The top half of the women's draw at the Australian Open contest their fourth round matches tomorrow. The top seed and defending champion, Serena Williams will take on the outsider, Margarita Gasparyan for a place in the quarterfinals.
Recent Results
Coming into the Australian Open, Williams hadn't completed a match since her sensational US Open semifinal defeat to Roberta Vinci last September. The American had attempted to participate in the Hopman Cup, but was forced to retire midway through her opening match against Jarmila Wolfe due to a niggling knee injury.
Despite a close first round encounter here against Camila Giorgi, where she tamed her opponent's cannon-like shots to win 6-4, 7-5, Williams has been winning comfortably since. She allowed tricky Hsieh Su-wei only three games and the teenager Daria Kasatkina only two while progressing into the last sixteen.
Gasparyan will be hoping to avoid a similar fate in the biggest match of her life. The Russian hadn't played particularly well before heading to Melbourne, winning only one main draw match in Hobart. However, her first round recovery here against the 17th seed, Sara Errani, was commendable as she turned the match on its head to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. From then, the draw opened up and Gasparyan took advantage in beating Kurumi Nara and Yulia Putintseva in straight sets.
Past Experience
Williams is arguably regarded as the greatest female tennis player of all time. The 34-year-old has won 69 WTA titles, including 21 Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal. If she wins here in Melbourne, she will equal Steffi Graf's 'Open Era' record for the most Grand Slam singles titles and put herself only two behind Margaret Court for the most all time. She's won this event six times in the past (tied for second most in the events history), the chances of her equaling the record are very high.
It's no surprise that Gasparyan's career highlights are eclipsed. The 21-year-old has won one WTA title in Baku last year and finished the year ranked 58, a career-high. This is her maiden Australian Open after failing to win a match in her main draw debuts at the French Open and Wimbledon last year.
Head-to-Head
Strangely enough, one of those two defeats for Gasparyan came at the hands of the world number 1 at Wimbledon 2015. Gasparyan took an early break lead to give Williams a cause for concern before the American finally found her feet to ride home 6-4, 6-1.
Unlike that match, this is played on hard courts where a players serve isn't quite as dominant. Still, Williams will look to do as she has always done and overwhelm her opponent in every sense with her power. The biggest issue for Williams is managing her own nerves and lofty expectations.
Gasparyan has to simply enjoy the opportunity. The current world number 58 will undoubtedly have a new career high after the tournament and should play the match as if she has nothing to lose (which she doesn't). As one of the few women on the WTA with a one handed backhand, the Russian should use the natural variety this brings to try and mix up the rhythm of play and just enjoy herself.
Prediction: Serena Williams in straight sets