Australian Open 2014: Women’s quarterfinal predictions

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