Alright, so this is basically a summary of where the big names are in the draw, if the seedings maintain, this is what the round of 16 will look like...

Mauresmo v Vaidisova
Venus v Schnyder

Sharapova v Safina
Kuznetsova v Schiavone

Henin-H v Myskina
Groenefeld v Petrova

Dementieva v Hingis
Hantuchova v Clijsters

Most of those should hold up.

Vaidisova isn't great on clay but then neither is her likely 3rd round opponent Sugiyama.

Venus has a potentially tricky 3rd round against Peng/Vesina/Likhovsetva/Sprem (hedging my bets as to who will make it out of that section!) but should make it.

Schynder is in terrible form and has a nasty opening round against Krajicek so we could see an upset even if Michaella isn't at her best on clay.

Sharapova a a comfortable draw until the 4th round unless Safarova can do something

Safina v Zvonareva is a interesting 1st round but Safina shouldn't have a problem after that.

I'd be very surprised if we don't see Schiavone v Kuznetsova

Myskina could have problems with Mirza and the Ivanovic/Stosur.

Who knows with Groenefeld but Petrova will almost certainly make it.

Hingis should make it through as should Dementieva unless Peer can do something.

Clijsters should be fine but Hantuchova probably won't make it.

You were right to wait until the draw was made to play my game GS!

I picked Dementieva and Hingis, and they're due to play in the 4th round, and Peng and Venus and they're due to play in the 3rd round!

I'll still probably be rubbish!

Can I enter my team on here Dav since the BBC is down?

Sure :)

Ok then

Outside Top 10

Europe - Hingis/Ferrer
USA - Venus/Ginepri
Other - Peer/Acasuso


Stars - Henin/Nadal

Think I stuck to the rules oh and my team name is VDCNI

Yep, thanks, nice pick with Peer ;)

Well she's been looking good recently - beat Groenefeld 6-2, 6-0 today :yikes:

I know! Btw, do you know how Peng is doing in Strasbourg, she seems to be coming into form again, not that it matters since she drew Venus :doh:

Nevermind, I just found out she's into the final! :D

Peng is 3-0 up in the 3rd set so she seems to be heading for a win there - interesting final against Vaidisova (poor Jankovic had to withdraw - just when she looked like she had remembered how to play the game!) Looks like Myskina will also make the final in Istanbul to meet Peer.

Oh yeah - strange the WTA score thing must be stuck. Peng took the 3rd set 6-1.

I'd love for a Myskina/Peng double, both have been having a difficult time recently...

Myskina should win really but Peer looks to be in great form.

I think Vadisova will beat Peng though. Clay isn't her surface but she's just so good at taking these minor titles.

Yes, that's very true, she is a bit of a tier III queen isn't she? Still the Chinese seem to play their best tennis on the clay, so I'm going for Peng...

My views on the draw:

Top eighth

Amelie should come through this comfortably, providing she can handle the pressure of the French crowd. Vaidisova is not a factor on clay, Bartoli seems to have an endless list of injuries, and Sugiyama is struggling for form. Whilst Jankovic seems to be picking up her form, I still don't see her challenging Amelie (bar a disaster).

Second eighth

Venus should be pleased with this, drawing the out of form Schnyder in the 4th round. Likhotseva is in abysmal form. Peng could spring a shock, but I seriously doubt it. So there is no excuse for Venus not to progress from this section of the draw.

Third eighth

Sharapova has a potentially tricky match against Safarova, but even with a 2 month lay-off she should be able to move through to the 4th round. However, if Safina can recapture some of her Rome form, she could cause a minor shock.

Fourth eighth

Wow! Packed eighth here, with Schiavone, Pennetta, Chakvetadze and Kuznetsova. Svetlana's good form should take her through, though the clay-court specialist Pennetta could give her a scare (assuming she gets past Schiavone, who could do similarly). Anna looks to be struggling in the after effects of her injury though...

Fifth eighth

Nice draw for Justine. Should breeze through this - Myskina is too erratic to predict though.

Sixth eighth

Petrova should move through comfortably. Dulko is struggling for form, and I don't think ALG and Kirilenko have the weapons to take out the Russian in this mood.

Seventh eighth

Martina and Elena should be embarassed if they don't get through to the 4th round. There, I'd give the slight edge to Martina, though it's always tough to predict how Elena's going to play...

Final eighth

It's all down to Kim. Hantuchova and Dechy are in dire form, and I wouldn't expect Medina to pose a threat.


Quarter-Final Predictions:

(1) Mauresmo v (11) V.Williams
(4) Sharapova v (8) Kuznetsova
(5) Henin-Hardenne v (3) Petrova (shame this is a QF really...)
(12) Hingis v (2) Clijsters

Makiri has beaten Nadia this year

'In this mood', i.e. Nadia's clay court form.

I remember that loss to Kirilenko in Dubai, Nadia was abysmal, I wouldn't have said then that she'd go on to do what she has...

For once being high ranked has helped out - all of the top 5 have pretty comfortable draws until the QF's.

Indeed :ok: