Australian Open 2016 Schedule: Tuesday Replay TV Coverage, Live Stream Guide
Serena Williams continues to dominate her lopsided rivalry with Maria Sharapova, besting her frequently encountered foe in the Australian Open quarterfinals.
For the 18th straight time, Williams topped Sharapova on Monday night. The latest victory put the top-ranked star one step closer to earning her seventh title at Melbourne. Before making another finals appearance, she must conquer No. 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals.
While those top competitors lived up to their rank, two massive underdogs emerged on the other side of the women's bracket. Their improbable paths will collide with a semifinals spot up for grabs.
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Replay Info for Tuesday’s Draw (Day 9, Quarterfinals)
Watch: ESPN (U.S. only)
Replay Coverage: Tennis Channel from 6 a.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET; ESPN2 from 3 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET
Live Coverage: Tennis Channel from 7 p.m. ET to 9 p.m. ET; ESPN2 from 9 p.m. ET to 2 a.m. ET
Full Schedule: AusOpen.com
Konta, Zhang Set Up Unlikely Quarterfinals Match
On Monday night, all eyes were on another marquee showdown between Williams and Sharapova. Six of eight quarterfinals contestants entered ranked No. 14 or better, and five held top-10 billing.
One of the other two, however, will cement an unlikely semifinals bid.
Johanna Konta and Zhang Shuai each rallied from a set down to upend a ranked opponent in a grueling fourth-round matchup. This marks the first quarterfinals appearance for both underdogs, who will battle for the chance to face Angelique Kerber or Victoria Azarenka.
Konta, ranked No. 47, began the Australian Open by upsetting No. 8 Venus Williams. After rolling through three rounds with little difficulty—claiming each in straight sets—she needed every last ounce of energy to outlast No. 21 Ekaterina Makarova.
Before becoming the first English woman in 32 years to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, Konta endured a three-hour and four-minute marathon. She wouldn't let anyone discredit the toll inflicted by every second on the court, per BBC.
"It was mentally, emotionally and physically draining," Konta said. "Those four minutes were important, believe me. I left it all out there on court, ran after every single ball and was fortunate enough to capitalise on some opportunities."
Yet her run hasn't come entirely from nowhere. Last year, the 24-year-old boosted her stock by reaching the fourth round at the U.S. Open.
Zhang, on the other hand, had never won a first-round match in 14 tries—nine against top-20-ranked opponents, per the New York Times' Ben Rothenberg—before knocking off No. 2 Simona Halep at Melbourne.
Per WTA Insider, the 27-year-old considered retirement before her breakout performance:
Now she has four Australian Open victories under her belt, seven including her qualifying wins. Her last, however, was a bittersweet triumph over a hobbled Madison Keys, who fought through a hip injury to finish the fourth-round match. The rising star, courtesy of WTA Insider, explained her decision to keep competing:
"Madison Keys on why she played on: "One, I hate retiring. Two, you don’t want to do that to someone who’s trying to get into the QFs."
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 25, 2016"
Suddenly, Konta shifts from underdog to favorite against the No. 133-ranked Zhang, who has also dropped only one set through four matches. There are certainly higher-profile bouts on tap at Melbourne, but this match promises one feel-good story prevailing.
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