Australian Open 2014: Women’s quarterfinal predictions

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.