Every Friday, after the weekend's matches have been determined, we'll predict the winner of each tournament.
Auckland, WTA (Final):
Flavia Pennetta vs. Zheng Jie
Flavia Pennetta recently released her memoir. Zheng Jie mashed hip hop and hilarity by channeling Jay-Z in a video parody. This clash of pop culture vets should make for an entertaining final pitting Zheng’s compact, flat strokes against Pennetta’s clever all-court attack.
Zheng saved 12 of 17 break points to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova for the first time in a two hour, 28-minute semifinal. Pennetta did not drop serve in a 59-minute dismissal of Angelique Kerber.
Pennetta’s superior serve, fresher legs, variety of shot—and the fact she’s won her last three hard-court meetings with the 2010 Australian Open semifinalist—make her the favorite.
The Pick: Pennetta
Brisbane, WTA (Final):
Daniela Hantuchova vs. Kaia Kanepi
Read the Brisbane draw as a roadmap and all signs point to Daniela Hantuchova cruising to her fifth title. Hantuchova is the more consistent player, has more experience playing for hardware—she’s contested 12 career finals to Kanepi’s four—and she’s surrendered only one set in three meetings with the hard-hitting Estonian.
I’m picking Kanepi. The world No. 34 is 13-3 in her last 16 matches, including seven wins over Top 20 players in that span. If she can temper her tendency to over-hit and play with patience before pulling the trigger, Kanepi has the weapons to win her second title.
The Pick: Kanepi
Chennai, ATP (Semifinals):
Janko Tipsarevic vs. Go Soeda; Nicolas Almagro vs. Milos Raonic
The top-seeded Tipsarevic figures to end the inspired run of Japanese qualifier Go Soeda, who upset defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka to reach his first semifinal.
The ornery Almagro won three titles in five finals last season to finish 2011 ranked No. 10. Almagro can be equally dangerous off both forehand and backhand, but Raonic is more explosive—he’s cracked 24 aces in four sets this week—plays an attacking game suited to hard courts, and looks eager after hip surgery sidelined him for two months last summer.
If he’s landing his wrecking ball serve, I like Raonic to take the title.
The Pick: Raonic
Doha, ATP (Final):
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (4) Gael Monfils
Longtime friends and Davis Cup teammates face off for just the fourth time as pros in a rivalry that dates back to their junior days. Competing with the acrobatic exuberance of a Cirque du Soleil performer, Monfils was masterful in a semifinal sweep of Rafael Nadal, while Tsonga received a walkover into the final.
If Monfils can reproduce the type of tennis he played today, he will win. But I like Tsonga because his instinct is to attack, while Monfils is more prone to run and retrieve on pivotal points. Monfils’ improvisational skills are wondrous, but Tsonga plays set pieces—his slice serve in the deuce side followed by the inside out forehand, for instance—more consistently, and his drop volley will be a weapon if Monfils drifts back behind the baseline.
The Pick: Tsonga
Richard Pagliaro is an editor for TENNIS.com.