Fiery Belarusian Victoria Azarenka may be the second seed of the competition but this isn’t stopping her pushing to be the last woman standing on Saturday night.
A junior world champion in 2005 and the 2008 Mondial Australian Women’s Hardcourts runner-up last year, Azarenka is keen to take it one step further this summer by winning the Brisbane International.
Surviving an early scare, after being pushed to the limit by Slovak-born Australian Jarmila Gajdosova in her previous match, Azarenka boasts the power and aggression to be a real title threat.
Taking on powerful hitter Lucie Safarova, who defeated Samantha Stosur in straight sets, the fi rst game on Pat Rafter Arena is sure to be show-stopper.
Fernardo Verdasco will be keen to pick up where he left off yesterday when he meets Florent Serra from France in the second game of the day.
Verdasco is yet to drop a set at the Brisbane International while Serra has knocked off Juan Carlos Ferrero and Jurgen Melzer to make it to the quarterfinals.
The French are due to dominate the rest of the day with former Australian Open champion, Amelie Mauresmo taking on Ana Ivanovic in the third match on Pat Rafter Arena.
This match is sure to be a highlight – don’t miss it. Playing for the fi rst under the Pat Rafter Arena lights, Wimbledon runner-up, Marion Bartoli, also from France, meets Tathiana Garbin in the third woman’s quarterfinal match for the day.
Concluding day five of the tournament is Paul-Henri Mathieu versus Kei Nishikori.
Have you picked your team of tennis aces?
You have until the start of play at the Australian Open to select a team of 16 men and 16 women in our online fantasy game SuperTennis.
Points will be awarded for the performance of your team members and you can switch the mix around right up until 19 January.
The SuperTennis selector with the most points wins a cash prize of AUD$5000.
Go to www.supertennis.com.au to register your team today.