Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Murray and Konta Preview

All eyes will be on British duo Andy Murray and Johanna Konta as they aim for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals this Wednesday.
World No 2 Murray, a four times losing finalist in Melbourne, will continue his pursuit of a first Australian Open title when he takes on eighth seed David Ferrer in the quarter-final, while Konta gets set for the biggest match of her career when she faces Zhang Shuai.
Murray leads the head-to-head with Ferrer 12-6, and has mastered the 33-year-old in the last five meetings, but the Spaniard has been in dominant form and is the only player in the men's draw to reach the last eight without dropping a set.
Murray is unbeaten in five matches against Ferrer

Murray beat Ferrer fairly comfortably in four sets at the same stage of the French Open last year but the two-time major champion is yet to find his best form in Melbourne.
He admits off-court issues have taken their toll, which could make Ferrer's never-say-die attitude all the more exhausting.
Highlights of Murray v Ferrer at the 2015 ATP World Tour finals
Highlights of Murray v Ferrer at the 2015 ATP World Tour finals
"He obviously works extremely hard. He's in good shape. He fights so hard in every single match," Murray said.
"He's been rewarded for that with an unbelievably consistent career at the top of the game.
"This year he's made some changes to his racket as well, which would suggest that he's still trying to improve and trying to learn and do different things as well. All credit to him."
Johanna Konta is set for the biggest match of her career
Johanna Konta is set for the biggest match of her career
Konta, ranked 47th, will play Chinese qualifier Zhang, ranked 133rd, in a battle of the underdogs as they try to extend their incredible runs in Melbourne through to the semi-finals.
Konta's quarter-final appearance means that Britain has male and female representation in the last eight of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 1977.
The 24-year-old is the first British female quarter-finalist since 1984, when Jo Durie made the last four at Wimbledon.

Konta's remarkable rise

We take an in-depth look at British sensation Johanna Konta
"I think it's about becoming just very strong in that belief, that whatever happens, I can handle it. That's what you keep taking with you," Konta said.
"When you're able to relate back, when you think back to being in certain situations and you have little replays in your mind - I've been here, I've been in a similar situation - I guess you take comfort from that.
"No matter how uncomfortable or how hard or how difficult it gets, the more experiences you've had, the more you realise that practically you're going to survive it.
"You're going to get through it. You're going to handle it. You're going to deal with it the best you can at that given time."
Victoria Azarenka faces German Angelique Kerber
Victoria Azarenka faces German Angelique Kerber
In the other quarter-finals to be played on Wednesday, 14th seed Victoria Azarenkatakes on German Angelique Kerber who will be making her first appearance in the last eight.
Two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka has yet to drop a set in the tournament while Kerber will be looking to improve her record against Azarenka, whom she has not beaten in six attempts.
Meanwhile, Milos Raonic will get another chance to close the gap on the men's elite against explosive Frenchman Gael Monfilsin the other bottom-half quarter-final.
The world No 14 Raonic has turned heads in Australia, beating Roger Federer in the Brisbane International final and reaching the last eight in Melbourne thanks to his first ever win over fourth-ranked Stan Wawrinka.
Milos Raonic upset fourth-ranked Stan Wawrinka
Milos Raonic upset fourth-ranked Stan Wawrinka
Raonic said he found a new calm under his coach Carlos Moya, and fought back to eliminate the 2014 winner in five sets but he now faces a different challenge against the energetic Monfils.
Raonic, who is looking for his first win in three meetings, knows what he has to do to overcome the 23rd-seeded Frenchman.
"He's very entertaining and he's very difficult to play. He can give you complete ends of the spectrum within one game," Raonic said.
"So it's very much of an internal match for me. I just have to take the game to him. I have to make him feel uncomfortable. Not let him get into his sort of playing comfort.
"If I can keep up with the efficiency moving forward, I'll have definitely some opportunities."
Gael Monfils is wary of Raonic
Gael Monfils is wary of Raonic
Monfils, who cut and bruised himself with an acrobatic dive in the last round, is playing in his first Australian Open quarter-final and he has noticed a change in Raonic this year.
"Milos is in good form. Coming in with a win in Brisbane. As we know, a big serve," he said. "Actually, I think he has improved his movement a lot, hitting big from the baseline, and has a good return."
We will bring you all the news, views, reaction and opinion throughout the Australian Open.

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