The first two quarterfinals were completed in warm, favourable conditions.
(Rank/Seed)
4/4 Li serenely dispatched ever dangerous Italian (29/28) Pennetta 62 62 to maintain her perfect record in Australian Open quarter finals at 4-0. Li was too good from start to finish, overpowering Pennetta on the return and during the rallies. At times, it looked as if Li could pick off winners on a whim (she hit 23 to 17 unforced errors), off both wings. Her serve was also exemplary as she was broken only once all match and even then it was after she had held 2 set points at 5-0 in the first set. Pennetta tried to add more topspin to her forehand in order to push Li back, but frequently erred. She grew increasingly frustrated at her relative inability to halt Li Na's progress, despite her 2-1 head to head advantage, showing just how much Li has improved since they last met in Sydney 2010.
31/30 Bouchard made history as she recovered to beat Serbian, (14/14) Ivanovic 57 75 62 to become the first Canadian semi finalist in a major since Carling Bassett at the US Open 1984, but the first ever at the Australian Open! After a nervy first set, Bouchard settled nicely into the second to take a 4-1 lead with Ivanovic looking far from secure, a complete contrast to her match against Serena. Ivanovic had treatment for a hip injury down 3-4 in the second and it seemed to unnerve the 19 year old as the set was soon level at 5-5. However, Ivanovic nervously double faulted twice in the 12th game to relinquish the set. It was from this point on though that Bouchard showed exactly what she's made of as she calmly began to break Ivanovic down with aggressive play, unflinching at the finish as she hit her 47th winner on her first match point to replicate her triumph over Ana at Wimbledon 2013. Ivanovic, in contrast had looked ill at ease throughout the whole match, as the pressure and mental fatigue told. She often made strange shot choices, constantly looked at her box for reassurance and rarely hit with the imposing power which she had exhibited against Williams.
Li beat Bouchard in their only previous meeting in Montreal 2012, 64 64 but that win seems to be insignificant now Bouchard is a more experienced player. She has beaten top 10 players before, most recently over Jankovic in Tokyo 2013 but I'm not sure she will be able to handle the relentless power of Li in this mood. I also think Li will win the tournament this year as there seems to be something about Li's path that is almost pre-destined; she's talking of retirement in the next year or two but wants to win one more major before she does, she saved a match point earlier in the event, she's been so close in two finals... I think it will be third time lucky!
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