By Jake Davies
- Novak Djokovic [14] vs Hyeon Chung
- Caroline Garcia [8] vs Madison Keys [17]
- Tomas Berdych [19] vs Fabio Fognini [25]
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – The second Monday sees the last of the fourth round matches and will set up the quarter-final line-ups. Who are our ones to watch?
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Novak Djokovic [14] vs Hyeon Chung H2H: Djokovic leads 1-0
Novak Djokovic’s first Grand Slam back, after pulling out of last year’s US Open, has gone exactly the way he would have wanted. He has not expended a great deal of energy. He has waltzed into the fourth round with relative ease, even if the conditions were absolutely brutal in his second round match against Gael Monfils, but he will be optimistic about his progress and the fact that he can make a real push for yet another Grand Slam title.
Djokovic’s fourth round opponent is Hyeon Chung. Chung’s game mirrors Djokovic in many ways. The backhand is of rich quality and can hurt any opponent, just like the Serbian, and Chung likes to be extract unforced errors from the back of the court, which is what Djokovic does so well. I think the difference in this matchup will be Djokovic’s ability to take the match to Chung when the push comes to shove. Chung is new at this level at a major and he is very much playing one of the game’s best.
Prediction: Djokovic in four sets
Madison Keys [17] vs Caroline Garcia [8] H2H: Tied at 1-1
The pick of the women’s matches is US Open finalist Madison Keys against France’s Caroline Garcia. It should be a fascinating showdown. Both have come through different kinds of adversity to get where they are. Keys requiring surgery on her wrist before getting her best ever slam result, while Garcia has struggled with confidence and trust in her game until her 2017 breakout year. I think the winner of this match is the winner of the battle between Keys’ serve and Garcia’s return. Garcia likes to take her returns well inside the baseline. She will miss many, but she will also make some. That’s the nature of her game. The question is whether Keys can shut out that aspect of Garcia’s game and get the win.
Prediction: Keys in two sets
Tomas Berdych [19] vs Fabio Fognini [25] H2H: Tied at 2-2
There is quite a buzz around Tomas Berdych over this fortnight in Melbourne. He’s gaining confidence and he is winning matches against top players, which is something people criticise the Czech for not doing enough. Winning the unlikely matches. He got that big win over Juan Martin Del Potro and now faces Fabio Fognini for a spot in the quarter-final, with a possible opportunity of facing Roger Federer next.
I think Fognini has way too many mental lapses to stage a big win in this match. Berdych has his moments, but will carry on his impressive form from the previous three rounds.
Prediction: Berdych in five sets
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