Australian Open 2015: Predictions for Top Stars in Day 10 Singles Draw
The top stars haven't been safe since the start of the 2015 Australian Open, but they're beginning to drop like flies as we gear up for the semifinals.
Second-seeded men's star Roger Federer set the tone with his early-round defeat, but we didn't see another big name fall until Tuesday night's upset of No. 3 Rafael Nadal by No. 7 Tomas Berdych.
With the intensity increasing by this point and the level of play increasing as well, could we be in for even more upsets down the stretch or will the favorites reassert themselves?
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Making it out of the first week in any Grand Slam is a feat in itself, but hitting your stride is mandatory at this point for anyone who aspires to be around for the final.
Let's look at the main matchups on tap for Day 10 and decide which stars will advance through.
No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 8 Milos Raonic
Not even Novak Djokovic probably thought he'd be the only top-three seed left as he gears up for a quarterfinal against No. 8 Milos Roanic, but that's the reality.
But while Federer and Nadal both struggled mightily en route to tournament exits, it would be a disservice to put the Djoker in that same category. He belongs in one of his own, having not dropped a single set in his four victories.
His prowess on the baseline was never on better display than in his Round 4 win over Gilles Muller, per the Australian Open:
Djokovic has been red hot, but Raonic has impressed in his own right. It's the Canadian's third consecutive Slam quarterfinal, so nobody is shocked he's here, but it is his first such appearance in Melbourne. Either way, moments like facing Djokovic is what Raonic plays for.
"I play for the opportunity to have a shot against the big guys at the big Slams. So the first week’s about getting through and giving yourself that opportunity," said Raonic, per Stephanie Myles of The Star. "I think I’m doing things differently. I’m moving better. I feel like I have it within myself. I’ve just got to bring it out."
While a 3-0 record against Raonic isn't a tell-all for Djokovic's success Wednesday, it does show that he has no problem getting up to face the Canadian. Even at this level of the tournament, Djokovic's best is too much for anyone to overcome and he'll refuse to give up any momentum entering the final four.
Prediction: Djokovic wins in straight sets
Madison Keys vs. No. 18 Venus Williams
There were a handful of candidates for Australian Open Cinderella story, but they've all given way to phenom Madison Keys.
At the age of 19, the American hard-hitter has taken over a half of the bracket containing both Serena Williams and a resurgent Venus Williams. She'll have to take on the 18th-seeded Venus in the quarterfinals but looks poised to continue her improbable run.
Keys has only dropped one set in Melbourne, and it was closely followed by consecutive 6-1 sets to take victory in Round 2. Since then she has been absolutely on fire, throttling fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova and Madison Brengle.
The age differential is nothing short of impeccable between the two quarterfinalists, per ESPN Tennis:
"Keys was 5 years old when Williams won her first Wimbledon title in 2000. Tonight, they meet: http://t.co/EDfbfv1UMq pic.twitter.com/POnlPwDWkS
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) January 27, 2015"
Venus has showcased her return to form by handling a couple of the better players on her half of the draw, but it will come to a screeching halt against Keys. Her aggressive, powerful style of play mirrors that of the game Venus possessed more than a decade ago, and her rekindled competitiveness won't be able to handle Keys' quality of play.
Doing so against her sister in the next round will be the ultimate test, but Keys will pass another audition with flying colors as she continues to stake her claim as the best young women's tennis star (Eugenie Bouchard, you're awesome, too).
Prediction: Keys wins in three sets
No. 4 Stan Wawrinka vs. No. 5 Kei Nishikori
Deja vu will arrive in epic proportions as defending Australian Open champ Stan Wawrinka faces fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori in Wednesday's quarterfinal.
The duo faced off in the most recent Slam quarterfinal, going up against one another in the 2014 U.S. Open—a match in which Nishikori won before toppling Djokovic and falling to Marin Cilic in the final.
After Wawrinka barreled his way through the first week, and Nishikori mounted an all-encompassing rout of No. 9 David Ferrer in Round 4, you'd expect such an anticipated rematch to be the top match for Wednesday. But Djokovic-Raonic got the primetime call instead, miffing tennis reporter Katie Bee:
Yes, the Swiss star won in Melbourne last year, but that was a long time ago. In the immediate past, nobody outside of Djokovic or Andy Murray has outshone Nishikori's prominence and spectacular play.
Wawrinka won't go quietly knowing how close he is to the improbable repeat, but Nishikori is simply playing too confident and is on top of his forehand better than anyone in tennis. In what has five-set thriller written all over it, Nishikori will keep his incredible form going.
Prediction: Nishikori wins in five sets
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
