By Erik Gudris | Monday, January 25, 2016
Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova meet in a rematch of last year’s final. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer face tough quarterfinal foes.
Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Each day we'll preview and predict results for several must-see Melbourne matches. Day 9 previews are here.
(1) Serena Williams vs. (5) Maria Sharapova
Rod Laver Arena (second match)
Head-to-head: Williams leads 18-2
In a rematch of last year’s final, once again Maria Sharapova will have to answer the question, “Can you beat Serena Williams?”.
The fifth seeded Russian would likely answer “yes”, given that she just put in an impressive serving display with 21 aces in her last match against Belinda Bencic. Many are saying that if Sharapova serves that well against the World No. 1, she will have an excellent chance of finally beating Williams. But let’s not forget that Sharapova also struggled mightily again Bencic with multiple errors coming off the Russian’s racquet. Williams is a far better returner than Bencic, so it’s hard to see Sharapova posting the same kind of serving numbers again.
After a tough opening round, Williams has blazed through the draw showing imperious form and none of the sluggish starts she was prone to last year. She’ll want to keep that up against Sharapova and also serve a bit better than she did in last match against Margarita Gaspayran. Despite the lopsided head-to-head, this still remains a must-see match to watch between the tour’s two biggest stars. Sharapova will try her best, and may yet play the match of her life, but still come up just short again.
The Pick: Williams in two sets
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (7) Kei Nishikori
Rod Laver Arena (first night match)
Head-to-head: Djokovic leads 5 to 2
”It gives me great joy to know that I can't get worse than that, than what I played today.”
That’s what Novak Djokovic said just after surviving in five sets against Gilles Simon with the top seed racking up a whopping 100 unforced errors. Presumably, Djokovic will clean up his game a great deal for this quarterfinal. He’ll have to against the always steady Kei Nishikori.
Nishikori certainly has the rock solid backcourt game that can disrupt Djokovic, especially the top seed once again starts hitting more errors that winners. “I think the biggest thing is he doesn't miss,” Nishikori said on Djokovic.. “He doesn't give you easy points, any free points. I have to be the one to dictate.”
Though Nishikori knows what he has to do to win, can he do so with Djokovic probably vowing to himself that he has to play better than he did against Simon?
The Pick: Djokovic in four sets
(3) Roger Federer vs. (6) Tomas Berdych
Rod Laver Arena (third day match)
Head-to-head:Federer leads 15-6
This will be a seventh Grand Slam meeting between the pair with Federer not having lost to Berdych since 2013.
Though he reached the semis last year, Berdych has flown under the radar mostly so far with the focus being on Djokovic, Federer and Murray. But now Berdych once again gets a chance to insert himself in the Grand Slam conversation. The question is, can he do all the talking against Federer?
Probably not. Federer is enjoying a fine run so far including putting on a master class performance against David Goffin in the last round. Federer will have to play well again Berdych, especially on his serve and not give the big Czech too many looks at second serves. Berdych might take a set off of Federer, but once again, this match feels like it’s all on the “maestro’s” racquet.
The Pick: Federer in three sets
The complete order of play is here.