US Open Tennis 2013: Predictions for Top Female Stars in Action on Thursday

An extra day of rest isn't likely to change the outcome of the Serena Williams-Galina Voskoboeva match at the 2013 U.S. Open on Thursday. Williams is the top seed and is focused more than ever after disappointing performances at Wimbledon and the Western & Southern Open. Rain forced a postponement to their second-round match on Wednesday, per Fox Sports.

Williams defeated Voskoboeva in straight sets in their only previous meeting, 6-2, 6-3. Expect another easy win for Williams on Thursday.

Because of the rain delays, many more of the higher-seeded players are in action on Thursday as well. Here's how they'll fare. 

No. 2 Victoria Azarenka Is on a Mission

Not only did Azarenka defeat Williams at the Western & Southern Open last week, but she also blew through her first-round opponent, Dinah Pfizenmaier, 6-0, 6-0 at the U.S. Open. Azarenka is set to take on Aleksandra Wozniak in the second round. The two women have met in four previous matches.

Azarenka won the most recent meeting at the 2012 French Open in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. In fact, the only time Wozniak has gotten the better of Azarenka was in 2006, when the latter retired after the first set.

Barring another issue that causes Azarenka to bow out, she should handle Wozniak without issue again.

Prediction: Azarenka wins

No. 4 Sara Errani Takes on Flavia Pennetta

Errani hasn't had much success of late. She reached the semifinals at the French Open but has been ousted prior to the final four in all but one tournament since.

Her standing as the No. 4 seed shows how big of a drop-off there is in the women's draw after No. 3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Errani isn't upset-proof at this point in the tournament, especially since Pennetta has beaten her three of the five times they've played.

All of the previous meetings came on a clay court, so this match is difficult to predict. Errani's best surface is hard courts, so that gives her an advantage.

Per Match Stat, she wins 47 percent of her matches on the surface. Pennetta's play has significantly declined on hard courts in the last two years. Her record on the surface since 2011 is just 11-12.

Errani should win this match and bring their head-to-head series even.

Prediction: Errani wins

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