So what did we learn from day three of the Australian Open? We learnt that Sam Stosur still hasn't made improvements in her mentality. Leading 5-2 in the final set against Jie Zheng she lost five games in a row to again lose early in Melbourne. It will take a monumental effort for anyone to beat Novak Djokovic. He was sensational again last night against Ryan Harrison and is in ominous form. Finally, don't get Jerzy Janowicz mad on court. He lost the plot completely last night at a line call and in the next two sets he lost just one game and is still alive and dangerous in the men's draw. So on to today's action and let's see what the matches worth watching are tonight.
Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams both had convincing wins in the first round and I think both will enjoy similar success tonight especially after yet another 6-0 6-0 win for Maria Sharapova last night. Williams also has the chance to get two successive love and love wins and few would back against her doingit again tonight against Garbine Muguruza. Vika had a patch in the last match where she wasn't at her best but she was never in any danger of losing. She faces Elina Daniilidou and should come through with ease. Results: Williams and Azarenka both to win in two short sets.
Nikolay Davydenko was at his vintage best in Doha this year and is due another big run at a Grand Slam. In his way of continuing his form is Roger Federer who was also impressive in his first match of the year on Tuesday. This match could be the game of the first week. If Davydenko plays at the level we saw a few weeks ago then this match could be close. Federer has a massive head to head lead but I think he will be pushed hard here. I'd like to say Davydenko but I'm going to go with Federer in four or five sets.
Petra Kvitova may not have been at her brilliant best but the fact that she won is a positive step for her. These courts and conditions are suited to her game and if she can find some confidence then she becomes a major contender here. She faces Laura Robson today in what should be a decent match. I don't think Robson was too impressive against Oudin Tuesday and her serve was suspect at times. Her poor movement will be exposed against better players. If Kvitova plays like she has the last few months then Robson has a shot. If she is anywhere near her best then she wins this in two.
Su-Wei Hsieh has risen through the rankings impressively in the past year or so but she faces a very stiff test from the unseeded Svetlana Kuznetsova tonight. Kuznetsova is a very dangerous player and let's not forget she is a two time Grand Slam winner. She knows what it takes to win big tournaments and at 27 she is still young enough to win more. She has a powerful and consistent game that will see her compete with the likes of Williams and Azarenka. I like Hsieh and she is getting better but I'm going with Kuznetsova in two.
Milos Raonic was again disappointing in his opening match when he fell a set down but he recovered and when he did, man, did he show us what he can do. He has a huge fourth round meeting with Federer in store for him and in the past he has lost disappointingly to weaker opponents. This year has to be a big year for him or he could fall away. He faces Lukas Rosol who can be dangerous, just ask Rafa Nadal. This could be the biggest hitting match we've seen in a long time with two players who don't like being overpowered. Rosol has shown since Wimbledon he doesn't have the consistency to last on the tour and Raonic will expose him tonight.
In other men's games we should see wins Phillip Kohlschreiber, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet and I expect a comfortable win for Juan Martin Del Potro. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Andreas Seppi, Andy Murray, Bernard Tomic, Blaz Kavcic, Gael Monfils and Marin Cilic should all find themselves in round three. Three very close matches take place on outside courts today also. I expect Jarkko Nieminen to overcome Ivan Dodig, Ricardas Berankis to upset Florian Mayer and Jeremy Chardy to upset Marcel Granollers.
Maria Kirilenko should come through a close match with Shuai Peng in their second round clash, while I think fellow Russian, Elena Vesnina, won't have enough to beat Varvaro Lepchenko. Yanina Wickmayer won't be one to fall to an upset when she faces 19 year old Jana Cepelova, although I do think the young Slovak has a bright future. I think there will also be wins for Annika Beck, Lucie Safarova, Jamie Hampton, Shahar Peer, Lesia Tsurenko, Carla Suarez Navarro, Roberta Vinci, is a dangerous player and she should advance to round three tonight with ease.
The Hisense Arena plays host to a fascinating match between two players at different stages of their career. Caroline Wozniacki is starting to come back to the top of the game again after a rough 2011 and 2012 but she will know better than anyone that she was handed the match against Lisicki. The German threw that game away and she will need to be much better when she faces 16 year old Donna Vekic. Vekic is a real prospect and the Croatian is smashing down the door of the top 100. I rate her higher than the British girls, Laura Robson and Heather Watson, and many of the young American prospects already now, let alone in the future. Wozniacki is a consistent player and it will be a real test of Vekic to see if she has the patience to break her down. I have a feeling we could see a star born on Hisense tonight and Vekic will score a huge win. In terms of young prospects she is second only to Sloane Stephens, who I expect to win comfortably tonight also.
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