Tennis News

While the first set of men’s fourth round matches were relatively straightforward affairs, the second pair of outings were thrilling encounters that needed well above the minimum three-set allowance to determine the victors. In the end, and to the delight of the crowds in Melbourne, British No. 1 Andy Murray and surging Aussie sensation Nick Kyrgios will meet for a spot in the semi-final round of the tournament. This is just the second time that these two competitors will meet on the tour, with the Murray v Kyrgios head to head standing at 1-0.

Watch the match here: Murray v Kyrgios Stream

The final match of the evening on Rod Laver Arena was a four-set clash between Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov. The contest was entertaining at parts, as the pair split the first two sets and kept foiling each other’s break point attempts. However, Murray eventually found his way into the quarter-final round with a 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5 scoreline. Murray hit 10 aces, 42 winners and won 77% of his first service points in the process.

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“I thought I played well. I thought he started the match extremely well. He came out very aggressive, very explosive. But, you know, it’s tough to keep that sort of level of intensity up. And then, yeah, once I got myself into the match, I felt like I was able to dictate a lot of the points. I thought tactically I played a good match.”

In undoubtedly the best match of the tournament so far this year, Nick Kyrgios rallied back from two sets down to defeat Federer-vanquisher Andreas Seppi en route to the quarter-final round of the Australian Open. The Aussie was also forced to save a match point in the process before he mounted an astonishing comeback that ended with a decisive break late in the fifth and final set. Kyrgios became the first Australian to reach the quarter-final round of home Slam since Lleyton Hewitt achieved that feat in 2005.

“I knew it was going to be a tough battle. He’s playing some of the best tennis he’s played ever since coming off that win against Roger. I knew it was going to be tough from the get-go. I just had to draw on my experiences of coming back from two sets to love. Paid off in the end.”

The 19-year-old hit 66 winners, 25 aces, and won 75% of his first service points to advance to a thrilling encounter against Murray.

“Murray, I think he’s one of the greatest athletes on the tour. He’s going to make me play a lot of balls.”

This is just the second time that Murray and Kyrgios will clash on the tour, yet the stakes are far greater this time around. Murray cruised through their first encounter at the Rogers Cup in Toronto 6-2, 6-2, but it is unlikely that he will be handed such a simple match this time around. Kyrgios appears to play his best when under the bright lights of Grand Slam stadiums, and will likely push this encounter into 4-5 sets. While Murray should edge him out eventually, it will likely be a riveting contest on Rod Laver Arena.

Prediction: Andy Murray in Five Sets

Following straightforward matches in their respective fourth round encounters, Simona Halep and Ekaterina Makarova will meet for the second time on the professional tour. The Romanian seed leads the head-to-head series 1-0, having won their lone meeting in New Haven two years ago.

Watch the match here: Halep v Makarova Live

Simona Halep eased into the quarter-final stage in Melbourne with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Yanina Wickmayer. The Romanian dropped serve twice in the match but managed to convert five of her own to earn the victory in 1 hour and 19 minutes. She also struck 23 winners and 5 aces en route to the final eight.

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“I have (a lot of confidence) now because I didn’t lose a set,” Halep said following her win. “I had good matches here in first week, so I’m really happy that I’m in second week now like last year. Here I started to play my best tennis in Grand Slams. So means a lot for me. I really have more confidence now to play the quarterfinals.”

Ekaterina Makarova needed just 69 minutes to dispatch Germany’s Julia Goerges to reach the quarter-final stage of the Australian Open. The Russian struck 15 winners and won 85% of her first service points to close out the match 6-3, 6-2.

“We played once in New Haven I think not the last year, the year before,” Makarova said of her upcoming opponent. “I lost 6-1, 7-6, something like that. She’s one of the greatest player now, and I’m really looking forward. If she wins today, depends, yeah. I will want to forward and forward step by step.”

This marks just the second career meeting between Simona Halep and Ekaterina Makarova, the first of which took place two years ago in New Haven. Halep is yet to lose a set to Makarova and will look to maintain that streak en route to the final four in Melbourne.

“I have my chance,” said Halep. “I believe in my chance next round. So I have to make my game again to be aggressive and to serve well like today.”

Prediction: Simona Halep in Straight Sets

After taking separate trajectories over the first week of the season-opening Grand Slam event, Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard will meet in the quarter-final stage of the Australian Open to the delight of fans in attendance. This will mark the fourth time that the two competitors will meet on the professional tour, with Sharapova leading the head to head series with an unbeaten 3-0 record.

Watch the match here: Sharapova v Bouchard Live

The second seeded Sharapova stormed into the final eight in Melbourne with a rapid-fire straight sets win against Shuai Peng. She dropped just three games in her 6-3, 6-0 win over Peng and needed just 1 hour and 15 minutes to do so. The Russian struck 27 winners, 15 unforced errors and won 73% of her first service points to ease into her match-up against Bouchard.

Seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard had a slightly more turbulent path to the quarter-finals. After leading 6-1, 3-0, and seemingly en route to a remarkably simple wi against the surging Irina-Camelia Begu, she allowed the Romanian to level the match at 5-5, and then steal the set to force a decider. However, the Canadian managed to find the decisive break for a 5-2 lead and closed out the match from there.

“It’s disappointing for me because I want to play so well and I want to be perfect. That’s not possible. It happens. Yeah, I think I started being a bit less aggressive, a bit too passive, and you know, that’s not my game at all. I don’t do well when that happens. She could string together a few good points here and there, hit some good shots and serves and got some confidence in the second set. You know, that helped her. So definitely disappointing.”

Of Sharapova and Bouchard’s three encounters, the Canadian is yet to work out a way to beat her Russian adversary. Their last two meetings took place at the French Open, the most recent of which was the only time that Bouchard was able to snatch a set off her opponent. While this has all the makings of an exciting encounter, one will have to give Sharapova the advantage given her performances to date in Melbourne.

Prediction: Maria Sharapova in Three Sets

Top seed Novak Djokovic has had little trouble since the start of the 2015 Australian Open, as he is yet to drop a single set through three matches. Saturday’s encounter was his most difficult to date, yet even that did not hamper his ability to cruise into the fourth round in Melbourne. The Serb will next come up against 42nd ranked Gilles Muller, whom he has never faced previously on the tour.

Watch the match here: Djokovic v Muller Live

Up against a durable Spaniard in Fernando Verdasco, Djokovic looked patient and survived an early onslaught from his opponent, but eventually turned the tides and advanced to the fourth round with relative ease. Djokovic won the match 7-6(8), 6-3, 6-4 to close out the match in 2 hours and 21 minute. The world No. 1 hit 43 winners, 11 aces, and won 82% of his first service points in the process.While many expected John Isner to reach a fourth round meeting with Djokovic, it was Dutchman Gilles Muller who upset the 19th seed to advance in Melbourne. Muller withstood 30 aces from the American, hit 24 of his own, as well as 55 winners and 90% of his first service points to complete his clean straight sets win with a 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 6-4 scoreline.

“Well, he’s been on the tour for many years,” said Djokovic of his upcoming opponent. “Best junior in the world. He’s got a great serve, lefty. So I think the match tonight will help me in the next one, as well. He has a similar game, except he serves on volleys and he comes to the net. He has a nice slice serve. That’s his favorite. But he struggled a little bit with injuries last couple years, but I think last six months has been playing some of his best tennis. Finals in Sydney. Now fourth round winning against some top players. Winning against Isner in straight sets is never easy. He has done that.

“So he deserves respect. I need to be obviously very alert and hopefully I can return well, which is going to be one of the keys of the match.”

This marks the first time that Djokovic and Muller will cross paths on the professional tour and could make for a surprisingly competitive match-up if Muller produces the same sort of gameplay that helped him defeat Isner. If he remains aggressive and confident on serve, then we may have a fun match to watch on Monday.

Prediction: Novak Djokovic in Straight Sets

While the majority of the third round matches on the men’s side of the draw ended in straight sets on Saturday, the two players who contested four-set matches will now be matched up against each other. Japanese No. 1 Kei Nishikori and David Ferrer will cross paths once again to determine who will advance to the final eight in Melbourne. Of their nine previous meetings, Nishikori holds a 6-3 lead in the head-to-head series and has won their last four consecutive encounters.

Watch the match here: Nishikori v Ferrer Live

After dropping the opening set in a tiebreaker to Steve Johnson, Kei Nishikori found his form and went on to drop just six games in the next three sets to plod his way into the fourth round of the tournament. Nishikori struck 49 winners, 15 aces and won 74% of his first service points to defeat the American in 2 hours and 29 minutes.

“He was playing aggressive, hitting really deep, good serves. I really couldn’t do anything. You know, the tiebreak is always, you know, tight points. I just couldn’t go hit through. I didn’t want to risk it too much. So that’s why I couldn’t get the tiebreak. But, I don’t know, after playing first set, I started feeling little bit, not relaxed, but no pressure. I start thinking to just go for everything.”

Also faced with a difficult opponent, David Ferrer needed four sets to dispatch France’s Gilles Simon and advance in the tournament. He eventually closed out the match 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(4). Ferrer hit 36 winners, converted 9 break points and won 64% of his first service points to close out the match in over 3 hours and 40 minutes of court time.

This is set to be the 10th time that Nishikori and Ferrer cross paths on the tour. With the Japanese No. 1’s 6-3 lead in the series, as well as his four-match win streak against the Spanaird throughout 2014, it will be interesting to see if Ferrer is capable of rebounding with a win, particularly since e defeated Nishikori at this Grand Slam event in the same round two years ago.

Prediction: Kei Nishikori in Five Sets

After splitting their last four meetings on the professional tour, Milos Raonic and Feliciano Lopez will cross paths for a fifth time to determine who will take the lead in the head-to-head series. Given their strong performances in the third round, this has the makings of an intriguing encounter. Check out the Raonic v Lopez Head to Head.

Watch the match here: Raonic v Lopez Live

During the Day 6 day session, Milos Raonic breezed past Germany’s Benjamin Becker, whom he defeated 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Raonic struck 46 winners, 22 aces and won 83% of his first service points to close out the contest in 1 hour and 41 minutes.

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“I’m happy that I played better than my second round, and that’s all I can really ask from myself” said Raonic. “I focused and executed on what I needed to do.”

While Feliciano Lopez’s match was a tighter affair, he required no more than the necessary three sets to defeat Polish no. 1 Jerzy Janowicz and advance to the fourth round of the tournament. Lopez won the match 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-6(3), and hit 48 winners, 19 aces, and won 80% of his first service points.

“Milos is one of the greatest players in the game right now. I think is going to be very close. He’s probably the great server right now in the game. Is going to be a tight match. Those matches were two, three points that will come by the end. I think it’s going to be difficult to return his serve. Is good that I beat him last time, but doesn’t mean anything because he beat me a couple times before. But I think it’s a great chance for me after being almost out of the tournament to be in the fourth round. I have to be very pleased for that.”

The last time that Lopez and Raonic crossed paths on the professional tour was at last year’s Rogers Cup in Toronto, where the Spaniard upset the local hero in three sets to reach the semi-final round of the tournament. It was their only meeting in 2014 and will likely boost Lopez’s confidence heading into this latest contest in Melbourne. While either is capable of a win, Raonic has been the more consistent player so far and will likely close out the match in four or five sets.

Prediction: Milos Raonic in Five Sets

The string of entertaining matches on the women’s side of the Australian Open draw continues with a contest between a former champion, Victoria Azarenka, and a last year’s runner-up, Dominika Cibulkova. This marks the 10th time that the two will meet on the tour, with Azarenka leading the head to head series 7-2.

Watch the match here: Azarenka v Cibulkova Live

Following up on her previous win, Azarenka was able to survive a messy match against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova to defeat the Czech player 6-4, 6-4 and advance to a Monday clash with Cibulkova. The Belarusian hit 12 winners, 32 unforced errors and won 58% of her first service points to finish the match in 1 hour and 46 minutes.

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“You know, it’s just another match, another opportunity to improve. You know, I have a different opponent, so it’s kind of difficult to compare the level or the quality because it’s different styles. But I just happy that I managed to go through my matches. There are things that obviously I want to improve. But, you know, it’s a progress. It’s one step closer. So I’m happy I have another opportunity to play Monday.”

In one of the more entertaining matches on Day 6, Dominika Cibulkova saved six set points in the opening frame against Alize Cornet to defeat the French No. 1 7-5, 6-2. She struck 27 winners, 30 unforced errors, and won 57% of her first service points to secure her spot in the fourth round in Melbourne.

After nine previous encounters on the tour, Azarenka and Cibulkova will look to meet once again to determine who will advance to the final eight in Melbourne. Cibulkova won their most recent meeting, although it took pace almost three years ago on clay. Azarenka is undefeated against her on hard court and will look to remain that way en route to the quarter-finals.

Prediction: Victoria Azarenka in Three Sets

For the third time at a Grand Slam event, Serena Williams and Garbine Muguruza will meet in the fourth round of the 2015 Australian Open in a rubber match to determine who will take a lead in their budding rivalry. With the current head-to-head record split at 1-1, this has the potential to be a riveting match-up on Sunday.

Watch the match here: Serena Williams v Muguruza Live

After facing minimal obstacles en route to the third round in Melbourne, Serena Williams found herself a set down against Elina Svitolina and forced to raise her level of play, which she obliged. The American quickly took the lead in the following set, and lost just two games in her three-set win over the Ukrainian. Serena hit 45 winners, 9 aces and hit 61% of her first service points to finish the match in 1 hour and 38 minutes.

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Her opponent, Garbine Muguruza, was also forced to play a three-set match to reach the fourth round. She eventually got past Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 to set up the encounter with Williams.

“Just another tough match,” Muguruza said of her upcoming opponent. “I already played against her two times. Obviously in the last 16 match you have to play against amazing players. So just another match, same game, same concentration. Nothing new.”

Williams and Muguruza have split their past two encounters on the tour – both at Grand Slam events. Their first meeting was two years ago in the second round of this very event, which Williams won in dominant fashion. However, at last year’s French Open, the Spaniard avenged the loss with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over the former champion in the tournament’s second round. While that is a promising sign, Williams is certainly the better hard court player, and unless she plays at a level well below her usual standard, she should find her way into the quarter-final stage in Melbourne.

Prediction: Serena Williams in Three Sets

In one of the most entertaining match-ups to reach the later stages of the 2015 Australian Open, Agnieszka Radwanska and Venus Williams will meet for a tenth time on the professional tour. The American leads the head-to-head series, but not by much. Venus holds five wins, while Radwanska has four. Check out the Williams v Radwanska Head to Head matches.

Watch the match here: Venus Williams vs Radwanska Live

After storming through the first set without dropping a single game, Agnieszka Radwanska needed two tries to serve out the match against Varvara Lepchenko for a 6-0, 7-5 finish. The Polish No. 1 hit 23 winners, 5 aces and won 83% of his first service points to close out the contest in 1 hour and 24 minutes.

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“I think it was a very good match. I start very well. I play really aggressive and I was really serving good and returning good. In the second set, of course I could finish that set much earlier. Serving against the sun is not fun. But I’m just very happy that I could close that set and just win.”

Venus Williams was within a few points away from a premature exit from the Australian Open but managed to recover just in time to mount an impressive comeback and end Camila Giorgi’s run in Melbourne. Williams rallied back from a set and a break down to defeat the Italian 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 to advance to the final 16 of the tournament.

“She played amazing,” Williams said of Giorgi’s performance. “Thought she played awesome and just so aggressive. Everything was working for her. I’ve never played her before, so it’s challenging to get a rhythm against her. It’s challenging to know what the exact plays are. As the match went on I think I was able to get a little bit more settled and figure that out a little bit. But she played great.”

This marks the tenth time that these two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour, with Williams leading the series 5-4. While the American holds the slight edge, Radwanska has won the last three consecutive meetings, dating back to the 2012 Miami Masters. She has also not lost a set to Venus in that entire period of time and will look to remain dominant against her in their upcoming encounter.

Prediction: Agnieszka Radwanska in Three Sets