The desirable half of this Australian Open draw items us with four engaging fourth-round matches Sunday, featuring three of the event's suitable seven seeds, together with:
The breakdown:
[1] Iga Swiatek vs. [22] Elena Rybakina
The professional head-to-head says 1-0, Swiatek. It become the Ostrava quarterfinals in 2021, and the appropriate-ranked participant prevailed 7-6(5), 6-2. but these two met twice as juniors, where Rybakina scored one win.
Australian Open: ratings | Draw | Order of play
"yes," Swiatek stated, "the final of Trofeo Bonfiglio on clay. I misplaced. I remember i was so stressed that there become a reside streaming on the internet, and i simply couldn't focal point because of that. It seems surreal right now.
"I don't understand who's watching me. It's an internet. It's large."
With all due respect to the Milan Tennis club, this is bigger. For this is a disagreement between the existing champions of the French Open and US Open (Swiatek) and Wimbledon (Rybakina). The final time it came about become the summer time of 2021, when Ashleigh Barty defeated Barbora Krejcikova in the Cincinnati quarterfinals.
Day 6 from the Australian Open
Swiatek has appeared sharp, dropping only 15 video games in three fits. Rybakina needed three units to take out Danielle Collins within the third circular.
"For bound she's very potent physically and mentally," Rybakina observed of Swiatek. "I think that if I'm going to play my video game, aggressive, I'm going to be strong from the beginning except the end, I have all the options."
[3] Jessica Pegula vs. [20] Barbora Krejcikova
The winner of this in shape will find herself able to move additional than ever Down under.
Pegula reached the quarterfinals here the previous two years, losing to Jennifer Brady and Barty. Krejcikova did it ultimate yr, falling to Madison Keys. The survivor of this one -- both have never performed -- will meet either Victoria Azarenka or Zhu Lin for a spot in the semifinals.
Pegula's upward thrust to the No.three rating -- and the truth she reached the quarters in three of the four majors final year -- have introduced her to one more stage of confidence.
"I really feel like now i will be able to stroll out there and i suppose like I'm successful earlier than I step out on the court docket," Pegula pointed out. "I've always wondered what that felt like. Even when it's now not going first rate, I suppose like I'm in manage the entire time."
[7] Coco Gauff vs. [17] Jelena Ostapenko
These two have a quick background, however turned into a momentous event.
It turned into the 2019 last in Linz and Gauff turned into handiest 15 years old -- and a lucky loser as neatly. Gauff took the final in three units for her first WTA Tour title.
She's 18 now and become a finalist ultimately yr's French Open. Gauff is a gaudy eight-0 this year after defeating fellow American Bernarda Pera 6-three, 6-2.
Ostapenko is 4-2 in 2023 and has looked after business in Melbourne. She was a tidy 6-three, 6-0 winner against Kateryna Baindl in the third round.
"She's a great participant and he or she's still very younger, however she's already very skilled," Ostapenko noted of Gauff." Of path, it's going to be a tough fit."
When she gained the 2017 French Open, Ostapenko had simply became 20 and became swinging for the fences. It's a mode that hasn't all the time worn well with time.
"I simply feel now I'm probably more mature, and maybe every so often I deserve to play greater assured and to no longer go for, like, crazy winners," she pointed out. "however additionally, however, I should be aggressive as a result of that's what the opponents don't like and what makes me a dangerous participant.
"So kind of combine it up, every little thing, all these things. if they work smartly collectively, I feel i can play well."
[14] Victoria Azarenka vs. Zhu Lin
Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 champion here, has now received 45 matches at the Australian Open. Coming into this fortnight, Zhu had received all of two in five old main draws.
but the 28-year-old from China has gained three suits in Melbourne Park -- including a 3rd-round upset of No.6 seed Maria Sakkari in three sets. It become her first career victory in opposition t a appropriate 10 player -- after dropping the outdated such six suits in straight units. past, Azarenka took out No.10 seed Madison Keys in one other three-set match.
"Coming into this fit, i used to be speaking to my crew," Azarenka spoke of after accomplishing the fourth round for the 2d straight 12 months. "i was like, `everything starts to suppose greater critical -- correct? every thing begins to develop into bigger.' actually, it is not. It's nonetheless a match.
"It's not about for me combating towards those emotions. It's about accepting them and working via them. I basically work difficult on psychology and the video game, attention, researching about myself. I consider like I'm extra open-minded, it helps me to gain knowledge of."
These two have in no way performed.
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