Australian Open quarterfinal expert picks, including Nadal vs. Tiafoe and Djokovic vs. Nishikori

Pete: Nadal always seems to deliver some of his very best tennis when his status and health are in question leading into a tournament. This year at the Australian Open is no exception, as he has won all 12 sets contested. Tiafoe decided to press the fast-forward button on his young career in Melbourne and show his talent on the tennis court to the world this January. Nadal recognizes that he is facing a second upstart in three matches and is more than prepared for whatever may come from Tiafoe. Experience wins out and Tiafoe will continue to build going forward. Nadal in 4: 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

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(22) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (14) Stefanos Tsitsipas

Ricky: I had Bautista Agut in the quarterfinals when the tournament started. This is where I figured the run would end, but now he gets Tsitsipas instead of Roger Federer (against whom the Spaniard is hopeless). RBA’s borderline miracle run through the tournament will leave him low on energy, but Tsitsipas has endured four difficult four-setters and his emotional reserves also have to be on low following his stunner over Federer. RBA will be too consistent and too tough en route to another gutsy win. Bautista Agut in 5: 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-2, 7-5.Cheryl: Now this match has the makings of a real quarterfinal treat. Tsitsipas comes into the quarters off the biggest win of his career over Federer, while RBA has dispatched the likes of Andy Murray, Karen Khachanov and Marin Cilic. Tsitsipas looks perhaps a shade fresher than RBA, but the Spaniard is superbly fit and isn’t likely to just roll over. Tsitsipas in 4: 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Pete: Bautista Agut has defeated two major champions in Murray and Cilic and impressively swept Karen Khachanov en route to the quarterfinals. Yet, it is Tsitsipas who is receiving the spotlight heading into the match. The young Greek commanded the attention of even non-tennis sports fans when he defeated four consecutive top 10 players to reach the final in Canada last summer. His steady game held off two-time defending AO champion Federer and allowed him to advance to the quarters.  Bautista Agut will rely on his experience in this match and will properly quell the enthusiasm, exuberance, and fire from his opponent. Bautista Agut in 4: 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4.

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(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (8) Kei Nishikori

Ricky: Djokovic vs. Pablo Carreno Busta wouldn’t have been good, but it still would have been better than this. Some points will be entertaining, but for the most part this is one of the least interesting matchups in all of tennis. Djokovic is dominating the head-to-head series 15-2 and has won 14 in  row at Nishikori’s expense. Throw in the fact that the world No. 9 has already played a trio of five-setters–including an absolute battle against Carreno Busta on Monday–and this has all the makings of (mostly) one-way traffic. Djokovic in 4: 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Cheryl: How Nishikori’s legs are still working is beyond me. Three of his four matches were five-set affairs, with his round of 16 match going almost five hours. Like Tiafoe, Nishikori is playing an opponent who does not show mercy on cramping, tired limbs. Anything other than a straight-set win for Djokovic would be quite a surprise. Djokovic in 3: 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.

Pete: Djokovic has won 14 consecutive matches in this seres, including 31 of 36 sets played. The six-time AO champion has played Nishikori at each major (something that not even Federer vs. Nadal can claim). Seven of the 18 sets that Nishikori has played have gone to a tiebreaker, further extending his time on court.  The Japanese will feel fortunate to even be in the quarterfinals this year and will certainly try everything to solve the No. 1 player in the world for the first time in more than four years. As usual, Djokovic will play his game and it will be more than sufficient to advance. Djokovic in 3: 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

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(16) Milos Raonic vs. (28) Lucas Pouille

Ricky: No one has been more impressive than Raonic this fortnight in terms of overall body of work. Nick Kyrgios? Gone with ease. Stan Wawrinka? A tough one, but check. Pierre-Hugues Hebert? Totally routine. Alexander Zverev? Straight-setter that included an improbable breadstick. Pouille has done well to emerge from a slump to reach the quarters, but this is where his favorable draw ends. Raonic will roll. Raonic in 3: 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3.

Cheryl: Of all the quarterfinal matches, this is the one that’s the biggest surprise–mostly because of Pouille, who has had the draw open for him in a most fortuitous way. It’s probably the end of the line for the Frenchman, though. Raonic is in scary form and with the way he is serving, Pouille will be lucky to avoid a blowout. Raonic in 3: 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.

Pete: Raonic is rolling! The caliber of opponents that he has faced leading to the quarters has allowed the Canadian to measure his game against several different styles of play. Additionally, Raonic has won six of seven tiebreakers played–including a crucial 13-11 breaker in the pivotal third set against Wawrinka in the second round. Pouille had been 0-5 at the Australian Open prior to this year. He will feel good about his advancement in Australia, especially after a win over Coric in the last round (ironically Coric was also also winless in Melbourne prior to this year). Raonic is more than familiar with what he needs to do in this match. Raonic in 3: 7-6(4), 6-4, 7-6(5).

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