AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2015. THE ANALYSIS AND LI NA´s PREDICTION

First quarter

The match of the top quarter will undoubtedly be Victoria Azarenka v Sloane Stephens. Azarenka enters this year’s Australian Open with two Daphne Akhurst trophies to her name, but no seeding, the first time since 2007 that she has entered a Grand Slam not in the top 32. Stephens, meanwhile, has been struggling for momentum ever since her breakthrough tournament on these courts two years ago, storming her way to the semifinals in a blur of youthful confidence. It will be the pair’s third meeting, for the third year in a row, at Melbourne Park. Azarenka beat Stephens in an infamous semi in 2013, and again in the fourth round last year.

Others to watch are Caroline Wozniacki (8) against the precocious Taylor Townsend, of whom much is thought. Wozniacki has been nursing an injured wrist, but it is likely that her superior experience will be too much for the young American, as it was when they met in the fourth round in Auckland just last week.

Dominika Cibulkova (11), last year’s finalist, against Kirsten Flipkens is also worth a look. They are tied in their head-to-head 2-2, but this will be their first major meeting.

Li Na’s quarterfinal prediction? Serena Williams v too-hard-to-choose.

Second quarter

The Australians aside, there are three names which jump out of this quarter. Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova (4), looking to improve on reaching the semifinals here in 2012, starts with a qualifier, while Venus Williams (18), in the midst of yet another resurgence of form, plays Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor, whom she beat in the first round at Wimbledon last year, their only previous meeting. Agnieszka Radwanska (4), with new coach Martina Navratilova in tow, has a rather tougher task against the very lively Kurumi Nara of Japan. The Pole will need to repeat their first meeting, a straight sets win in Cincinnati last year, to keep alive her hopes of breaking her Grand Slam duck. The other one to watch will be Donna Vekic versus Mona Barthel. In a battle of rising star against former rising star, it’s up for discussion which player needs the win more.

As for the Australians, they are fortunate not to be meeting any seeded players, but Sam Stosur (20) has the always tricky Monica Niculescu, Casey Dellacqua (29) the experienced Yvonne Meusburger, and Alja Tomljanovic probably the easiest of the three, against Shelby Rogers.

Li Na’s quarterfinal prediction? Petra Kvitova v Venus Williams.

Third quarter

Of the two highest seeds, Ana Ivanovic (5) will have a much easier go of things against a qualifier than Simona Halep (3), who meets the in-form Karin Knapp.

The player many will be curious to see will be Belinda Bencic (32), the young Swiss who announced herself here last year with a run from qualifying to the second round. She will have to get past a player who was once much-hyped in Julia Goerges. Meanwhile Karolina Pliskova (22), another in-form young gun, will have high hopes of a good two weeks when she lines up against a qualifier. Australian Jarmila Gajdosova, said to be in excellent shape, plays Alexandra Dulgheru.

And finally, Sabine Lisicki (28) v Kristina Mladenovic could prove interesting. Lisicki is still to catch fire at the majors outside Wimbledon. Could 2015 finally be her time? She leads their head-to-head 2-0.

Li Na’s quarterfinal prediction? Ana Ivanovic v Simona Halep

Fourth quarter

They say the most challenging year for a player is the year after making the breakthrough. So Eugenie Bouchard (7) will certainly be feeling the heat when she steps on court to play little-known Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany. Bouchard is viewed by many as a certain future Grand Slam champion. The question is whether 2015 will be too soon for her to climb that last hurdle.

Young meets old in the match-up between Svetlana Kuznetsova (27) and Caroline Garcia, once dubbed a future world No.1 by Andy Murray, and 17-year-old Ana Konjuh will be looking to repeat her first-round win here last year, on her Grand Slam debut, when she takes on Magdalena Rybarikova. Like their compatriots in the top half, Australians Daria Gavrilova and Arina Rodionova both have unseeded opponents in Kiki Bertens and Monica Puig respectively, and Maria Sharapova, as we know, meets a qualifier.

Li Na’s quarterfinal prediction? Eugenie Bouchard v Maria Sharapova