Tennis: Test for Wawrinka, Murray and Djokovic hope for Australian Open joy
January 26, 2015
Murray doesn't want to spoil party
In the first of Tuesday's quarterfinals, Andy Murray will need to break the hearts of the local crowd when he takes on highly-rated Australian Nick Kyrgios. Two-time Grand Slam champion Murray recovered from early setbacks in his fourth round match to defeat Grigor Dmitrov over four sets.
But the prodigious Krygios has livened up the Melbourne crowd with his character and enthusiasm, as he immediately struck a chord with his home support in his five-set win over Andreas Seppi, the conqueror of 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer.
A three-time runner-up in Australia, Murray's upward curve in Tennis has only followed a period of dealing with overblown expectations, especially when he took part at his native Grand Slam at Wimbledon.
Kyrgios has similar circumstances in front of a bubbly home crowd and Murray sympathizes with the teenager.
"I'm not planning on trying to break anybody's hearts," said the Scot. "This is tennis. This is sport. All I'm trying to do is beat the guy on the other side of the net."
"That's just something that I'll have to deal with in my way," replied Murray when asked about the impact of a home crowd.
"I've played a lot of matches. I've played in French Open against French players where the crowd can be very difficult. I've experienced it before, so hopefully I'll deal with it well."
Krygios would become the first Australian to win his home Grand Slam since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
Stan faces US Open nemsis
Meanwhile, the Australian Open defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka has been content with downplaying his chances of repeating last year's feat, but in the quarterfinals he faces his toughest test yet against US Open finalist Kei Nishikori.
The Japanese rookie beat Wawrinka at Flushing Meadows last year at the same stage of the competition. Nishikori beat Djokovic in the semifinals to become the first Japanese player to reach a Grand Slam final, but lost out to Marin Cilic.
On facing the fifth-seed, "He's a tough, tough player," admitted Wawrinka. "He improved a lot last year. I played against him at the US Open, five-set match. He's a great shot maker.
"He can make winners. He's always takes the ball really early. It's always tough to play against him. He doesn't give you a lot of time."
Nadal buoyant after injuries
Elsewhere, Tomas Berdych will need to turnover a poor record against Rafael Nadal (18-3) to secure a place in the last-four when the pair meet on Tuesday.
Berdych prefers to forget their previous encounters, and focus on the here and now against the Spaniard who battled through the pain in the fourth round.
"Every slam is different. Every opponent, even if is the same one, then the match is different," said Berdych who was a semi-finalist last year.
"So, no. It's going to start from 0-0. That's how it is. No comparing with the past. Just trying to be in this time and looking forward to it.
"There is no question that he's one of the best of our sport, in all our eras of sport. But I'm just ready for it."
As injury threatened to take its toll on Nadal, the 14-time Grand Slam winner appeared reinvigorated when he beat Kevin Anderson on Sunday.
"The chance to be in the quarterfinals after a tough period of time for me is a fantastic result," Nadal said. "I was playing better than the days before. The way that I improved my level is not the most important thing; obviously the victory is."
Nadal, who won the Australian Open in 2009 and lost the finals in 2012 and last year, is coming off an extended injury layoff and says his fitness and condition is improving day-by-day.
Djokovic to face pal Raonic
Novak Djokovic sealed his 23rd consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final berth with a simple straight sets win over Luxemborg's Gilles Muller on Monday.
The Serbian top seed was happy to have dealt with the 42nd ranked big-serving left-hander, who pushed Djokovic all the way in the 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 match.
In progressing to yet another quarterfinal, Djokovic was able to book a clash with Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic.
The 27-year-old, who regularly practices with Raonic in Monaco where they both live, has been impressed by the tall Canadian's work in the tournament so far both on and off the court and knows he will be a dangerous opponent.
"He's been playing some great tennis in the last 15 months. He deserves to be where he is now, top 10, coming closer to top five in the world," added Djokovic who wants to take his eighth Grand Slam.
"He's a very disciplined player, always works out. Always spends a lot of time in the gym, off the court, preparing himself for tough battles."
rd/apc (AFP, Reuters)