The 2008 Australian Open quarterfinals will be played out over two days in Melbourne Park, highlighting the best stars on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
Tuesday’s Matches
Justine Henin (BEL)[1] v. Maria Sharapova (RUS)[5]
If this match is anything like their last encounter, expect this quarterfinal to turn into an instant classic. Henin and Sharapova slugged it out for over three hours in the final at Madrid in November, before Justine finally closed out the most successful season of her career. Sharapova was the only woman capable of testing Henin between Wimbledon and the season-ending Championships – and if she has her way, she’ll be the first woman since Wimbledon to defeat the No. 1.
With her shoulder injury and 2007 service yips relegated to only a passing mention, Sharapova has looked every bit the part of the Grand Slam champion. Henin, on the other hand, has been getting the job done, but has not looked quite as impressive as Maria, especially on her serve. Justine has never relied heavily on her service game, but she’ll need to get as many first serves in as possible on Monday, because Sharapova will be difficult to break.
Pick to Win: Maria Sharapova in three sets
Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[3] v. Serena Williams (USA)[7]
Bum hip and all, Jelena Jankovic is through to her first Australian Open quarterfinals. She has not had the best week in Melbourne, thanks to a handful of nail-biting wins, a fine for on-court coaching, and a draw that forced her in the path of the defending champion. Credit does go to Jelena for making it this far, especially as no one was really certain that she would play the tournament after injuring her thigh in Perth.
Although Serena has shed pounds and packed on muscle in the past year, she has admitted that the 2008 version is not quite as good as last year’s model. Like Henin, she has progressed through the draw smoothly, but we’re not seeing the I’ll fight till I die, I am Serena, watch me roar persona that has become associated with her runs to Grand Slam titles. Still, Serena can save the drama for another round, because if Jelena plays half as inconsistently as she did to get to the quarterfinals, she’ll be limping back to the locker room after only two sets.
Pick to Win: Serena Williams in two sets
Wednesday’s Matches
Ana Ivanovic (SRB)[4] v. Venus Williams (USA)[8]
Ana Ivanovic has a chance for revenge, and don’t let that sweet smile make you think she won’t take it if she can. Venus Williams has knocked Ivanovic out of the last two Grand Slams in straight sets. On paper, Ana should be able to stay toe-to-toe with Venus, especially as Ivanovic has a lot of power in her own corner and won’t be blow off the court.
For having such an easy draw filled with lower ranked players, Venus Williams has had to work a bit harder than one would expect. She stayed out on the court longer than she would have liked last night against Marta Domachowska, something that should not have happened against a player ranked barely inside the Top 150. Ivanovic has been watching a lot of tennis this week, and if she did her own scouting on Monday, she probably saw a few little weaknesses to try to exploit in the quarterfinals.
Pick to Win: Venus Williams in three sets
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[9] v. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)[29]
I said after the first round that Daniela Hantuchova was due for a big breakthrough and this may be the experienced Slovakian’s moment to shine. 2007 was a huge year for the blonde with two titles, including her favorite Pacific Life Open trophy.
Agnieszka Radwanska saves some of her best tennis for Grand Slam performances, and has already downed Kuznetsova and Petrova, who collapsed yet again in the third set on Monday. Hantuchova has said that she is more relaxed, mature, and at peace this year, so don’t expect her to mentally check out ala Nadia Petrova.
Pick to Win: Daniela Hantuchova in three sets
Agree or disagree with my quarterfinal picks? Leave your opinion in the comments!
I like your predictions. I just have to say that one thing I don’t love about the Australian Open is the time difference. I’m a college student and between class and extracurricular activities, I just can’t watch a match in the middle of the night, especially with a morning class the next day. I’ll record the Henin-Sharapova and watch it later, but it won’t be the same as I’ll know the result by the time I get a chance to watch it. To me, that is the most exciting quarterfinal. The others have heavier favorites (Serena, Venus, and Daniela- whoever thought she’d be the favorite to reach a Slam semi?). Henin is the favorite but Sharapova is more than capable to score a victory. What will win out: variety or power? Both are so mentally tough. Here’s to a great match!
Kurt, I agree – the time zone is a killer. So far, I’ve only squeezed in two late night matches and the second one only worked because it was a weekend.
The best thing for me is to go to bed really early and then wake up, watch the match, and get a few more winks. I still am a bit groggy the next day, but its not as bad as pulling an all-nighter.
Tonight will be a bit more difficult, as I really want to watch Jelena/Serena and Justine/Maria. Hopefully, I’ll be able to stay awake, but just in case, I’ll have the DVR ready.
I think you are right about Sharapova ending Henin’s streak, but the only thing that worries me is if it goes 3 sets will Sharapova run out of gas once again.
Justine hasn’t played great the whole week but she picks up her level tremendously when she faces someone like Sharapova.
I plan to get up at 3:30 to watch it LIVE!
Most prognosticators are against us, Aaress, but I, too, think Sharapova is going to win.
I thought Ivanovic was going to beat Venus, but now I’m not so sure.
I know! Surely Diane, we’re not the only two who think Sharapova will win tonight?
As for me, I’ve not seen anything from Justine this past week that makes me believe Sharapova has no chance to win.
A past performance, i.e., the WTA Championships, is not always a good foreboding of future results. Just because Henin has emerged victorious once, doesn’t mean it will happen every time. I’m still convinced that sooner or later, Jankovic will beat Justine.
JJ will beat Justine, yes, provided she is standing on her two legs and able to play tennis. I was there the day that Patty beat Justine, after six unsuccessful tries. She had a plan and–in a very un-Patty-like way–she stuck to it, and it worked. It was a gutsy plan, but it worked, and some day, JJ will do it, too.
Was that in Charleston? I remember when Patty had a good run there a few years ago. Pity she has not been able to stick with her plan of late.
I am a big fan of Justine, and frankly speaking, I think Maria will win. But let’s not forget one thing, Justine was a fighter, and I don’t think this will be a different case. It will be an interesting match tonight and for once again, my support still goes to Justine
For some reason the “for the blonde” phrase in the Hantuchova blurb seemed a bit strange to me. I know there was nothing meant yet it seemed incongruous at best.
Picks:
Venus Williams
Daniela Hantuchova
Pov, ditzy [or dumb] blonde are the last words I’d ever consider when thinking of Daniela Hantuchova. You’re correct – nothing untoward was intended.
And Justine,ooosh, Maria won it in style too
Anyone who didn’t see the match better not comment on the scoreline. It was far more competitive than the story of those numbers.
I guess Tennis is the only game where whatever begins to go wrong is only a sign of all that will go wrong, and the reverse will be for your opponent. Managing to see only the last set, you could see that, give anything, play the game a thousand times, or leave the set to roll till a Zillion, it was always going to be Maria’s day.
Beautiful.
As for Serena, she sent herself off the slam with virtually 2 double faults in a row. That sums it up. Not that she’s been particularly topnotch thus far, but Jankobaby was far too consistent, and cautious from the word go. Serena got into the game in the mode – I can always win this – and she paid for it.
Now, Venus is the only old tiger in the mix and that makes for an unusual slam, if you are on the side of the bookies, but hey, its all open now and I wont try to predict nada from here.
What a slam !
Picks : Venus and Agnieskza. Venus will pick it now that she’s out of doubles and won’t have to worry about facing Serena. She’s beaten Ana so she has that on her side. Agnies is just wily and young enough not to be cowed and Daniela can be a bit of a head case so those are my picks with Maria making it to the finals by beathing Jelena. So for the finals Maria vs Venus.