The 2018 Australian Open has reached its business end and the heavyweights in the men's and women's singles draw appear likely to progress to the quarter-finals. But day eight at Melbourne Park throws up some tasty fourth-round matches in both the draws and here is a selection of them:
Su-Wei Hsieh vs Angelique Kerber
Hsieh of Chinese Taipei has punched above her weight at this year's Australian Open, beating Spain's Garbine Muguruza and Pole Agnieszka Radwanska en route to her fourth-round match against German Kerber.
Kerber: I'm happy it's 2018 not 2017
Hsieh's unorthodox style has caught her opponents off guard and put her in sight of her first-ever Australian Open quarter-final.
Kerber hasn't dropped a set yet and enjoyed a comfortable route to round four. Hsieh may well provide the German's toughest challenge, however, with this pair's match scheduled to be played inside the Rod Laver Arena in the morning session.
Kerber had the better of Hsieh in the only previous match between this pair.
Novak Djokovic vs Hyeon Chung
The six-time Australian Open champion has had a smooth sailing into round four and will start the match against South Korea's Chung as the favourite. Djokovic has only been challenged, sort of, by Frenchman Gael Monfils in the second round.
Read: Djokovic insists hip problem is nothing major
Chung beat Germany's Alexander Zverev (one of the headline results of the tournament) in the third round to set up this meeting with the Serbian. The 21-year-old Chung doesn't have expectations to live up to against Djokovic and obviously can enjoy himself playing against an accomplished opponent.
Chung and Djokovic met in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open, when the Serbian won in straight sets.
Fabio Fognini vs Tomas Berdych
Fognini came through a five-setter against Julian Benneteau in the third round and has shown an ability to bounce back after losing the first set in his second and third-round matches.
Berdych, for this part, beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in his third-round match. He has a good serve and likes to keep the points short.
This is an interesting contest which is to be played inside the Margaret Court Arena. Fognini and Berdych share a 2-2 head-to-head record, though the last meeting came way back in 2015.
Simona Halep vs Naomi Osaka
Romanian Halep came through a gruelling contest against Lauren Davis of the USA in the third round, with that match lasting three fours and forty-four minutes and the final set finishing 15-13 in Halep's favour.
Halep has been playing through an ankle injury since her first-round match and the marathon against Davis will have done no good to her left ankle. So, come Monday, Halep's ankle will once again be put through a test, as much as her skills.
Read: Halep defeats Davis in Australian Open marathon
Osaka has come through three straight-sets victories, the latest of which against the local favourite Ashleigh Barty.
This match has the makings of being an even contest.
Halep leads the head-to-head record against Osaka by 2-0.
M. Fucsovics vs Roger Federer
The defending champion has gained another favourable draw in the fourth round, against Hungary's Fucsovics. Federer is no doubt an overwhelming favourite for this match, having seen off Aljaz Bedene, J. Struff and Richard Gasquet in straight sets.
For Fucsovics, this match might well prove to be a good experience. This will also be the first-ever meeting between this duo.
Comments
SHARE