Casual Spectator previews The Australian Open Quarterfinals: what you need to know.
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Australian Open Quarterfinals
The Aussie Open has featured a ton of excitement already, with Roger Federer, Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki all being upset much earlier than expected. But the best is yet to come, as the quarterfinals are on tap early this week. Matches begin Monday evening Eastern time and continue through Tuesday. You can watch them on Tennis Channel and ESPN2 in the US, and on TSN in Canada.
Men’s side
Third-ranked Rafael Nadal takes on No. 7 Tomas Berdych in the first men’s QF on Monday. Things are looking good for Rafa: he’s beaten the Czech 17 times in a row. That match will be followed by unseeded Nick Kyrgios vs. No. 6 Andy Murray. Kyrgios is a 19-year-old who becomes the first Australian in 10 years to reach the quarters in Melbourne. Murray has cruised through the first four rounds, dropping just one set in the process.
Defending champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland is also through to the quarters. He’ll take on Kei Nishikori on Tuesday, in what will be a rematch of their thrilling US Open quarterfinal last summer. Milos Raonic will also play a final-eight match on Tuesday after beating Feliciano Lopez in five sets. The 24-year-old Canadian will get the winner of the Novak Djokovic-Gilles Muller match, which began early Monday morning.
Women’s side
The first women’s quarterfinal has No. 10 Ekaterina Makarova of Russia playing third-ranked Simona Halep of Romania. Neither have lost a set yet down under, but Halep is the clear favorite. That will be followed by what could be the most exciting women’s QF between young-gun Canadian Eugenie Bouchard and No. 2 Maria Sharapova. The two hard hitters have met three times before, including a thrilling 2014 French Open semifinal, but Sharapova has won all three.
On Tuesday, top-seeded Serena Williams will be up against No. 11 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia. Serena has dropped the first set in each of her last two matches, but has managed to rally for three-set wins. Joining her in the quarterfinals is sister Venus. It’s the first time since Wimbledon 2010 that both Williams sisters have made the quarters at a Grand Slam event. Venus will face upstart Madison Keys of Illinois. The 19-year-old followed up her Round 3 upset of fourth-ranked Petra Kvitova by beating Madison Brengle in Round 4.
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Cover Photo Credit: Lee Jin-Man/AP
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