Friday’s night match will feature a second match-up this year between Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka.  Preceding the Wawrinka-Nadal quarter-final, this is a night session schedule that I can get on board with! Sharapova enjoyed a solid win over Bojana Jovanovski in the third round, 6-3 6-3.  The Russian world number three was a break down in the first set and had her serve broken on three occasions, but this was still a reasonably straightforward match.

Azarenka was tested against Irina-Camelia Begu in an excellent third round match.  There was little to separate the pair in the first set with Azarenka a touch more consistent and proactive.  Begu stayed with Azarenka all during the set and when Azarenka came to serve for the match, the Romanian player found another level.  Azarenka’s level dipped slightly, but this was mostly about Begu.  Azarenka quickly went down *5-6 *15-40; she saved the first set point with a superbly constructed point, but was beaten out on the next by a net cord.  Azarenka settled again in the third as Begu failed to maintain her high level at the end of the second set.  Azarenka dropped just four points on her serve in the decider, powering through with a minor blip, 6-4 5-7 6-1.

Sharapova and Azarenka are tied at 7-7 in their head-to-head; Sharapova has won their last three matches including a 6-4 6-3 victory at Indian Wells earlier this year.  Azarenka had her opportunities in the first set of that match and had a game point to lead to 5-3.  Azarenka is slowly getting there; there have been some wobbles this week, but a quarter-final showing without a seeding has already been a successful week.  Despite failing to serve out the match on Thursday night, it was a decent performance from Azarenka against a spirited opponent.  Based on how their weeks have gone, Sharapova will be the fresher of the pair.  The Russian player has a 3-0 head-to-head lead in clay court encounters (one was via retirement) and I think she will extend that on Friday night….

Prediction: Sharapova d. Azarenka in 2 tight sets

ATP Rome quarter-final predictions

Novak Djokovic d. Kei Nishikori in 2 sets

David Ferrer d. David Goffin in 2 sets

Rafael Nadal d. Stan Wawrinka in 2 sets

Roger Federer d. Tomas Berdych in 3 sets *Tempted to go for Tomas but lost my nerve*