The quarter-finals of the 2024 Australian Open are set. With the top six players in the world still in contention for the title.
For the first time since the 2019 French Open, there is a chance that the top four seeds will make up the semi-final places at a Grand Slam.
Can Djokovic retain the title yet again, or will one of the young challengers snatch away his crown?
Here are our Australian Open quarter-final predictions.
Novak Djokovic (1) vs Taylor Fritz (12)
Ten-time defending Champion Novak Djokovic kicks off the quarter-finals when he takes on the big-serving American Taylor Fritz in the early hours of Tuesday morning for UK viewers.
The pair met at the same venue three years ago, with Djokovic winning a five-set epic.
Fritz hit 24 aces in that match, and his serve will have to be on similar form this time round if he is to challenge the imperious Djokovic.
After dropping sets in his first two matches, people started to wonder whether this may be the year Djokovic’s astonishing run in Melbourne comes to an end (the Serb hasn’t lost in Australia since 2018). But since then, destructions of Etcheverry and Mannarino have reminded us all that beating Djokovic in Australia is still as difficult as ever.
Despite an excellent performance against Tsitsipas in round 4, Fritz will ultimately find Djokovic’s relentless pressure too much to handle. Although he may win a set, expect Djokovic to pass through with relative ease.
Djokovic in Four.
Jannik Sinner (4) vs Andrey Rublev (5)
Probably the most in-form player in the world over the last few months, Jannik Sinner will be looking to cash in on the impressive form shown at the back end of 2023 and win the Australian Open.
His opponent in the quarter-finals will be Andrey Rublev, a man who knows this stage of a Grand Slam all too well. Rublev has now made the quarter-finals of Grand Slams on ten occasions, having never made it past this stage.
He will have a tough time of it against Sinner, a man who he has only ever beaten from retirements. Rublev has already had to come through two gruelling five set matches in Melbourne, including the last round against Alex De Minaur. Sinner by comparison is the only man left in the draw not to have dropped a set.
It will be a tough task for Rublev to conquer the imposing Italian, who looks destined for Grand Slam glory in 2024. Sinner will likely have too much for Rublev who will fall at yet another quarter-final.
Sinner in three.
Hubert Hurkacz (9) vs Daniil Medvedev (3)
Hubert Hurkacz and Daniil Medvedev haven’t played each other since June 2022, but their clash of styles promises to produce perhaps the most enthralling quarter-final of the lot.
Hurkacz is renowned for having one of the best serves on tour, while Medvedev’s return of serve is second perhaps only to Djokovic.
Hurkacz has the edge on their head-to-head, but the pair have only met once at a Grand Slam, at Wimbledon 2021, which saw Hurkacz triumph in five.
We could well be in for another five-set thriller this time round, but I think I lean slightly more towards Hurkacz to get the job done.
Hurkacz in five.
Alexander Zverev (6) vs Carlos Alcaraz (2)
Probably the most eagerly anticipated of the four quarter-finals sees Alexander Zverev try to upset Carlos Alcaraz.
Once upon a time it was Zverev who was seen as the heir apparent to Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal, but a mixture of injuries and off the court instances have seen Zverev’s career stall while the likes of Alcaraz have come out of the blocks at a rate of knots.
With a lethal combination of big serving and heavy ground strokes, on his day Zverev is capable of beating anyone on tour. But Alcaraz isn’t just anybody.
The young Spaniard has looked at his devastating best in his last few matches, with his style seemingly suited to the Australian Open courts.
If Djokovic has proved one thing, it’s that court coverage and endurance are the main things required to succeed in Australia, and Alcaraz has both in abundance.
Alcaraz seems to have gotten better and better as the tournament has progressed, and I expect him to get the job done against Zverev.
Alcaraz in three.
Predicted Semi-final clashes
Djokovic vs Sinner
Alcaraz vs Hurkacz
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