Australian Open 2014: Women’s quarterfinal predictions

While the men might have played by the form book, with Grigor Dimitov being the only ‘exception to the rule’, it is quite a different story, as it often is, with the women. Let’s have a look at the quarterfinal matchups on the women’s side:

Ana Ivanovic (14) vs Eugenie Bouchard (30)

Bouchard beat Ivanovic at Wimbledon last year

Few would have bet on an Ivanovic-Bouchard quarterfinal from this quarter of the draw when the draws were released, and perhaps while some would have boldly predicted Bouchard, almost no one would have predicted Ana Ivanovic’s entry into the quarterfinals in a quarter which featured Serena Williams. Let’s take a look at how these two ladies reached this stage.

Form: Ivanovic has rolled back the years, displaying the kind of form she did during her rise to the top of the women’s game, nearly SIX years ago, would you believe. Straight set wins over Kiki Bertens and Annika Beck in the opening two rounds were followed by a resilient three-set win over local favourite Samantha Stosur in the third round, before THAT miraculous win over World No.1 Serena Williams in the fourth round. Bouchard, on the other hand, found herself in a very open quarter of the draw, especially after the highest seeds in that quarter, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci were bundled out in the first round itself. Bouchard slowly but surely worked herself through the draw, beating Tang, Virginie Razzano and Davis in straight sets, before a come-from-behind win over Aussie Casey Dellacqua in the fourth round.

What’s in store for them: Ivanovic now finds herself under pressure to prove that her giant-killing act against Serena was not a fluke, as she finds herself back where she once belonged. She is up against an opponent who has nothing to lose and has already created history by becoming the first Canadian woman to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Bouchard will take heart from the fact that she beat Ivanovic in the second round of Wimbledon last year, though Ivanovic is much more confident this time around and in much better form. And to add to the tennis on show, this match also promises to be a good match to ‘watch’. Before I am accused of being sexist, I shall quote tennis writer Courtney Nguyen, who tweeted ‘”AUGH. Bouchard and Ivanovic? WHY GOD WHY?!??!??!??!” — newspaper photo editors nowhere”.

Prediction: Ivanovic to beat Bouchard in straight sets

Li Na (4) vs Flavia Pennetta (28)

Third time lucky for Li?

Its somewhat fitting that the happiest and funniest player on the women’s tour, Li Na, always produces her best tennis at the ‘Happy Slam’, finding herself in yet another quarterfinal at the tournament. Up against inspired Italian Flavia Pennetta though, she will have to be at her best as she seeks to go closer to claiming her first Australian Open title.

Form: Li saw off the challenge of two players almost half her age in the first two rounds, as she beat Ana Konjuh and Belinda Bencic in straight sets. After surviving a mighty scare against Lucie Safarova in the third round, she dispatched Ekaterina Makarova with consummate ease, handing out her third bagel of the tournament to the Russian in the fourth round. Pennetta has displayed admirable tennis after coming back from her wrist injury as she did not drop a set through the first three rounds against Cadantu, Puig and Barthel before upsetting 9th seed Angelique Kerber in a tight three-set fourth round match.

What’s in store: Pennetta is enjoying a nice little renaissance in her career, after being replaced as the top Italian player by both Francesca Schiavone and Sara Errani in recent times. After reaching the US Open semifinal last year, she once again finds herself in the second week of a Grand Slam. Li has reached the finals twice here in Melbourne and the No.4 seed would be desperate to finally capture her second Grand Slam title, especially now that Serena Williams is out of the tournament. Both veterans will be determined, but I would go for Li’s experience to prevail.

Prediction: Li to beat Pennetta in straight sets

Simona Halep (11) vs Dominika Cibulkova (20)

Simona Halep of Romania celebrates winning in her fourth round match against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia during day eight of the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia.

Simona Halep has managed to build on last year’s career surge rather nicely as she finds herself in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. Up against her is Dominika Cibulkova, who is in stunning form and shocked Maria Sharapova today.

Form: Halep was touted by many, including this writer, as a potential dark horse going into this year’s tournament and she has not disappointed. Presented with a favourable draw, she beat qualifiers Piter and Diyas in straight sets in the first and third rounds, while recording three-set wins over Varvara Lepchenko and Jelena Jankovic in the second and fourth rounds respectively, coming back from a set down in that second round match. Cibulkova stormed through the first three rounds, quelling the challenge of Francesca Schiavone, Stefanie Vogele and Carla Suarez-Navarro in straight sets before recording her come-from-behind upset win over No.3 seed Maria Sharapova in todays’ fourth round matchup.

What’s in store for them: Both players have already achieved what they probably bargained for at the start of the tournament, but having reached here, one of them now has the opportunity to go further. Almost everyone is in with a chance now that Serena has been eliminated from the tournament, and the two will fancy their chances, especially since they are playing so well. Halep will have to deal with nerves in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, while Cibulkova will have to come down quickly from the high of beating Sharapova as she starts afresh in this quarterfinal matchup.

Prediction: Halep to beat Cibulkova in three sets.

Victoria Azarenka (2) vs Agnieszka Radwanska (5)

Azarenka beat Radwanska at this very stage en route to her first Australian Open title in 2012

Victoria Azarenka finds herself three matches away from a three-peat in Australia, and if it happens, all three of those triumphs will have come without her having to play Serena Williams. With Williams knocked out of the tournament, Azarenka is now the one to beat and gunning to do that will be No.5 seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

Form: Azarenka started off slow in her opening match against Johanna Larsson, but managed to pick up the pace and get stronger as the tournament progressed. Routine straight sets wins over Zahlavova-Strycova and a thrashing against Meusberger were followed by a surprisingly comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over Sloane Stephens today, in what was a rematch of their semifinal matchup last year. Radwanska has had a slightly see-saw ride to the quarterfinals though. Stretched to three sets in her opener against Putintseva, she was forced to come from behind in her third round match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, before dealing with talented youngster Garbine Muguruza comfortably in today’s fourth round match.

What’s in store for them: The chance to create history, to become the first woman to win three straight Australian Open titles since Martina Hingis in 1999, with her nemeis Serena Williams out of the tournament. Does Victoria Azarenka need any more motivation? But she is up against Agnieszka Radwanska, who has reached five quarterfinals here at Melbourne Park, and is desperate to make it past this hurdle. Azarenka beat the Pole at this very stage of the tournament during her first title triumph in 2012, and will have to be at her very best again this time around.

Prediction: Azarenka to beat Radwanska in three sets