Can Margarita Gasparyan cause a massive upset by defeating Serena Williams or will the world No.1 make her way through to the quarter-finals? Join The Roar for live scores from around 12:30pm (AEDT).
Serena Williams has gotten the ball rolling in 2016 having not played since last year’s US Open in which she crashed out during the semi-finals at the hands of runner-up Roberta Vinci.
After withdrawing from the Hopman Cup, Williams is finally back and the world No.1 will be hoping she can fight her way through to claim her seventh title at Melbourne Park.
So far the American has knocked off world No.36 Camila Giorgi in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 during the first round, Su-Wei Hsieh in the second round 6-1, 6-2 and Russian world No.69 Daria Kasatkina during the third round 6-1, 6-1.
Her fourth round opponent Margarita Gasparyan isn’t exactly tough however Williams will find the Russian to be more challenging than her second and third round opponents.
The six-time Australian Open champion is the heavy favourite to win, however, with so many top seeds having already been sent home, anything is possible.
Margarita Gasparyan has experienced her best grand slam to date having breezed through to the fourth round after a string of convincing wins.
Since defeating world No.19 Sara Errani during the first round in a three set match 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 the Russian world No.58 has seemed almost unstoppable getting back-to-back wins in straight sets over Kurumi Nara 6-4, 6-4 and Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-4.
Gasparyan must now step up considerably with Serena Williams posing a major challenge for the 21-year old. She must ensure that Williams does not break serve at any stage of the match and take every possible point as it comes.
Margarita Gasparyan certainly faces an uphill battle however, if she can pull through against Williams it will without doubt be seen as a great triumph.
The pair have played just once before during the first round of last year’s Wimbledon with Williams winning in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, in a tournament which she went on to win. They have never met on hard court.
The winner takes on either 12th seed young gun Belinda Bencic or 2008 champion and fifth seed Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals.
Prediction
Serena Williams will continue her run toward a second straight title at Melbourne Park, cruising through in straight sets to earn a quarter-final berth.
Williams in straight sets.
Join The Roar for live scores from around 12:30pm (AEDT) following the completion of Belinda Bencic and Maria Sharapova, and drop a comment in the box below if you’re watching the match.
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