Forty two. That’s the number of Grand Slam singles titles that the top names competing at Pat Rafter Arena share between them. And yes, that’s without counting any doubles wins.
It’s a number that not only adds up to some extraordinary star power at Brisbane International 2014, but also provides a sparkling measure of the standard that fans can expect in quarterfinal and second-round matches today – especially when you consider their high-calibre competition.
There’s an “anything-might-happen” air about the first match of the day when Maria Sharapova meets Kaia Kanepi. While the Russian’s 27 titles, including every Grand Slam, clearly eclipse the four the Estonian has claimed, there are special circumstances to consider.
Sharapova spent the best part of the past six months sidelined with a shoulder injury and after a walkover in the second round (due to Ash Barty’s injury withdrawal) has played just two WTA matches since mid-2013. Additionally, Kanepi claimed one of her career titles at Brisbane in 2012, and loves competing in Australia. They’ve played twice so far, Sharapova winning on both occasions.
Among today’s potential thrillers is Serena Williams’ quarterfinal against Dominika Cibulkova in the second match of the day at Pat Rafter Arena. In their second round matches, they respectively progressed against Andrea Petkovic and Kimiko Date-Krumm – Cibulkova’s a hard-fought three setter that lasted two hours and 14 minutes. Serena says the spirited second-round progression of her world No.23 opponent shows the effort it will take to defeat her.
“That just goes to show you the fight she has to come through just a good win like that,” said Serena who is intent on claiming a second 2013 Brisbane International title and thus create a perfect springboard to claim an 18th Grand Slam in Melbourne. “We have had a lot of tough matches, so it’s going to be important for me to just go out there and stay relaxed.”
Despite having won all three matches she’s contested against the Slovakian, Serena is right to be wary – in their only hard-court encounter, in Miami last year, Cibulkova led 6-2 4-1 before the world No.1 charged back to win 2-6 6-4 6-2.
Following the Williams v Cibulkova claish, Roger Federer and Nicolas Mahut return to Pat Rafter Arena for their quarterfinal doubles match-up against Jeremy Chardy and Grigor Dimitrov.
In the final match of the Pat Rafter Arena Day Session, Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon champion takes on sixth seed Feliciano Lopez. Hewitt was also wisely measured as he prepared to meet Lopez in the second round of the men’s event. While Hewitt is yet to drop a set in their three professional matches, he also understands the threat of Lopez, who at age 32 is the same age and has similar experience and ambitions.
> Purchase Brisbane International 2014 tickets
“It’s not going to be easy by no means. I’m going to have to return really well. He’s obviously a big lefty, so I’ll get, Big Red [Chris] Guccione out there tomorrow to hit a few serves at me.”
Opening the night session will be Victoria Azarenka, who boasts one of the best hard-court records in the game with 16 of 17 career titles on that surface (including her first title at Brisbane in 2009 and the past two Australian Opens). The second seed here, she will no doubt take a deep breath before she takes on world No.50 Stefanie Voegele. They’ve played twice before, Azarenka winning on each occasion, but anything can happen in a new season.
Meanwhile, in the second match of the night at Pat Rafter Arena, fourth seed Kevin Anderson takes on Aussie Sam Groth. Groth fired 22 aces at Ryan Harrison in an impressive straight-sets win, and he’ll need to have all guns blazing if he’s to upset Anderson whose serve is also his weapon of choice.