There is no doubt that the matches on the schedule for Day 6 are the best of the tournament so far.  There are some showcase clashes in both the men’s and women’s draws… and it’s the weekend woohoo! Wozniacki v Muguruza is the most interesting match of the week in my opinion so please do vote in the poll.  I really want to know what everyone thinks!

Poll Results: 63% correctly went for Ivanovic to beat Stosur in tonight’s showcase match on the Rod Laver Arena.

TFF Dream Team scores so far: AO-EK leads the Moo’s Tennis Blog mini-league.  I am in second place and my brother is third!

Day 5 was a much quieter affair with just two seedings upsets on the men’s side.  Tommy Robredo has now reached the last 16 at three of his last four Grand Slams.  I was surprised about his win over Richard Gasquet in 4 sets.  I wasn’t so shocked though to see Jerzy Janowicz fall, who in truth, had been very fortunate to get to the third round.  Florian Mayer beat Janowicz in three sets and sets up an enticing tie with David Ferrer, who he defeated at the back end of 2013 in Shanghai.

There was nearly the biggest shock of the tournament so far in the women’s draw, but for a couple of centimetres, Na Li hung on.  Her opponent today, Lucie Safarova, had a match point in the second set of their third round clash, but was unable to convert as Li overcame a mighty scare to win 1-6 7-6 6-3.  Li now takes on the Bourne GOAT, Ekaterina Makarova, who has reached the 4th round or better at her last 4 appearances in Melbourne.

1. Caroline Wozniacki v Garbine Muguruza (Women’s, R3)

Caroline Wozniacki

Saturday’s blockbuster match on the ladies side will see former world number one, Caroline Wozniacki take on the in-form Hobart champion, Garbine Muguruza.  Wozniacki was taken to three sets in her second rounder with Christina McHale, but eventually prevailed under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena in a typically crazy WTA scoreline, 6-0 1-6 6-2.  Muguruza overcame Kaia Kanepi in the first round, a match that caused me the most headaches in trying to predict when the draw first came out.  She won her TENTH consecutive match with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Anna Schmiedlova in the second round.

There are so many different thoughts that have been going through my head with this match-up and I remain firmly on the fence.  Muguruza has bags of confidence and a win over Wozniacki to her name, beating the Dane in Miami last year, 6-2 6-4.  On the other hand, Muguruza has played a lot of tennis and is bound to be tired… just look at Tsvetana Pironkova.  As well, Wozniacki had played a gruelling week in Indian Wells last year making the final, which may have explained that loss in Miami.  Wozniacki should not be underestimated.  She hasn’t had a great deal of matches this year, but she remains a tough competitor, who can cope well in these steamy hot conditions.  I thought I would be backing Muguruza as I often go for the underdog; however for one reason or another, I think Wozniacki has the marginal edge.

Prediction: Wozniacki to beat Muguruza in 3 sets

2. Milos Raonic v Grigor Dimitrov (Men’s, R3)

Grigor Dimitrov

This third round match between two of the most talked about talents on the ATP tour, Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic, holds extra importance with the number 5 seed, Juan Martin del Potro now out of this section.  Dimitrov and Raonic along with Roberto Bautista-Agut and Benoit Paire have a chance to break new ground with one of the four destined to reach a first ever Grand Slam quarter-final.  I was very impressed with Dimitrov on Thursday as he overcame an in-form opponent in Yen-Hsun Lu to come through in three straight sets, 6-3 6-3 7-6(11).  Raonic also had a tiebreak that required him to win 13 points as he won in straight sets against Victor Hanescu in his second round match.

Raonic and Dimitrov are tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head.  Dimitrov won their last match on the fast courts of Brisbane in 2013, 6-3 6-4.  Neither player has played particularly well at the Grand Slams; Raonic is 0-4 in 4th round Grand Slam matches, meanwhile Dimitrov has never been past the 3rd round.  Colour me a fool, but I think Dimitrov is going to win this match.

Prediction: Dimitrov to beat Raonic in 4 sets

3. Rafael Nadal v Gael Monfils (Men’s, R3)

A repeat of this year’s Doha final  on Saturday will see Rafael Nadal face his first challenge of the week against the wild, wacky and wonderful, Gael Monfils.  The Frenchman has done extremely well so far this week with two, yes TWO convincing straight set wins where no dramas were had.  He has defeated two Americans, Ryan Harrison (6-4 6-4 6-4) and Jack Sock (7-6 7-5 6-2).  Nadal has played two Australians and although Thanasi Kokkinakis gave a very respectable account of himself in the second round, Nadal was always too good.

Monfils has recorded a couple of wins over Nadal with both coming in Doha and he did push their final two weeks ago to three sets.  There feels something different about Monfils this year.  He appears to be injury free and playing solid and consistently.  Unlike many players, there is a switch inside him, which he can flick that allows him to go up several levels on the court.  I have a feeling we could see it for a set or two on Saturday.  Nadal to edge through…

Prediction: Nadal to beat Monfils in 4 sets

4. Maria Sharapova v Alize Cornet (Women’s, R3)

Thursday saw Maria Sharapova stretched to the limit by both the weather conditions and her opponent.  The Russian world number three needed three sets and, three hours and 28 minutes to overcome a terrific effort from Karin Knapp, 6-3 4-6 10-8.  She now faces another dogged competitor in Alize Cornet.  A few of you seemed to pick up on my prediction of Cornet to beat Camila Giorgi in three dramatic sets and if her celebration were anything to go by, I think it called it well!

Cornet has definitely divided opinions with her dramatic on-court displays.  She is often seen screaming, sobbing and generally making a bit of a scene.  However I will put myself out there and say I like Alize.  I love her fight on the tennis court and she has a great deal of intensity about her.  Yes, she’s dramatic, but boy is she entertaining to watch.  She has got her belief back after several years of looking lost on the court and I believe she has what it takes to give Sharapova another rough ride.

Prediction: Sharapova to beat Cornet in 3 sets

There are some brilliant Cornet moments out there, but this still makes me laugh out loud…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GzcpGCEFPs

Women’s 3rd Round AO Predictions

Jelena Jankovic to beat Kurumi Nara in 2 sets

Simona Halep to beat Zarina Diyas in 2 sets

Carla Suarez Navarro to beat Dominika Cibulkova in 3 sets

Agnieszka Radwanska to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in 3 sets

Sloane Stephens to beat Elina Svitolina in 2 tight sets

Victoria Azarenka to beat Yvonne Meusburger in 2 sets

Men’s 3rd Round AO Predictions

Kei Nishikori to beat Donald Young in 4 sets

Roberto Bautista-Agut to beat Benoit Paire in 5 sets

Andy Murray to beat Feliciano Lopez in 3 sets

Stephane Robert to beat Martin Klizan in 5 sets

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to beat Gilles Simon in 3 sets (surely?)

Roger Federer to dance past Teymuraz Gabashvili in 3 sets