Predicted Winners in BOLD

[16] Lucie Safarova (CZE) vs Venus Williams (USA) – Venus gets one day off from Montreal and travels to Cincinnati.  She has a chronic health issue that saps some stamina.  I am tempted to take a very capable Safarova, but Venus is playing the best she has in several years so I am taking Venus.

[5] Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs Madison Keys (USA)

[2] Simona Halep (ROU) vs Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) – Halep is such a warrior that I think Cincinnati’s humid conditions will favor her game.

[10] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) – The defending champion has not found her pre-injury form.  I hope for the sake of tennis that she returns to form sooner rather than later.

Andrea Petkovic (GER) vs Sloane Stephens (USA) – This is a match I have gone back and forth on more than any other WTA match slated for August 12.  Petkovic reached the semifinals in Paris this year.  Stephens is a dangerous player who should get some USA-based fan support.  I think Petkovic is less likely to play a bad match so I am picking her by a slim margin.

[12] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs Shuai Zhang (CHN) – Wozniacki is playing quite well.  I watched a portion of her match today and she has a lot of speed that helps her to be in position for almost every shot.

[Q] Nicole Gibbs (USA) vs [WC] Christina Mchale (USA) – This could go either way, but if Mchale is in good form, I think she wins.

[14] Sara Errani (ITA) vs [Q] Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) – This match will depend on Wickmayer’s ability to push Errani back on the court.

Sabine Lisicki (GER) vs Roberta Vinci (ITA) – The big server versus the all-court artist.  Vinci’s singles play has not been stellar recently so I will pick Lisicki.

Camila Giorgi (ITA) vs Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) – The Russian veteran is playing quite well as of late. 

[15] Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) vs. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) – Based on Montreal, I’m picking Suarez Navarro.

Kurumi Nara (JPN) vs Romina Oprandi (SUI)

Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) vs Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) – This is a great match.  Anyone with a ticket should find a spot near the front row for this match and abandon the generally bad lines of sight on the stadium court.

[Q] Zarina Diyas (KAZ) vs [Q] Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) – 2 qualifiers battling for computer points and easier entry into future tournaments.

Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) vs [Q] Annika Beck (GER) – Muguruza’s game should be rewarded by the fast courts in Cincinnati.