Predicted Winners in BOLD

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) vs. Simona Halep (ROU) [5] – Flipkens is a solid player, but Halep should advance.

Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) vs. Venus Williams (USA) [6] – Venus is hard to predict in singles at this stage of her career, but I would think she should win.

I was 1 year out of undergraduate studies when Serena won this match

Serena Williams (USA) [1] vs. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) – This is a lousy draw for Makarova and not great for Serena either.  I think Serena wins, but Makarova is a player with legitimate quarterfinal potential who is facing the #1 seed out of the gate.  Makarova also won gold in doubles, and doubles players troubled Serena in NY last year.

Denisa Allertova (CZE) vs. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) [29] – Ivanovic has been struggling.  She may win this round, but barring improvement in her form Ana won’t be around too long.

Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [4] vs. Jessica Pegula (USA) – Aga just won a title.

Katerina Siniakova (CZE) vs. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) – Maybe?

Louisa Chirico (USA) vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) [17]

Pauline Parmentier (FRA) vs. Caroline Garcia (FRA) [25]

Karolina Pliskova (CZE) [10] vs. Sofia Kenin (USA) – Can Pliskova play like she did in Cincinnati?

Kurumi Nara (JPN) vs. Stefanie Voegele (SUI)

Nao Hibino (JPN) vs. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)

Lucie Safarova (CZE) vs. Daria Gavrilova (AUS) – This is a tough draw for both players.  Safarova’s recent singles results have not been setting the world on fire, but I think her experience makes the difference.

Camila Giorgi (ITA) vs. Samantha Stosur (AUS) [16]

Heather Watson (GBR) vs. Richel Hogenkamp (NED)

Naomi Broady (GBR) vs. Laura Robson (GBR) – How healthy is Robson?

Anett Kontaveit (EST) vs. Elena Vesnina (RUS) [19]

Mariana Duque-Mariño (COL) vs. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) – JJ could win this match.

Nicole Gibbs (USA) vs. Aleksandra Krunic (SRB)

Julia Goerges (GER) vs. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL)

Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) vs. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) [15] – Bacsinszky FTW

Montserrat Gonzalez (PAR) vs. Danka Kovinic (MNE)

Timea Babos (HUN) [31] vs. Barbara Haas (AUT)

Karin Knapp (ITA) vs. Johanna Larsson (SWE) – Does Knapp have enough steam to win this match?

Daria Kasatkina (RUS) [23] vs. Qiang Wang (CHN)

Shuai Zhang (CHN) vs. Ellen Perez (AUS)

Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) [11] vs. Teliana Pereira (BRA) – Fear the backhand?

Antonia Lottner (GER) vs. Vania King (USA)

Kiki Bertens (NED) [20] vs. Ana Konjuh (CRO)

Shuai Peng (CHN) vs. Varvara Lepchenko (USA)

Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) vs. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)

Laura Siegemund (GER) [26] vs. Patricia Maria Tig (ROU)

Annika Beck (GER) vs. Nadia Podoroska (ARG) – Can these other Germans join in Kerber’s 2016 fun?