Day Ten of the 2012 Australian Open sees the quarter-finals conclude with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray looking to reach the last four.
Djokovic showed signs of weakness for the first time against Lleyton Hewitt on Monday. Now will he be punished ? He has the toughest of the quarter-finals against fifth seed David Ferrer. The Spaniard is in the form of his life and he will have noted the way Djokovic's forehand broke down in the latter stages against Hewitt. Djokovic was hitting the practise courts with a vengeance on Tuesday, he knows that side is going to take quite a pummeling for the rest of the tournament.
Andy Murray is a more clear favourite against Japan's Kei Nishikori. Nishikori is the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in 17 years but he's done it the hard way, winning three five setters back to back and in the heat of the day against a super-fit Murray, it's hard to see him pulling off another shock win.
Maria Sharapova would have been expecting Serena Williams at this stage but instead she's got giant-killing compatriot Ekaterina Makarova. Makarova can pack a punch but look for Sharapova's experience to see her through.
And Petra Kvitova's up against another surprise quarter-finalist - Italy's Sara Errani. Errani is in tremendous shape and has been relishing the brutal heat over the past fortnight, wearing opponents down with her dogged counter-punching. However she's yet to play anyone with as much power as Kvitova. Expect the Czech to set up an enticing semi-final with Sharapova.
