Three selections from Graham Ruthven, on day nine of the Australian Open.
Ashleigh Barty v Petra Kvitova
Tuesday 28 January, Australian Open women’s singles quarter final
This has the potential to be one of the matches of the whole tournament in the women’s singles. Ashleigh Barty is the world number one and home favourite while Petra Kvitova has looked every bit the title contender so far. Both players faced tricky third round ties and had to grind through to get to this stage.
Barty lacked intensity at times in her three sets win over Alison Riske, losing the second set 6-1. The Australian was somewhat lucky to win the match and will have to lift her game significantly to beat Kvitova, who despite losing the first set to Maria Sakkari in the fourth round found top form to win 6-7, 6-3, 6-2. The Czech has a winning record against Barty and knocked the world number one out of last year’s Australian Open. History could repeat itself.
1pt - Petra Kvitova To Win 6/5
Tennys Sandgren v Roger Federer
Tuesday 28 January, Australian Open men’s singles quarter final
There has been a constant trend for Roger Federer all the way through this year’s Australian Open so far - the Swiss has in two of the four matches he has played started slowly. Indeed, the 38-year-old lost opening sets to John Millman and Marton Fucsovics, only just scraping past the former, coming within just two points of going out.
Tennys Sandgren has enjoyed an exceptional Australian Open to date, eliminating Fabio Fognini (number 12 seed) and Matteo Berrettini (number eight seed) on the way to a meeting with Federer. The American has been serving well, winning 87% of his service games in the last round against Fognini, and will need to keep his first serve percentage high to stand a chance of making the quarter finals. However, this will likely be a step too far.
1.5pts - Roger Federer 3-0 7/10
Sofia Kenin v Ons Jabeur
Tuesday 28 January, Australian Open women’s singles quarter final
Coco Gauff presented a stiff test for Sofia Kenin in the fourth round, but the number 14 seed eliminated women’s tennis most promising teenager in three sets. The American won 44% of her receiving points against Gauff, allowing her to break her opponent five times. Against Ons Jabeur, who won 80% of her service games against Wang Qiang, that will be crucial.
These two players have faced each other three times before and Kenin has emerged victories on all three occasions. However, Jabeur has already defeated Johanna Konta and Caroline Wozniacki on her way to her first ever Grand Slam quarter final. The Tunisian must be taken seriously, although Kenin has to be considered the favourite.
1pt - Sofia Kenin Set 1 Winner 4/7
