of those including their only match on clay. Schiavone is the defending champion for a reason. She plays with tremendous passion, her determination is second to none and she has the game on clay to beat anyone. Her movement is fantastic and she can play with a ton of variety.

To win this match, Jankovic has to play to Schiavone’s backhand constantly. I wouldn’t play too many balls to Schiavone’s forehand as that is her better weapon. Jankovic has one of the best backhands on the WTA tour and when she hits it down-the-line she is at her best. This match could really go either way as both are playing great tennis right now. I have to give a slight edge to Jankovic because I feel she can control the points more, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see this go to the Italian either. Make sure you are watching this match!!

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 3 sets

These two have met three times previously and Mattek-Sands has won two of the three. Their one meeting on clay was in 2010 in Rome and Jankovic won that in three sets. Mattek-Sands is a very confident player, she has an all-court game and she will force Jankovic to win every single point. She never ever relents and you know she is going to dress funky! I feel she will try to intimidate Jankovic a little with her powerful groundstrokes, but I am not sure she can on clay.

Jankovic was on a roll a couple of years ago, but then she lost confidence and got distracted. She seems to have regained her focus and she is playing well. She is uber-athletic, has a wonderful two-handed backhand, and she understands what it takes to win. She cannot get flustered by Mattek-Sands and she has to remain focused throughout the match. I look for her to win, but this could definitely go three sets.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 3 sets

Sam Stosur (AUS) vs. Gisela Dulko (ARG)

Stosur is 2-0 against Dulko with both wins coming on clay in Madrid in each of the last two years. Neither have been easy wins, so this should be an interesting match. Dulko is a veteran who is a good clay-courter and she is also very crafty on the court. She won a clay-court title in Acapulco back in February, but hasn’t played too well as of late. She can certainly push Stosur to three sets, but I am not sure she has the firepower to beat the Aussie.

Stosur will once again use that amazing kick serve, fantastic athleticism, and remarkable determination to try and win every point she can. She looks confident and she seems at home at Roland Garros. She knows what it takes to beat Dulko and I look for her to advance in a tough match.

Nick’s Pick – Stosur in 3 sets

Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)

Sharapova is 2-0 against Chan, but both of those wins came four years ago in 2007. Chan is like a backboard on the baseline and she is also a very good doubles player. She moves well and is also comfortable at approaching the net and volleying. She needs to serve well, because if she has any issues with her serve, Sharapova will pounce on her.

It may have taken Sharapova a little time against Garcia in the second round, but she showed how much of a fighter she is and once she figured out the young Frenchwoman she attacked. She remains confident on the dirt, will take the ball early and should be able to control the court with her groundstrokes. She has more firepower than Chan and she should be able to win this match in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick – Sharapova in 2 sets

Vania King (USA) vs. Petrva Kvitova (CZE)

King beat Elena Baltacha in three sets to advance to the third round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in her career. She is a scrappy player who moves well but doesn’t have a big weapon. She forces her opponents to play every ball which makes them over-hit and causes errors. Against Kvitova, she is going to have to take some chances and go for broke because the Czech lefty can crush the ball from both sides and she also has a huge serve. Most of the time, King is patient and waits for her chances, but I don’t think that will work against Kvitova. Kvitova should be able to control play from the outset and I see her advancing in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick – Kvitova in 2 sets

This is going to be a very interesting match to see how far Oudin has come. She burst onto the scene a couple of years ago, but she hasn’t been able to repeat that performance since. It hasn’t been easy for Oudin, but a win here would certainly get her back on track. When playing Schiavone, the defending champion, she cannot try and rally with her because Schiavone is too tough from the baseline. Oudin is going to have to gamble and take chances whenever she can. She must force the issue and try and keep Schiavone off-balance.

On the other side, there are questions about Schiavone heading into the tournament. Can she repeat her performance from 2010? That would be a huge challenge, but she definitely has the tools necessary to win the title again. She is 2-1 against Oudin in her career and I look for her to advance, but this should be a good test for the Italian.

Nick’s Pick – Schiavone in 2 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)

These two women know each other really well and there will be no surprises out there. Jankovic has dominated their previous matches, winning 12 of 13. Included in that was a win in last year’s French Open in straight sets. Bondarenko will not overpower Jankovic, but she moves well, plays smart and will try and force Jankovic to over-hit. Against Jankovic, that is not enough. I look for the Serb to clear her mind and take advantage of her athletic talents and win this match in straight sets. If Jankovic has any doubts this could go three, but I don’t see that happening.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets

Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Mirjana Lucic (CRO)

I know both of these women well as they have spent plenty of time at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy training in the past. Lucic is one heck of a fighter and she will never relent. She goes for broke on every shot, is in fantastic shape and moves extremely well. Does she have enough firepower to beat Sharapova though?

Sharapova is brimming with confidence on clay, which isn’t something I could have said in the past. She just won the Italian Open and now everyone is going to be expecting big things from her in Paris. Her serve is cranking and her movement has been excellent. Lucic will make Sharapova fight for every point, but in the end, I just feel that Sharapova has too much confidence and offensive power.

Nick’s Pick – Sharapova in 2 sets

Andrea Petkovic  (GER) vs. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB)

Jovanovski is a young Serbian (19) who is really more of a doubles player right now. She started off 2011 strong, but has really been struggling as of late. She hits the ball really well from both sides, likes to come in and she is an excellent volleyer. Petkovic is going to move her all over the court and that could be trouble for her as I am not sure right now she can handle the German’s power.

Petkovic has had a very good year and she climbed the rankings to #15 in the world. She has struggled a bit in the clay-court season, but she also seems to come up with the goods during the Grand Slams. She hits the crud out of the ball from both wings and has really changed her attitude around. She had been known to choke in the past, but not anymore as she is now one of the top women in the game. She has never faced the young Serb, but I am looking for her to advance in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick – Petkovic in 2 sets

Match-up:

Zvonareva is 1-0 against Radwanska, but that match was all the way back in 2007. Zvonareva isn’t playing her best tennis, but she is fighting like crazy and she is controlling her emotions which is enabling her to win the key points. She was down a set to Bartoli in the last round, but she was able to recover and take down the Frenchwoman 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Against Radwanska, Zvonareva will have to be patient because she like a brick-wall on the baseline, she gets everything back. Radwanska doesn’t have the big guns, but she plays extremely consistent tennis and she knows how to win the big points. I look for this match to go three sets and I give the edge to Zvonareva because she may just have a little too much firepower and because of the way she is competing.

Nick’s Pick – Zvonareva in 3 sets

Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU)

Match-up:

This is the first career meeting between Dulgheru and Sharapova. Wow, Maria looked like the old Maria in her last match! She took down fourth-seeded Sam Stosur 6-4, 6-1 and she played fantastic tennis. Her serve is working, her groundstrokes are offensive and her movement is solid. Dulgheru is no push-over though. She has good groundstrokes, and a solid serve, and she is playing with confidence. I just think the way Sharapova is playing, I don’t think Dulgheru has the weapons to beat her. I look for Sharapova to get into the semis with a straight set win.

Nick’s Pick – Sharapova in 2 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Andrea Petkovic (GER)

Match-up:

This is the first career meeting between these two and it promises to be an exciting match. I watched Jankovic play in her last match and she is really striking the ball well. Her defense is excellent and when she is happy it really shows in her play. Petkovic is like a wild-west gun-slinger, firing groundstokes from the hip. She isn’t afraid to go for broke on every shot and against Wozniacki she really attacked her serve and used her shots to keep Wozniacki pinned back. If Jankovic falls behind the baseline then Petkovic has a very good chance of winning this match. I feel Jankovic can user her outstanding defense to neutralize some of Petkovic’s weapons, but this is going to be a close match.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 3 sets

Match-up:

This is the fifth career meeting between Jankovic and Zakopalova, and they have split the previous four. Jankovic has won the last two matches, including a victory over her earlier this year at Doha. Jankovic has looked very confident as of late and she is playing more aggressive and is really using that two-handed backhand down-the-line shot as a weapon. When she plays this way, she is very difficult to beat because she moves so well. Zak0palova is no push-over though, she hits the ball hard from both sides and is a veteran to the tour with experience and good wins over top players. She doesn’t have the big weapon though and that will be the difference in this match. I look for Jankovic to advance in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)

Match-up:

This is going to be an exciting match! Wozniacki is 2-0 against Hantuchova, but they haven’t met since 2009. Hantuchova is solid from both wings, has great hands, is an excellent mover and her serve is reliable. What she lacks against someone like Wozniacki is the firepower to push her back and keep her off-balance. Wozniacki has already won two titles in 2011, including a big title last week at Indian Wells. She is definitely the top player in the world, and this is because of her consistency. Her movement is off the charts, her groundstrokes are amazing and her work ethic is top notch. Her second serve is attackable, but it isn’t a major weakness. She is still looking for her Grand Slam title, and while this wouldn’t classify, it would definitely be a step in the right direction. I look for a great match, but in the end, Wozniacki just has too much.

Nick’s Pick – Wozniacki in 2 sets

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)

Match-up:

Azarenka is 5-1 against Cibulkova and beat her the only time they played in 2010. Cibulkova reached the fourth round of Indian Wells, beating Vera Zvonareva, before falling to Yanina Wickmayer. For a small girl, she packs a huge punch and she moves around the court like a lightning bolt. She has a solid serve and she has the experience needed to make a deep run in this tournament.

Azarenka was a quarterfinalist last week at Indian Wells where she took down both Radwanska sisters before falling to eventual champion, Caroline Wozniacki. She won this tournament back in 2009 so she enjoys playing down in Miami. She has all the physical tools to win a Grand Slam, but she hasn’t been able to come up with the shots needed on the big stage. She has played well against Cibulkova in the past, and she has more firepower than her counterpart. I look for Azarenka to win, but this could go the distance.

Nick’s Pick – Azarenka in 3 sets

Virginie Razzano (FRA) vs. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)

Match-up:

Ivanovic is 2-1 against Razzano, including a win over her at last year’s US Open. Everyone is excited to have Ivanovic playing well again as she is great for the WTA. We all know she has the game to beat anyone, she just hasn’t been able to put together any consistency over the last two seasons. If she plays to her ability level, she can win any tournament. Razzano is a tricky veteran who Ivanovic cannot overlook. I don’t think she will, and I feel she will win this match in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick – Ivanovic in 2 sets