New Delhi: Rafael Nadal has played like a world number one so far in Melbourne steamrolling each of his first four opponents without dropping a single set. But Giles Simon could be a tricky match up for the French open and Wimbledon champion.
"I am playing well, but you never know if gonna be enough. So I hope continuing play like this, and later we will see, because all the matches are very, very difficult. Next match going to be very tough. I have to be ready for everything," says Nadal.
Jo Wilfred Tsonga had a dream run last year in Melbourne reaching the final before falling to Djokovic so against Fernando Verdasco he starts favourite. But the Spaniard has sent the bookies' favourite, Andy Murray packing. Therefore, Tsonga has his hands full.
"Fernando played very well at the beginning of the season. I think I will be healthy. So I will do my best and we'll see after the results. But I know Fernando is a really good player. He won Davis Cup last year. And I think since that he's very confident in his game and it's gonna be hard,” says Tsonga.
In the women's draw second seed Serena Williams has blown hot and cold so far but she has 9 grand slams to her name and knows how to win big matches. Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova won't be a pushover though, having won a slam herself in the past.
"I haven't played her that much in my career, but we've played a couple times. She's a good player, obviously. Gets a ton of balls back. She's extremely strong. I think we have a similar game. I think it will obviously be a great match," says Serena.
And here's the match to keep tabs on.. Another Russian Elena Dementieva takes on giant killer Carla Suarez Navarro for a place in the semifinals. Navarro knocked Venus Williams out, but Olympic gold medalist Dementieva is in the form of her life.
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