Expect an exciting eighth day at the Australian Open with four fourth-round matches on the schedule at Melbourne Park. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, but who will secure their spot in the quarterfinals?
Australian Open Day 8 Predictions
Magda Linette vs Caroline Garcia
Jim: Linette has had a great tournament, with her win over Anett Kontaveit particularly impressive, but it is hard to see her getting past Caroline Garcia. The Frenchwoman has found what was once an elusive consistency and she is on song she is very hard to stop.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Damian: Linette is playing another huge ball-striker after getting through Kontaveit and Alexandrova. She was absorbing and redirecting their power extremely well, plus having some really long patches of unplayability. She’ll prove a threat, but Garcia takes time away extremely well and will wrap up points at the net unlike the Pole’s two previous opponents.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
Yesh: There are very few women in the world who can hold a candle to Caroline Garcia’s current form. Linette isn’t one of them.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
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Karolina Pliskova vs Zhang Shuai
Jim: If Karolina Pliskova plays her best tennis, she will win this match. Her big serve and flat forehand are being rewarded by the courts at the Australian Open and, put simply, she has a higher ceiling than Zhang Shuai, though the Chinese will likely make Pliskova work hard for the win.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Damian: Zhang feels like one of the players who have been helped by the new Dunlop balls, which give an advantage to flat ball-strikers. Pliskova is another one though and her decent form at the end of last year was often overlooked. She’s been keeping that up in this tournament.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Yesh: Zhang is not in the best form but has taken full advantage of a favourable draw to reach the second week in Melbourne. That run will end now, as Karolina Pliskova’s powerful game is clicking on this court.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
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Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic
Jim: This promises to be an entertaining match. But if Aryna Sabalenka maintains the level she has displayed so far in Melbourne, it is hard to see how Belinda Bencic can win this match. Sabalenka simply has too much power off the ground.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Damian: This is a huge match. Sabalenka looks so ready to win her first Grand Slam here, but it’s not like that wasn’t the case before in the past. Bencic is extremely dangerous though and just like the Belarusian, won a WTA title in the weeks before the Australian Open. If Sabalenka wins this match, she’ll be the frontrunner to win the whole event. Let’s see if she delivers.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Yesh: Sabalenka has been in absolutely stunning form so far in Melbourne. Bencic is playing really well herself, but she doesn’t have anything to counter Sabalenka’s raw power. If the Belarusian continues to find the court, this is her match.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
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Donna Vekic vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Jim: Linda Fruhvirtova is having some tournament, although it seems almost certain that she will soon be making the second week habitually. Donna Vekic, meanwhile, looks to be back to her best. On paper there is not a great deal in it, but Vekic does have the advantage (and a sizable one at that) in terms of experience. That may well prove to be difference.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
Damian: Fruhvirtova showed a new layer to her game against Vondrousova, keeping up with her older compatriot on the winner count. Vekic has been playing some excellent stuff since the tail end of last year though and is definitely the better ball-striker of the two.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Yesh: What a match this is. Vekic is finally living up to her talent, while Fruhvirtova is in the midst of the first of what will surely be many deep runs at Majors. I’ll take experience over youth, at least this time.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
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