The big tournament on the WTA Tour has seen a number of the Seeded players already exit including Serena Williams who had to withdraw with an illness despite leading Alize Cornet in the first set of their match. The Frenchwoman has won all three matches played against Serena Williams this season, which is a staggering achievement even if the last one came thanks to a retirement, but backing that up is the key in what looks an open tournament.
Both of the men's events are smaller fields which means the Second Round matches will be spread over two days before the bigger events that are coming in the next two weeks.
It was a mixed start for the picks this week with a couple of wins and a couple of losses, but the management meant it was going to be a slight loss. It could have been better, but it also could have been worse and hopefully the next few days changes it all back to a positive.
Alize Cornet - 3.5 games v Kirsten Flipkens: Alize Cornet took advantage of the Serena Williams illness to move through to this Third Round match and I think she can prove to be a little too good for Kirsten Flipkens.
Alize Cornet has won the two previous matches they have played in 2014 and she has been in decent form over the last few weeks to think she can back up the fortune she got in the last Round to beat Williams.
Her opponent has had to come through two matches where she has been taken the distance and Kirsten Flipkens has struggled to back up a strong 2013 season this time around. She hasn't had much to show from her last few tournaments before winning a couple of matches here and I think she will be worn down by Cornet.
There could be a lot of long rallies and a fair few amounts of breaks of serve, but Cornet may eventually come through with a 75, 64 win.
Maria Sharapova - 5.5 games v Timea Bacsinszky: Maria Sharapova was a comfortable winner over Timea Bacsinszky at Wimbledon earlier this season, but that isn't the reason that I think she is going to win this one as easily.
I just feel that Bacsinszky has had a lot of tennis in her legs over the last couple of weeks and might not have the consistency to keep up with the spirited Sharapova, although the latter has to serve better than she has in recent months.
Bacsinszky has been in fine form and can take advantage of any serving problems that Sharapova has, but I also think the Russian will hurt her opponent with her return of serve.
There is just too many reasons to believe that Sharapova is likely to run away with one of the sets and that might see her come through 75, 62.
Petra Kvitova - 4.5 games v Karolina Pliskova: It was a devastating display of power, timing and accuracy from Petra Kvitova in her win in the Second Round against Karin Knapp and something similar to that should prove too much for Karolina Pliskova too.
I do actually think Pliskova has the potential to be moving into the top 20 in the World Rankings in the coming months as she puts the final touches on her best season on the Tour. However, Pliskova has reached the Final of the tournament in Hong Kong before winning in Seoul last week.
Following those tough two weeks with two more wins this week is impressive, but Pliskova has to be feeling some of that tennis in her legs as well as the travelling she has been doing and that is where Kvitova can take advantage.
The pressure that Kvitova can put Pliskova under should contribute to any physical tiredness that the latter may be feeling and that may eventually lead to a 64, 63 win for the former.
MY PICKS: Alize Cornet - 3.5 Games @ 1.77 Unibet (2 Units)
Maria Sharapova - 5.5 Games @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Petra Kvitova - 4.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Weekly Update: 2-2, - 0.45 Units (7 Units Staked, - 6.43% Yield)
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