{"id":11712,"date":"2019-01-19T23:35:26","date_gmt":"2019-01-20T04:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=11712"},"modified":"2019-01-19T23:01:36","modified_gmt":"2019-01-20T04:01:36","slug":"australian-open-day-8-womens-predictions-including-serena-williams-vs-simona-halep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2019\/01\/19\/australian-open-day-8-womens-predictions-including-serena-williams-vs-simona-halep\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Open Day 8 Women’s Predictions–Including Serena Williams vs Simona Halep"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are wrapping up the fourth round of the Autralian Open<\/a>. By the end of play Monday night (or early Tuesday morning), only eight women will remain in the tournament. Four blockbuster matches will determine who the final four quarterfinalists are. We are here to predict those four matches for you. Predicting today are myself (Yesh Ginsburg), Jay Sandhu, Tracey Essex, and David Adair.<\/p>\n

Australian Open Day 8 Women’s Predictions<\/h2>\n

Madison Keys vs Elina Svitolina<\/h3>\n

Tracey:<\/em>
\nWhile both Keys and Svitolina have been winning their respective matches with relative ease, Svitolina struggled through the first set of Zhang Shuai\u2019s bid for the fourth round. Not surprising, she found a way through, but it wasn\u2019t with the ease where Keys moved on in straight sets. Svitolina is a great returner and if she hones in on Keys\u2019 serve, she will take control putting Keys on the run. Svitolina will be exposed on her own serve, and we may watch a match highlighted by breaks of serve. I expect this to be a tough competition, but one in which Svitolina will prevail.
\nPrediction: Svitolina in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

David:<\/em>
\nA poor injury-laden 2018 has reduced expectations for Madison Keys. This week she is slowly returning to the form that caused many to pin her as a future multiple Slam winner. Keys has been successful in both previous meetings against Svitolina, including at a Slam (US Open 2017). Svitolina needed an injury timeout during a hard-fought victory over Zhang in Round 3. Svitolina has little luck in Slams<\/a>, despite possessing the ability to win one. Keys’ line-finding range will stretch Svitolina to the limit and beyond.
\nPrediction: Keys in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Jay:<\/em>
\nSvitolina is surely one of the favourites for the title after beating Zhang in a very high quality match, but now she has reached the stage where she usually loses in Slams. On the other hand, Keys is probably not as good of a player but has more experience in Slams. It should be a close match, but I feel Keys has all the power and will win.
\nPrediction: Keys in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Yesh:<\/em>
\nKeys has looked like the better player when her game is on. Svitolina struggled in her last match, and I think the American should win this one with relatively surprising ease.
\nPrediction: Keys in 2<\/em><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>