1) Novak Continues Pursuit Of History
Entering the fortnight, both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer began their pursuit of history in Melbourne. Djokovic, Federer and Aussie great Roy Emerson each own six Australian Open titles, tied for the tournament record.
But with Federer eliminated in the fourth round by Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic is the lone player remaining with a chance to earn his seventh trophy at the year’s first Grand Slam. The 31-year-old can also break a tie with Pete Sampras for the third-most major titles in the Open Era, as they are knotted at 14 apiece.
Djokovic will focus on the challenges in front of him before thinking of glory, though, as he clashes with eighth seed Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals. The Serbian owns a 15-2 FedEx ATP Head2Head series lead against the Japanese star, also defeating Nishikori in the last eight of the Australian Open three years ago in straight sets. Djokovic’s last loss against him came in the semi-finals of the 2014 US Open.
2) Rafa Pushes To Complete Dream Comeback
Before arriving at Melbourne Park, Rafael Nadal’s most recent match came at last year’s US Open, where the Spaniard retired after two sets of his semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro. Inevitably, there were questions regarding the 2009 champion’s status entering the Australian Open, but the left-hander has put all of those questions to rest.
Nadal has been sharp in every match so far this fortnight. Not only is he the only player who has not dropped a set, but he has been pushed to just one tie-break. Sydney champion Alex de Minaur and former World No. 4 Tomas Berdych both took momentum into matches against Nadal in the past two rounds, but Nadal dropped a total of 13 games in the six sets he played against them.
The second seed next takes on first-time major quarter-finalist Frances Tiafoe of the United States. Only one player ranked as low as World No. 39 Tiafoe has ousted Nadal at the Australian Open, and that was former Top 10 player Fernando Verdasco (then No. 45) in the first round three years ago. Nadal has also claimed 20 straight matches against Americans at the majors.
If Nadal moves past Tiafoe and eventually wins the title, it would be 18th Grand Slam championship, bringing him to within two of Federer’s Open Era record. How about that for the World No. 2’s first tournament in more than four months?
3) Stefanos Tries To Step Into The Sun
Reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas had proven himself before arriving at the Australian Open. Last year, the Greek beat four Top 10 players, including Djokovic, to reach the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto.
But defeating six-time champion Roger Federer to advance to the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time may have been the biggest win of Tsitsipas’ career. The 20-year-old now plays Doha champion Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the last four in Melbourne.
Tsitsipas would be the youngest man to make the last four of a major since Andy Roddick did so in Australia 16 years ago. He’d be the youngest man to advance to the semi-finals of any Slam since Djokovic at the 2017 US Open. And furthermore, the Greek can guarantee that he will crack the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time on 28 January if he battles into his maiden major final.
4) Tiafoe Tries To Maintain Melbourne Magic
#NextGenATP American Frances Tiafoe had reached the third round of a Grand Slam just once in 11 previous tries before this Australian Open. But Tiafoe is the youngest American to make the last eight at this tournament since Roddick in 2003. The run will send him soaring into the Top 30 of the ATP Rankings for the first time next Monday.
But with that being said, Tiafoe is not done yet. And he hopes to earn his first Top 5 victory against Nadal on Tuesday evening. He could become the youngest man to reach a Slam semi-final since Juan Martin del Potro was 20 years old at the 2009 US Open.
If Tiafoe stuns Nadal, suddenly he would face Tsitsipas or Bautista Agut to make a major final. But the American is focused on the player in front of him, who he touted as one of the best to ever play the sport. But before departing the court after defeating 2017 Nitto ATP Finals semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round, Tiafoe showed that he does not fear playing Nadal; he’s ready to embrace the challenge.
“He better get ready,” Tiafoe said, cracking a smile.
5) Bryan Brothers Pursue Trophy In First Slam Back
Mike Bryan is the No. 1 player in the ATP Doubles Rankings, winning Wimbledon, the US Open and the Nitto ATP Finals last year with Jack Sock. But his usual partner, twin brother Bob Bryan, underwent hip surgery last August to deal with an injury he suffered in the Mutua Madrid Open final earlier in the year.
So could Bob Bryan possibly return in peak form just five months after major surgery? The results speak for themselves. Bryan/Bryan are into the quarter-finals, three matches from extending their record number of Australian Open titles to seven.
The fourth seeds play reigning Roland Garros titlists Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut next, against whom they have won just one of six FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings. But if Bryan/Bryan continue their momentum to eventually claim their 17th major title, it will certainly be a run that nobody will soon forget.
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