There should be plenty of entertaining tennis on day eight at the Australian Open, which will see the conclusion of the fourth round. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate. But who will secure their spot in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park?
Australian Open Day 8 Predictions
Aryna Sabalenka vs Kaia Kanepi
Jim: Aryna Sabalenka endured a difficult first week at the Australian Open, but the Belarusian deserves great credit for gritting it out and finding a way through to the fourth round. Will she be able to kick on now? Ultimately with Sabalenka, you never really know. But she has been looking slightly more comfortable on court and certainly has the game to beat Kaia Kanepi, though the Estonian won’t make it easy.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Jakub: Sabalenka completed her third comeback from a set down in a row against Marketa Vondrousova. It’s been a puzzling run from the second seed, to see her start matches poorly but play so well by the end. This might eventually catch up to the Belarusian, who has already equaled her best result in Melbourne, but it’s unlikely to be against Kanepi. The 36-year-old has reached the second week of the Australian Open for the first time in her career and though she won their only previous meeting, I suspect she will make her bow out before the quarterfinal stage.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Andrew: I feel sorry for the tennis balls in this match. Sabalenka can’t throw them properly but she’s having no problem hitting them hard in rallies. By rights she should be home already but the way she is coping through her service issues seems to providing her with confidence, battling against adversity can focus the mind. The fact that Kanepi is here shouldn’t be that much of a surprise. She only really shows up for the big events and still possesses world class power. However, Sabalenka is the rightful favourite as her movement is better than the Estonian’s.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
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Iga Swiatek vs Sorana Cirstea
Jim: Sorana Cirstea, as she does from time to time, has put together another excellent run at a Major. But as well as the Romanian has played, and she has played very well, it is hard to see getting past Iga Swiatek. The Pole has been taking no prisoners so far in Melbourne and should have enough to get past Cirstea without encountering too many problems.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Jakub: Swiatek continues to cement herself as one of the most consistent slam players on the tour, reaching the fourth round seven out of the last slams. Getting past that stage was an issue last year, though the Pole has a good chance this time. Her opponent, Cirstea, has looked impressive in wins over Petra Kvitova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The 31-year-old has reached the second week for the second time in her 14 appearances in Melbourne. Swiatek should be the favorite but we have watched Cirstea pull a couple of upsets already.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Andrew: This should be a relatively straightforward win for the Pole. She’s in top form, she’s the better hard court player and she has more experience in latter stage Grand Slam matches. Cirstea is often underestimated, and perhaps I’m doing it again here, but I have faith in Swiatek.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
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Danielle Collins vs Elise Mertens
Jim: This is a tough match to call. Both players have enough quality to win it, which means it will most likely be decided by who executes better on the day. But Danielle Collins does seem to find a way to put together big runs seemingly from nowhere and we could be witnessing another here.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Jakub: The definition of a coin flip match. Mertens has had the easier route and has, as a result, gotten through her matches with more ease while we have seen Collins be properly tested by Clara Tauson and come out on top. The two have split in their previous two meetings with Collins winning their more recent and only hard-court match-up in Chicago last September. It’s tough to call but I’m going with Collins here.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Andrew: Collins showed exactly what she was made of in the last round. The way that she hung in and turned around the match against Clara Tauson says everything about Collins & her attitude. Mertens is an excellent all-round player with a great attitude herself. However I think Collins will force herself over the line here.
Prediction: Collins in 3
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Simona Halep vs Alize Cornet
Jim: Alize Cornet is never a player to be underestimated. The Frenchwoman has shown that much again over the past week, scoring three memorable victories including over third seed Garbine Muguruza. But after a difficult season in 2021, Simona Halep has looked back to her best so far at Melbourne. And Halep, at her best, beats Cornet nine times out of ten.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Jakub: The two veterans meet for the first time since 2015. Halep has reached the second week for the fourth year running in Melbourne while Cornet is in the Australian Open fourth round for the first time since 2009. The Frenchwoman has been on a great run but the undefeated Halep has been on another level, dropping twelve games in the first three rounds.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Andrew: No offence to Cornet but I would be disappointed to see her be good enough to reach the quarterfinals here. She won a remarkable match against Muguruza to get her into this position but surely Halep will see this draw and think this is a great chance to get back to the very last few matches in the tournament. Halep has been superb this week and in current form shouldn’t be troubled by Cornet.
Prediction: Halep in 2
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