Australian Open 2015 Results: Day 7 Scores and Day 8 Bracket Predictions
To say action is heating up at the 2015 Australian Open would be putting it lightly.
Throughout the opening week of play in Melbourne, viewers have been sent for a constant curveball. Right when it appears that the favorites are all peaking, one or two seem to fall by the wayside.
The fourth round of play got underway with a thrilling slate of matches on Day 7, but all eight quarterfinalists won't be decided until Day 8 of action is over. That means from here on out, star-studded matchups should be the norm and high-quality play will be on display.
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Let's look at everything you need to know about Day 7 and glance forward to Day 8.
| No. 3 Rafael Nadal def. No. 14 Kevin Anderson | 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 |
| No. 6 Andy Murray def. No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov | 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5 |
| No. 7 Tomas Berdych def. Bernard Tomic | 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-2 |
| Nick Kyrgios def. Andreas Seppi | 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 8-6 |
| No. 2 Maria Sharapova def. No. 21 Shuai Peng | 6-3, 6-0 |
| No. 3 Simona Halep def. Yanina Wickmayer | 6-4, 6-2 |
| No. 7 Eugenie Bouchard def. Irina-Camelia Begu | 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 |
| No. 10 Ekaterina Makarova def. Julia Goerges | 6-3, 6-2 |
Note: Day 7 scores available at Australian Open official site.
Day 8 Predictions
No. 5 Kei Nishikori vs. No. 9 David Ferrer
Both Kei Nishikori and David Ferrer have taken that monumental step of making a Grand Slam final but have yet to break through. The moral victories are for the youngsters, and Nishikori and Ferrer will be hoping to keep their quests alive to set up an enticing quarterfinal affair.
The 32-year-old Ferrer has been a long-time staple of men's tennis without ever picking up a Slam title, and he overcame a test from 18th-seeded Gilles Simon to make it to the fourth round. But the memories of coming up short are much fresher for Nishikori, who fell in last year's U.S. Open final some five months ago.
The Japanese star admittedly wasn't ready for that big a stage then, but he is growing to become ready this time around, per the Australian Open official site.
"'I'm sure that I need more experience, you know, play couple more tournaments, couple more big tournaments and big matches,' Nishikori said.
'Especially like US Open final, I was really nervous. I need couple more [of] those experience, for sure. But I think it's going to be different than first week into second week. I have couple matches here, three matches, before today's match. I think I get more confidence.'
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Ferrer endured some costly errors that almost made his third-round win over Simon a five-setter, while Nishikori looks to be growing by the match—and more importantly, looks to be peaking late into every match. When it comes to beating a top tennis star, improving as the match goes on is crucial.
Add that to Nishikori's 6-3 all-time record against Ferrer—including four straight victories in 2014—and the Japanese phenom certainly has the edge.
In a tight match that eventually gives way to Nishikori's speed and power combination, the 25-year-old will progress.
Prediction: Nishikori wins in five sets
No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 24 Garbine Muguruza
A year can make all the difference, as well as the court surface, and both of those will be put to the test in Serena Williams' match against 24th-seeded Garbine Muguruza for a spot in the quarterfinals.
It was Muguruza who ended the top seed's hopes of a French Open triumph in 2014, toppling Williams in straight sets in their round-of-64 affair in Roland Garros. Not only was that many months ago, but obviously took place on the clay courts, as opposed to the hard surfaces of Melbourne.
Williams had her own trouble just getting through the third round against Elina Svitolina after dropping the first set but wasted no time looking forward to Muguruza afterward.
"[Muguruza]’s playing really well,” Williams told the tournament's official site. “But I really have nothing to lose out here, it’ll be fun. I’ll hear you guys say Serena again and I’ll do my best.”
Serena does in fact have something to lose—an important tennis match—but it's hard to envision her doing so. Where she was in the middle of 2014 pales in comparison to her level of play so far in Melbourne.
It's appeared at times throughout the early goings that Williams might not be at her best as of yet, but there's no doubt that she can still push herself mentally and physically. When she can do that, few can stand on the opposite side of the court and stand a serious chance.
On top of that, Serena is the ultimate competitor and knows better than anyone that her defeat to Muguruza last time out had more to do with her own struggles than anything. She'll be intent on proving that as well.
Muguruza won't make either set easy with her powerful serve, but Serena won't let her opponent hang around this time.
Prediction: Williams wins in two sets
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