The editors of TENNIS.com preview all eight Australian Open quarterfinals.
What Sharapova needs to do to win:
Sharapova should seek to impose her immense power advantage and smack fierce, flat drives with aggression to force the Grand Slam quarterfinal debutante on the defensive. The No. 4 seed and 2008 Aussie Open champ is averaging six service breaks per match, and if she maintains her punishing returning game, she will win.
What Makarova needs to do to win:
The lowest-ranked woman still standing can't become overwhelmed by the moment, and must take her chances—as she did in her shocking straight-sets dismissal of five-time champ Serena Williams—to make this match interesting. The 56th-ranked left-hander should try to tie her tall opponent up with body serves, drive her shots down the line, and try to draw Sharapova to net, where she’s most vulnerable.
The Pick:
Sharapova in two sets. Makarova cannot be underestimated—she's swept three seeds in a row and looked good going it—but Sharapova is the more experienced and explosive player. Unless Makarova has a superb serving day, among other things, the three-time Grand Slam champion should reach the final four.
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