Aussie Open: Day 8 Preview and Picks
By Charles Bricker
Yesterday's record: 4-0
Tourney record: 19-7 (+12.95 units)
(22) FLAVIA PENNETTA (+148) VS. (25) PETRA KVITOVA (-161)
Could be a dog day with no matches on the men's or women's side that jump out and say "upset." This is as close as you'll get with super-hot Kvitova, who just took out Sam Stosur, against veteran Pennetta, who holds a 3-1 lifetime edge in this series. It's the fourth time they've met in under a year and, though Pennetta was very sharp in an upset of No. 10 Shahar Pe'er two days ago, I'm going the other way.
Pick: Kvitova
(12) AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (-148) VS. SHUAI PENG (+134)
Nice run here for Peng and it's true she dumped Radwanska in the second round of last year's U.S. Open, but I don't see two upsets of the Polish star in a row. Agnieszka has had a breezy draw so far -- against players ranked 77, 140 and 56.
Pick: Radwanska
(7) DAVID FERRER (-510) VS. MILOS RAONIC (+445)
Same problem on the men's side with no realistic upset possibilities. Ferrer has had a cozy draw facing Jarkko Nieminen, Michael Russell and Richard Barankis, but this one should push him harder. Raonic at 6-foot-5 has a powerful serve and he'll get his aces here. His problem, of course, will be in most rallies of more than four shots. The Canadian upset Mikhail Youzhny in the last round. First-time meeting.
Pick: Ferrer
(4) ROBIN SODERLING (-650) VS. ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV (+554)
Soderling hasn't lost a set but this Ukraine isn't some guy having a lucky draw. He's a gifted young player with top-20 ability who surprised No. 13 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to earn this match. Soderling hasn't faced a seeded player yet. First-time meeting.
Pick: Soderling