After a memorable first week of the Australian Open, the job of serious business gets underway now as all remaining players gear up towards a drive to the title. Here are today’s Round of 16 matchups:
Petra Martic vs Elise Mertens
This is the third time in the last four majors that Martic has reached the fourth round. With a funky game, she can trouble anyone in this half. Mertens is on fire, having successfully defended her title in Hobart while reaching the Round of 16 at a Slam for the first time. The Belgian has the great ability to use her backhand to dictate rallies while she has also improved every aspect of her game, most notably on serve. The Croat will try to use her big weapon, her forehand as well as use her backhand slice to throw Mertens off. A maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal awaits in what looks to be a very intriguing matchup.
Denisa Allertova vs Elina Svitolina
At first glance, this doesn’t look like much of a problem for Svitolina until you realize the 130th-ranked Czech qualifier is tall with a lot of power. With no pressure on her for this match, Allertova will look to do what she has done in Melbourne, which is to use her effortless power to dictate from the baseline. Her down-the-line forehand can be an especially effective weapon. Svitolina will look to exploit the Czechon the backhand side and will need to get a high percentage of first serves in. Allertova definitely has a chance and if she can get off to a good start, as we’ve seen so far this fortnight, anything is possible.
Anett Kontaveit vs Carla Suarez Navarro
Simply put, this is not a match Kontaveit should lose. She has more weapons and firepower than Suarez Navarro, is coming off the biggest win of her career in the last round against French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and is gaining confidence with each passing victory. The Spaniard will want to use her stylish one-handed backhand as her primary way of winning points and if she is to have any chance of pulling off the upset, she must protect her awful serve at all costs. Although Suarez Navarro is capable on hard courts, she’s seen her best days and as I said to open this preview up, Kontaveit should win this.
Magdalena Rybarikova vs Caroline Wozniacki
The underrated Slovak brings her unique game into this Round of 16 clash with the Dane. Expect to see Rybarikova moving forward a lot to put the pressure on Wozniacki while the world number two will want to grind out long rallies from the baseline. Wozniacki knows she’s lucky to still be in the tournament after Jana Fett led 5-1, 40-0 in their second round match and had an ace on the first match point ruled a fault. That might serve to calm her down if anything. Rybarikova will need to feast on the Wozniacki second serve as often as possible. This is the match with the biggest upset potential of the four women’s matches today.
Rafael Nadal vs Diego Schwartzman
Nadal has looked unstoppable in Melbourne so far, dismantling his opponents with ease. Schwartzman is a powerful player for a man so short in stature. What he lacks in height, he makes up for with grit, determination and will. The issue he has here is that he will be overpowered or outmuscled by the Spaniard at every turn. The Argentine should enjoy himself out there as he continues to carve out a terrific career for himself. Unfortunately, there’s no way to make a case for him to win this match.
Pablo Carreno Busta vs Marin Cilic
Finally, some signs of life from the Spaniard after winning just one match following his run to last year’s US Open semifinals. He’ll want to stick to the baseline and grind down Cilic while the big Croat, who has quietly gone under the radar here, will look to dominate with his excellent serve and backhand. Net play may also be a factor for the 2014 U.S. Open champion. Carreno Busta got some practice against big servers with his four-set win in the previous round against Gilles Muller. This is a very intriguing matchup that could honestly go either way.
Grigor Dimitrov vs Nick Kyrgios
The pick of the bunch on the men’s side, the Aussie has got to like his chances. He beat Dimitrov in the semifinals of Brisbane on his way to the title, he’s serving well and he has the home fans on his side. He’ll want to stay away from the Bulgarian’s world-class backhand and Dimitrov probably edges kyrgios in the movement department, but his serve was a total disaster against Andrey Rublev, committing 15 double faults. Any signs of coming close to that and this will be quick. I don’t think that will happen here, but Kyrgios is in better form and he should reach the quarterfinals.
Kyle Edmund vs Andreas Seppi
The surprise matchup of the round, both players are coming off of five-setters, but in very different ways. Edmund played in the heat of the day, survivng against Nikoloz Basilashvili in a physical match that took just about everything out of him while Seppi prevailed 9-7 in the fifth set against Ivo Karlovic, a match that featured few long rallies. This is a match of opposites: Seppi has a terrific backhand while Edmund possesses a great serve and forehand. The Italian has plenty of experience in the later stages of majors while the Brit is into the Round of 16 for the first time. Edmund should be tired and it will be interesting to see how he handles being the favorite in this one. It wouldn’t shock me if either player advanced to the quarterfinals.
