Predicted Winners in BOLD

ROD LAVER ARENA (11 a.m. start)

[5] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) vs Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) – Pliskova has now won 10 of her previous 11 matches at majors.  Her serve should help her to dictate play.  ML-B’s comeback has been fueled by wins Halep and now Radwanska.  Pliskova is not that style of player.  This means Lucic-Baroni will have to play great defense tennis rather than clean offense to win.  I don’t see that happening.  Still, Kucic-Baroni being 2 sets away from her first major semifinal since Wimbledon 1999 is a great story.

[2] Serena Williams (USA) vs [9] Johanna Konta (GBR) – Serena Williams has played great tennis through 4 rounds.  Konta has a chance.  I just don’t think Konta has much of a chance.  Serena Williams is likely to book another major semifinal showdown with Pliskova.