Australian Open 2020 Quarterfinals Predictions

With Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic setting up the first semifinal clash at Australian Open 2020, the contenders for the second semi-finals are yet to be decided. With two former champions and two NextGens players remaining in the draw, it will be interesting to see the two players who make it to the last-four round on the men’s side.

On the WTA courts, Ashleigh Barty and Sofia Kenin will contest one of the semifinals. With the other remaining players in the quarters, the women’s game awaits a new Australian Open champion this year.

Australian Open 2020 Quarterfinals – Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem

The legendary clay-courter Rafael Nadal will take on the NextGen clay specialist Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals of Australian Open 2020. The duo has previously met 13 times in their careers. Surprisingly they have met just once on the hardcourt.

The meeting took place at the quarterfinals of US Open 2018. That encounter turned out to be one of the pop-corn matches of the year, with Rafa pulling off a 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(4), 7-6(5) win over Thiem.

World Number one Nadal is the defending finalist in Melbourne, he has made it to Aussie Open finals four times in his career. Also, the Spaniard was the champion in 2009. In 2019, Thiem reached the second round of the tournament and for the Austrian, it’s his first quarterfinals at Australian Open.

Keeping Nadal’s form in mind, Thiem won’t be on the back foot on the Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. He achieved consecutive victories over Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at ATP Tour Finals 2019.

Last year, he bounced back from a set deficit to beat Federer at Indian Wells. Also, he snapped Djokovic’s 26-major match winning streak at Roland Garros. He also defeated Rafa in Barcelona.

Considering the above points, the result can go either way. World Number five Thiem would definitely be a threat to Nadal. However, the Spaniard’s experience and prowess can turn around the match.

Australian Open 2020 Quarterfinals – Stan Wawrinka vs Alexander Zverev

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka is through to his second straight quarterfinals at majors. The Swiss will play against the NextGen player Alexander Zverev who will be playing his first-ever quarterfinals at Aussie Open.

Wawrinka and Zverev have met twice. Their previous meeting was held on the hard courts of St. Petersburg and Miami, and both the times Sascha outplayed the Swiss veteran.

In Melbourne, Zverev has had a smooth run so far. The German is yet to drop a set in the tournament. The 15th seed Wawrinka has played some long matches against Daniil Medvedev and Andreas Seppi, and Zverev will be a tough test for Wawrinka.

Sascha Zverev has bright chances to earn his first-ever Grand Slam semifinal niche after clinching a victory against the 2014 champion Wawrinka on Wednesday.

Australian Open 2020 Quarterfinals – Simona Halep vs Anett Kontaveit

Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep will play against the Estonian Anett Kontaveit. Halep has won both their previous matches in straights sets. In Melbourne, Halep was the finalist in 2018 and her championship match against Caroline Wozniacki is a match to remember in the women’s game.

The Romanian outdoes Kontaveit in the aspects of her Grand Slam achievements. Halep will be a challenge of the debutant major quarterfinalist Kontaveit. Probably, Halep can make a straight-set journey to the semifinals of Melbourne major.

However, women’s game is a bit unpredictable relative to the men’s, Kontaveit does have the chances to turn around the tables.

Australian Open 2020 Quarterfinals – Garbine Muguruza vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Another two-time major champion Garbine Muguruza will be in action in the quarterfinals of Melbourne. She will play against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who has previously reached two quarterfinals in Melbourne.

It’s Muguruza’s second quarterfinals in Melbourne, after having a poor run on the WTA circuit in 2019, the Spaniard managed to defeat Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens at Australian Open 2020. The Russian Pavlyuchenkova dispatched Karolina Pliskova and Angelique Kerber in Melbourne.

The duo has met five times on the WTA track and Muguruza has lost one of their meetings. In the quarterfinals, the Spaniard is considered as the favorite to reserve the semifinal spot in the Victorian capital.