'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAiIb/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAF//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAhEAACAQMDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEERIABQYTITEzQf/aAAgBAQABPwDi200VTs9TE6Zz1s0NLm6+kFOpkhB89voOpDi7KDcA2vr/xAAWEQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAjH/2gAIAQIBAT8Aan//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABADL/2gAIAQMBAT8Acl//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Finally we arrive at the Judgment Day which will reveal to us the names of the three selected ladies who will join Serena Williams in the semi-finals of the WTA Championships. The Red group presents a much simpler scenario as the outright winner of the match between the 2011 winner Petra Kvitova and her fellow lefty Angelique Kerber will advance.
But the White Group is where the calculations might get complicated as only two of the three battling women will clinch the two spots. Can Victoria Azarenka rebound from her defeat? Can Li Na continue to be impressive? Can Jelena Jankovic keep on her remarkable resurgence? We make an assessment of their upcoming matches.
(4)Li Na v (2)Victoria Azarenka (Head-to-head: Azarenka leads 6-4)
It’s perhaps the most important match from the White Group that will be a deciding factor in determining the semi-finalists. The number of sets too will make it count. Li Na has lost her last five encounters in a row to Victoria Azarenka but what’s interesting is three of them went the distance.
Li Na, despite her bouts of nervousness in the middle of a match, has been doing a lot of things right which also helped her secure her first two consecutive wins at this elite event. Not a natural volleyer, she even showed an inclination for approaching the net winning 19 of 23 of her net points against Jankovic.
Victoria Aazarenka, on the other hand hasn’t put up an encouraging picture of herself. She has now lost four of her last five matches and has even confessed to being mentally burned out. The signs are evident – her serve has been fragile, her movement has been wobbly and the errors just keep on coming. Can she bounce back against a Li who can get lethal if she gets her forehands clicking? It’s imperative that the World No. 2 finishes her victory in straight sets to have any chance of progressing but going by Li’s confidence it just might be an uphill task.
Prediction: Li wins in three sets.
(5)Petra Kvitova v (8)Angelique Kerber (Head-to-head: They are tied at 2-2)
Angelique Kerber
Far removed from the White Group’s complications, this is a winner-take-all situation in the Red Group. As Agnieszka Radwanska has already been eliminated, either one of the two lefties will give company to Serena as the No. 2 player.
Both of the world’s two best lefties love performing on the indoor hardcourts with Kvitova having notched up 66 victories and Kerber secured all three of her title wins in indoor hardcourts. They are even tied in their head-to-head.
If the Czech managed to impress in her opening match in Istanbul, the German gratified her fans with one of her best performances of the year on Thursday against a slumping Radwanska. Kerber was simply scintillating; blasting 31 winners and ripping her down-the-line forehands at will she sent the Pole spinning out of the tournament. She even had an immaculate serving day having lost just 10 points on her serve.
Kerber needed to come up with such an impeccable display after being routed earlier by Serena. After such a thundering performance, her face-off with Kvitova is surely shaping up to be something spectacular. The Czech herself lighted up the Sinan Erdem Dome on Tuesday with her pinpoint accuracy on serves and her inside-out forehands. She moved well and even volleyed smartly – Kvitova very much oozed the belief and courage that had been missing for the better part of the year. Add to that, Kvitova is 7-1 against lefties this year which includes a tough three-setter triumph over her very opponent.
Prediction: Kvitova wins in three sets.
(6)Jelena Jankovic v (7)Sara Errani (Head-to-head: Jankovic leads 1-0)
Sara Errani
Touted as the easiest match for Jelena Jankovic out of all three of her round-robin matches, the Serb knows the importance of performing very well in this one. Having battled back from outside the top 30s and especially having had such a sizzling display against Victoria Azarenka, Jankovic wouldn’t want to let go of this opportunity.
Coached by brother Marko, Jankovic has been on the upward trail since her title run at Bogota this year and a semi-final appearance at the WTA Championships would just be the icing on the cake. She served excellently versus Azarenka and even though it wasn’t as watertight against Li Na, she made up for it by her tremendous defense, swift movement and the angles which outfoxed Li.
It would be little different against Sara Errani as the Italian herself loves to mix it up with an array of dropshots and lobs. But Jankovic has more experience and perhaps more hunger which will help her sail through.
Prediction: Jankovic wins in straight sets.
