Carlos Alcaraz will attempt to take the next step towards a potential shootout for the Australian Open title and number one spot when he faces Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Third seed Daniil Medvedev meets Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the other men’s last eight clash, while on the women’s side Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen is pitted against Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya.
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Spanish world number two Alcaraz has dropped just one set so far at Melbourne Park, showing flashes of his brilliant best, but will be tested by the sixth seed in a night match on Rod Laver Arena.
Zverev has won four of the seven meetings between the pair, including their most recent encounter at the ATP Finals in November.
But Alcaraz, 20, has drawn confidence from his performances in Australia.
“I’m feeling better and better every match that I’m playing,” he said after producing a masterclass against unseeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the fourth round.
However, he knows he will be in a scrap against the giant German, who has been through two gruelling five-setters.
“Obviously I love playing against him,” said Alcaraz. “It’s always a tough battle. I have to play my best level. He pushes me to play my 100 percent every time.”
Alcaraz is aiming to become the third man in the Open Era to win three Grand Slams before the age of 21, after Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander.
He also has the chance to supplant Novak Djokovic as world number one, but if he beats Zverev he will first have to think about a semi-final against Medvedev or ninth seed Hurkacz.
Russia’s Medvedev has a fine recent record at the Australian Open — he is bidding to reach the final for the third time in the past four years.
But he is wary of his opponent’s devastating serve, describing it as “top two or three serves on tour”, and Hurkacz leads 3-2 on head-to-heads.
Seeds have tumbled in the top half of the women’s draw, leaving just Zheng standing.
The 21-year-old is taking inspiration from compatriot Li Na’s win in Australia in 2014 and got a boost when she spoke to the retired Chinese star for the first time in person in Melbourne.
Unseeded Czech player Linda Noskova, who ousted top seed Iga Swiatek, takes on Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska in the first match on centre court.
Yastremska also has major scalps to her name — she has beaten Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka.
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