Seeds Tumble On Day 6
[2] Karolina Pliskova CZE) could not get by the resurgent Russian. [30] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is looking to get to her second consecutive Australian Open quarterfinal, and she is one step closer with the 7-6(4), 7-6(3) defeat of the number two seed.
[5] Elina Svitolina (UKR) lost 1-6, 2-6 to [32] Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
[6] Belinda Bencic (SUI) lost 0-6, 1-6 to [28] Anett Kontaveit (EST).
[11] David Goffin (BEL) fell to the red-hot Russian, [17] Andrey Rublev, 6-2, 6-7(3), 4-6, 6-7(4).
[16] Karen Khachanov (RUS) lost a thrilling five-setter 2-6, 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 7-6(7), 6-7(8) to [23] Nick Kyrgios (AUS).
[19] Donna Vekic (CRO) fell to the eighteen-year-old Polish player, [56] Iga Swiatek 5-7, 3-6.
Tough Day For The Americans
[19] John Isner lost 4-6, 1-4 RET to [15] Stan Wawrinka (SUI).
[29] Taylor Fritz lost 2-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 4-6 to [5] Dominic Thiem (AUT).
[PR44] Catherine Bellis lost 1-6, 7-6(5), 0-6 to [16] Elise Mertens (BEL).
Nadal Still On Course For 20
[1] Rafael Nadal (ESP) dispatched of his fellow countryman, [27] Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Things do not get any easier for the number one seed; he will face off against his nemesis, [23] Nick Kyrgios (AUS), in the next round. Nadal leads their head-to-head 4:3. Their matches can be straightforward affairs or extremely grueling depending on which Kyrgios shows up. I expect the Aussie will bring his best game to this encounter; thus, the Spaniard will have a very tough battle on his hands.
Americans Still Going Strong In Singles
[100] Tennys Sandgren is the sole American man remaining in the singles draw and he will have a dogfight on his hands against [12] Fabio Fognini (ITA) in the next round. The American managed to defeat the Italian in their last encounter, which was on grass last year at Wimbledon; however, they have never met on hard court.
There are three American women left in the singles draw and unfortunately for them, they are all in the top half of the draw. [18] Alison Riske will have her hands full against Australian darling, [1] Ashleigh Barty, in the next round and [14] Sofia Kenin will face fellow countrywoman, [67] Cori Gauff in the next round.
SOURCE OF IMAGES: serveandrally originals
