US Open 2013 preview: Women’s quarter-final

As we head towards the business end of the tournament, the women over 30 have made a mark for themselves at Flushing Meadows. With five of the quarterfinalists being above 30, these players have surely been able to turn the clock back a few years.

The upsets in the fourth round along with the usual suspects throws up some exciting quarter-final encounters for tennis fans. Here is a preview of the quarter-final matches from the women’s section of the draw:

1) Serena Williams vs Carla Suarez Navarro (Head to Head: Serena leads 2-0)

Serena Williams

As always defending US Open champion Serena Williams appears to be the person to beat at Flushing Meadows this year. The power hitting ruthless game of Serena has helped her to steamroll her opponents and progress to the quarters without dropping a set.

However, Serena has in the recent past succumbed against players like Stephens and Lisciki in the latter stages of slams. But, having never lost to the Spaniard, Serena would be the firm favourite going into the match.

Meanwhile, Navarro has bettered her past two Slam performances in Europe by progressing to her first ever quarterfinal in a Grand Slam. Navarro’s big upset came in the fourth round when she dug deep to knock out 8^th seed Angelique Kerber. This could well be a one-sided encounter but Suarez Navarro can certainly give Serena a run for her money if she plays to her full potential.

Prediction: Serena Williams wins in straight sets

2) Ekaterina Makarova vs Li Na (Head to Head: Li Na leads 3-0)

Li Na

After a shock win over 3^rd seed Agnieszka Radwanska, Ekatarina Makarova would be brimming with confidence going into the last eight encounter. However, she would be up against an extremely difficult opponent in the form of Chinese Li Na.

These two faced each other at Flushing Meadows five years back with Li Na winning in the deciding set. However, times have changed. Li Na has become a Grand Slam winner and Makarova will have her work cut out when she faces the 5^th seed on Arthur Ashe stadium.

Li Na has had a decent run coming into the last slam of the year, reaching the semis in Toronto and Cincinnati, while the Russian southpaw hasn’t sparkled much in the build-up to her favorite slam. Also, both ladies have yet to drop a set this tournament, making this match an even more engrossing one. All-in-all, a cracker of a match in store for tennis fans at the US Open.

Prediction: Li Na wins in 3 sets

3) Roberta Vinci vs Flavia Pennetta(Head to head: 4-4)

Roberta Vinci

With every passing tournament the Italian ladies are making a mark in the world of tennis, whether it is the power hitting of Schiavone or the new sensation in town Camila Giorgi.

This all-Italian encounter promises to be a closely matched encounter with both players knowing each other’s game perfectly well. If being Fed cup partners was not enough, they face-off in the women’s doubles third round encounter as a preview to their highly anticipated quarterfinal clash.

The very fact that Vinci and Pennetta have faced each other eight times shows how informed they are about each other’s style of play. A tied head-to-head clubbed with a semifinal berth at a Grand Slam would act as a big motivation for the two when they gear up for their encounter come Wednesday.

Thus, following in the footsteps of Sara Errani last year, Vinci and Pennetta would want to get their names scripted in the record books by entering the semifinals and possibly add to that by even going further in the tournament.

Prediction: Roberta Vinci wins in 3 sets

4) Daniela Hantuchova vs Victoria Azarenka (Head to Head: 2-2)

Victoria Azarenka

Daniela Hantuchova has been the surprise package of the tournament, progressing through to this far at a Grand Slam only for the second time, after an Australian Open semifinal appearance in 2008. Hantuchova had last made it to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows when she was a teenager way back in 2002.

On her way to the quarters, the Slovakian has had to dig deep by winning in a final set tie break as well as overcome Petra Kvitova, Alison Riske to book a last eight berth. However, Hantuchova will have to pull up her socks if she has to outplay world number 2 Victoria Azarenka in the last eight clash.

Azarenka has not had a smooth run at the US Open so far, being stretched to the deciding set in her last two matches but she has fought well to stay alive in the tournament. A head-to-head of two apiece only suggests the periods in which these two have played each other with Hantuchova’s wins coming at a time when she was more dominant on the women’s circuit and likewise for Azarenka.

Overall, it appears that if Azarenka controls her unforced errors and replicates her form from Cincinnati, she would be the firm favorite to book a semifinal spot.

Prediction: Azarenka wins in straight sets.