25/01/2012 22:55 CEST - Australian Open

Fab Four Likely to dominate semis

Andy Murray

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Andy Murray (4) vs. Kei Nishikori (24) H2H: Murray 1-0

A tough game for Andy Murray, who will do well not to underestimate his opponent, though he will certainly prefer him to Jo Wilfried Tsonga.

Kei Nishikori, for his part, will hope to stick to his opponent like a limpet, and hope that his opponent might wilt late on under the pressure. That said, the Japanese talent will have to work on his game plan, as targeting his opponent’s backhand- in order to eventually hit winners down the line with his own- is unlikely to hurt one of the circuit’s best backhand artists.

It’s hard to tell whether Ivan Lendl has managed to make a difference as of yet, however there is no doubt that his pupil has so far improved drastically in terms of positioning and attitude. We mentioned pressure being a factor, something which seemed to be totally absent as the Scot calmly supped a swig of beer back at the Kooyong Classic.

He still needs to play an aggressive game, and improve his concentration, something which has occasionally wilted so far against his (comparatively) comfortable opponents.

Still, Murray will still have to get past a player who can hit winners at just about any time, and raise his level in a tournament that has so far not tested him. Australia is, after all, the tournament where he is most likely to win a Slam, as his opponents are likely to dominate the other three majors.

Novak Djokovic (1) vs. David Ferrer (5) H2H: Djokovic 6-5

In terms of their respective rankings, Djokovic and Ferrer face off in the most prestigious encounter of the round, as the Serb will try to coast past a player not knowing for giving even the best an easy ride.

Though we are light years away from their last encounter, where Ferrer massacred his opponent by only gifting him four games, it will be interesting to see if Djokovic will once more let his opponent come back strongly (as he did against Hewitt), and if he does whether he will brave the storm and once more remind us of why he is top of the ATP rankings.

Djokovic is the clear favourite, as he is at his most comfortable here in Melbourne. Were he to reach his seventh consecutive semi he would equal Jack Crawford in the all-time rankings, though a certain R. Federer is still on top with an amazing 23, whilst Roda Laver is second on 10. Ivan Lendl and Ashley Cooper are just behind with 9 and 8 respectively.

The top players have doubtless expressed their dominance so far, and this game is unlikely to differ from the norm. This is only the third time that all five top seeds have all made the quarters. Were the Joker to make it with Murray to the next round, it will be the third Slam out of four where the top four seeds have all reached the semis.

Karim Nafea

Sara Errani (ITA) vs. Petra Kvitova (CZE)[2]
No precedents.

Sara Errani’s wonderful tournament so far has also seen her carry the hopes of Italian tennis on her shoulders, as Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta were knocked out early on. Good job, then, that she only has to face a certain Petra Kvitova, who is still in the hunt for the first place which escaped in the first week of the month.

Ubaldo’s take on her talent is pretty clear: out of the top seeds, she’s his favourite to take over the circuit and impose her law. But can she make it past an opponent whom she has never faced, in a tournament where she has never made it past the quarters?

There is a lot riding on this match, not least the privilege, on Sara’s side of course, of being the first female Italian player to ever reach a Slam semi-final. It would also be a chance of breaking into the top 30, for a player who also has a doubles semi-final to play alongside Roberta Vinci.

She is only the third Italian ever to reach the quarters in a Slam, after Serra Zanetti (2002) and Schiavone (2011). She has never beaten a Top 10 player, in 24 attempts. We can only wish her the best of luck, and hope that she can ride the wings of enthusiasm and stun us all once more.

Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) vs. Maria Sharapova (RUS) [4]
Precedents: 0-2
2011 MADRID CLAY R32 M. Sharapova 6-3 3-6 6-1
2011 ROME CLAY R32 M. Sharapova 6-1 6-1

Ekaterina Makarova has never made it this far in a Slam before, and has had to fight for the privilege this time round: she has so far knocked out Kaia Kanepi, Vera Zvonareva and Serena Williams. In other words, a representative from the top-10, top-20 and top-30: not bad for a 56th seed!

She has, however, never beaten Sharapova, though has never faced her on this, her preferred surface. Makarova is the surprise package of the draw, without the slightest doubt: though she performed well here last year (eliminating Ivanovic and Petrova), she had a nightmarish year following Cincinnati, losing six first-round games. She seems to have regained some confidence of late, but is unlikely to trouble Sharapova.

Sharapova, for her part, has never lost a quarter-final here in Australia, winning all four she has been in, as well as the majority of preferences when it comes to comparing her chances to those of a certain K. Clijsters. Having won here in 2008, can she finally find the form which allowed her to dominate the circuit a few years ago?

Enos Mantoani

 

Karim Nafea and Enos Mantoani