This year’s quarterfinals will have it all with veterans, an Aussie, newcomers and everything in between. Here are the quarterfinal previews as we delve into the eight men and women singles match ups.
Naomi Osaka (3) v Hsieh Su-wei
The grand slam champion vs the maiden grand slam quarterfinalist. This will be the sixth meeting between the pair, with Osaka holding a four to one advantage over Hsieh. World No. 3 Osaka knocked off the Taiwanese native in the round of 32 enroute to claiming the Australian Open title in 2019. With a 12-year age gap between the two, World No. 71 Hsieh will be looking to fall back on her considerable amount of tour experience (holding claim to 28 doubles titles) in a bid to cause an upset and continue her remarkable run. However, it will take a valiant effort to beat Osaka as she is riding an 18-match win streak.
Simona Halep (2) v Serena Williams (10)
The last meeting between the two rivals came at Wimbledon in 2019 when Halep crushed Williams in the final 6-2, 6-2. The familiar foes know each other all too well and fans can expect a furious, no holds barred battle. Williams, as always,will look to dictate the play and be the aggressor on court from the onset (Williams has an 81.8% win rate against Halep), but if World No. 2 Halep can stick to her game plan like she did at Wimbledon in 2019, it will make for an intense clash. Williams must be careful as if she begins to overhit, Halep will take the upperhand and run with it.
Jennifer Brady (22) v Jessica Pegula
The Pegula name is well known in sports as the family owns the NFL team ‘the Buffalo Bills’, but Jessica Pegula is creating a name in her own right. Pegula secured her first career win against a Top 10 player to ensure her spot in the quarterfinals. Pegula will face fellow American, Jennifer Brady. Despite being in the hard quarantine, Brady hasn’t dropped a set throughout the whole tournament. The two have faced off once before, with Pegula taking the cake at the Western and Southern Open in 2020. Can World No. 62 Pegula be the next WTA dark horse to snatch away a Grand Slam from the top players, or will Brady go a couple of steps better than she did at the U.S. Open last year?
Ash Barty (1) v Karolina Muchova (25)
The Barty Party continues on in 2021, as the World No.1 hasn’t lost a match all year. The two have met once, with Barty claiming the win in the round of 32 at the U.S. Open in 2019. Both Karolina Muchova and Barty’s best result at the Australian Open has been a semi-finals appearance (2018 and 2020 respectively). The pair both haven’t dropped a set all tournament and are in great form. Barty will look to stay consistent and focused in order to have a consecutive semi-final appearance at Melbourne Park, whereas Muchova is a dangerous threat who can beat anyone on the right day.
Novak Djokovic (1) v Alexander Zverev (6)
Novak Djokovic told the media he is taking a “gamble” continuing on with the tournament as there is a risk his ‘muscle tear’ could worsen. Djokovic stated that if it was any tournament other than a Grand Slam, he would’ve pulled the pin by now. The Serbian is now focusing on his recovery for his clash with Alexander Zverev. Zverev has only dropped one set all tournament and will be looking to pounce on an injured Djokovic. The two played each other just a couple of weeks ago at the ATP Cup, with the World No. 1 taking the match in 3 tight sets. The 5 to 2 head-head in favour of Djokovic will be no indication for the next match between the pair, as an in form Zverev will go into the quarterfinal with the upper hand.
Grigor Dimitrov (18) v Aslan Karatsev
Grigor Dimitrov scarily breezed past World No. 3 Dominic Thiem in the fourth round 6-4, 6-4, 6-0; “throughout everyseason you have one of those matches where you just keep the ball rolling,” Dimitrov told the media. Aslan Karatsev has taken the tennis world by storm due to making the quarterfinals in his first ever Grand Slam appearance. This will be the first meeting between the World No. 21 and the World No. 114. Karatsev has only ever played a five-setmatch once and it was last round, so it remains to be seen if his body can hold up and continue his stunning run.
Daniil Medvedev (4) v Andrey Rublev (7)
The Russian Showdown. These two know each other very well considering they are almost the same age and grew up in the same city, however, Daniil Medvedev boosts a three to zero head-head on the ATP Tour. The last meeting between the two came last year where Medvedev knocked Andrey Rublev out in straight sets at the U.S. Open quarterfinals. Just weeks ago, they were teammates hoisting the ATP Cup above their heads and now they will go to battle as they both hope to claim their first Grand Slam. Rublev hasn’t dropped a set all tournament, whereas Medvedev faced a tough battle in the third round. Ultimately, both players are in ripping form and a fierce battle between the Moscow natives is sure to ensue.
Rafael Nadal (2) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (5)
Back in 2019, Rafael Nadal crushed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian Open semi-finals 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. Two years later, however, it is a completely different ball game. Nadal leads the head-head six to one, but as Nadal moves into his twilight years and Tsitsipas into the peak of his career, that statistic should change into a more favourable number for the Greek. Nadal was in hospital for three hours due to complications with his back, whereas Tsitsipas had a walk over in the fourth round, meaning both players will prepare for the match very differently.