Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev have been dominant so far at the 2021 Australian Open and are on pace for respective quarterfinal matchups if they maintain momentum in Melbourne.
Djokovic -- the No. 1 player in the ATP rankings -- and Zverev each need two more wins to make their dream matchup materialize.
"The courts are definitely more suitable to big servers," Djokovic told reporters Wednesday. "I'm not sure of the reason why, but [the surface] keeps getting faster. This is the fastest it has ever been. You just have to serve well.
"It's huge pressure if you face a big server."
Zverev -- ranked No. 7 -- dropped his first set of the Grand Slam tournament Monday, but hasn't lost a set since. He has beaten Americans Marcos Giron and Maxime Cressy to reach the third round.
Djokovic beat France's Jeremy Chardy in the first round before he outlasted American Frances Tiafoe in the second round Wednesday at Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic, 33, has a record eight Australian Open singles titles and is a 17-time Grand Slam winner. He has won back-to-back titles in Melbourne.
Zverev, 23, has never won a Grand Slam, but reached the 2020 U.S. Open final. He lost to Dominic Thiem in the semifinals of the 2020 Australian Open.
Djokovic -- the tournament favorite -- is 5-2 in matches played against Zverev. He beat Zverev in straight sets in the 2019 French Open quarterfinals.
Zverev must defeat Adrian Mannarino on Friday then Pedro Martinez or Dusan Lajovic in the third round to reach the quarterfinals.
Mannarino, Martinez and Lajovic each rank outside the Top 25 in the ATP rankings. Zverev has a combined 7-0 record against Mannarino and Lajovic and has never faced Martinez.
Djokovic needs to beat Taylor Fritz on Friday then Marton Fucsovics or Milos Raonic in the third round to reach the quarterfinals.
He has never faced Fritz, but is 11-0 against Raonic and 2-0 against Fucsovics. Djokovic has advanced to the quarterfinals in 12 of his past 14 Australian Open appearances.
"I've played [Fritz] a couple times on clay, but he's a better player on hard courts," Djokovic said. "He's a big server and a bit flashy and unpredictable. I need to stay solid and focus and wait for my chances."
World No. 3 Naomi Osaka is the favorite to win the women's singles title at the 2021 Australian Open. No. 1 Ash Barty, Halep (No. 2), Williams (No. 11) and No. 14 Garbine Muguruza also are among the favorites.
Muguruza reached the final last year before she lost to American Sofia Kenin.
Williams has yet to drop a set this year at the tournament, which she has won seven times. The 23-time Grand Slam champion beat Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-1 in 56 minutes in her first match. She then beat Nina Stojanovic 6-3, 6-0 in a 69-minute match to reach the third round.
Williams faces Anastasia Potapova in the third round Friday. She could face Aryna Sabalenka or Ann Li in the fourth round.
"It's always a fun and interesting match [against Potapova]," Williams said Wednesday during an on-court interview. "I'm just going to [try to] do the best. We are all out here to have fun. I'm happy to be out here."
Halep also won her first match in straight sets before a three-set win over Ajla Tomljanovic. She battles Veronika Kudermetova in the third round. Halep will draw Iwa Swiatek or Fiona Ferro in the fourth round, if she beats Kudermetova.
Williams is 1-0 against Potapova and has never faced Li or Sabalenka. Sabalenka is No. 7 in the world, but has never advanced past the third round at the Australian Open. Li ranks No. 69 and Potapova ranks No. 101.
Halep has never faced Kudermetova or Ferro and is 1-1 against Swiatek. Kudermetova, ranked No. 36, and Ferro (No. 46) have never advanced past the third round of the Australian Open. Swiatek -- ranked No. 17 -- lost in the fourth round last year in Melbourne.
"It will be a new challenge," Halep said Wednesday in an on-court interview. "I'll watch video on [Kudermetova's play] like I do every time I've faced someone I've never played.
"But I want to recover [from last match] and it would be great to be 100% for the next match."
Additional top-flight matchups also could materialize in Melbourne in the coming days if players maintain momentum. No. 6 Karolina Pliskova, No. 12 Belinda Bencic and No. 16 Elise Mertens are in the same region as Barty in the women's singles and could meet the world's top player in the quarterfinals.
In the men's circuit, Thiem faces Nick Kyrgios in the third round and could see No. 9 Diego Schwartzman or No. 12 Denis Shapovalov in a quarterfinal match if he maintains momentum.
No. 2 Rafael Nadal also has been dominant so far and is in the same region of the draw as No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 9 Matteo Berrettini.
Matches to watch
The local time in Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of EST, but tennis fans still can watch live Australian Open matches. All times for the following key matches are estimates, as prior matches have to be completed before others start.
The tournament airs from 6 to 9 p.m. EST Wednesday on the Tennis Channel, from 9 to 10 p.m. EST Wednesday on ESPN News and from 10 p.m. EST Wednesday to 7 a.m. EST Thursday on ESPN2.
Australian Open action continues from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. EST on the Tennis Channel and ESPN networks through Monday morning. The quarterfinals air on the same networks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. ESPN will air the men's and women's semifinals on Feb. 18 and 19.
The women's singles final is Feb. 20 and the men's final is Feb. 21.
Second round
Karolina Pliskova vs. Danielle Collins at 7 p.m. EST Wednesday
Ash Barty vs. Daria Gavrilova at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday
Sofia Kenin vs. Kaia Kanepi at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis at 11 p.m. EST Wednesday
Coco Gauff vs. Elina Svitolina at 3 a.m. EST Thursday
Daniil Medvedev vs. Roberto Carballes Baena at 3 a.m. EST Thursday
Rafael Nadal vs. Michael Mmoh 5 a.m. EST Thursday
Third round
Novak Djokovic vs. Taylor Fritz at TBD Friday
Alexander Zverev vs. Adrian Mannarino at TBD Friday
Dominic Thiem vs. Nick Kyrgios at TBD Friday
Simona Halep vs. Veronika Kudermetova at TBD Friday
Iga Swiatek vs. Fiona Ferro at TBD Friday
Serena Williams vs. Anastasia Potapova at TBD Friday
Naomi Osaka vs. Ons Jabeur at TBD Friday
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Ann Li at TBD Friday
Serena Williams returns the ball to her sister, Venus, during their match at the Lipton Tennis Championship in Key Biscayne, Fla., on March 28, 1998. Venus Williams, defeated her sister 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Photo by Susan Knowles/UPI | License Photo
Seventh seed Williams celebrates her Woman's Single victory over first seed Martina Hingis at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships on September 11, 1999. Williams defeated Hingis 6-3, 7-6. Photo by H.R. Celestin/UPI | License Photo
Sisters and teammates, Venus (L) and Serena Williams hug on the medal stand after receiving their gold medals in the women's doubles at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, on September 28, 2000. They defeated the Dutch pair of Kristie Boogert and Miriam Oremans 6-1, 6-1 in 49 minutes.Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
Williams tosses the ball up to serve in her straight sets defeat of Patty Schnyder in day 7 action at the
U.S. Open in New York City on September 5, 2004. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI . |
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Andre Agassi (L to R), Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, and Ellen DeGeneres have a laugh while on the court during Arthur Ashe Kids Day in New York City on August 26, 2006. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Williams hits a backhand during her straight sets defeat of Ana Ivanovic at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2006. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams, the fourth seed, challenges a call as she takes on Kateryna Bondarenko in the first set of play at the U.S. Open in New York City, on August 26, 2008. Williams went on to win 6-1, 6-4. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Venus Williams (L), returns the ball to sister Serena in the second set of their quarter-final game at U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2008. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams reacts after a point in her match against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Day 5 at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 4, 2009. Williams defeated Sanchez 6-2, 7-5. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Venus Williams (L) and sister Serena congratulate one another as they take on Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Liezel Huber in women's doubles finals match at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 14, 2009. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Williams slams a return to Maria Sharapova at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University in California on July 29, 2011. Williams defeated Sharapova 6-1, 6-3. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams changes sides after the first game in her match against Bojana Jovanovski on Day 2 of the U.S. Open in New York City on August 30, 2011. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
First lady Michelle Obama (L) meets with Serena Williams during the
"Let’s Move!" tennis clinic held during the U.S. Open in New York City on September 9, 2011. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI |
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Williams gets called for a code violation in the second set when she speaks out to chair umpire Eva Asderakia during her match against Samantha Stosur in the Women's Final at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 11, 2011. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serene Williams celebrates winning the women's final against Agnieszka Radwanska at the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 7, 2012. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams does a split after returning the ball in the second set of her three-set victory over Victoria Azarenka in the women's finals at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 9, 2012. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams holds the championship trophy after
winning her second French Open women's final match against Maria Sharapova in Paris on June 8, 2013. Photo by David Silpa/UPI |
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Serena Williams serves to Sloane Stephens in the first set of fourth-round action at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 1, 2013. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
The sun sets behind the Manhattan skyline as Serena Williams serves to Carla Suarez Navarro at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2013. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams returns in her match against Anna Tatishvilli on Day two of the Wimbledon Championships in London on June 24, 2014. Williams won the match 6-1, 6-2. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams reacts during her match against Heather Watson on Day 5 of the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 3, 2015. Williams won the match 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams returns the ball in the Women's Singles Final against Garbine Muguruza on Day 12 of the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 11, 2015. Williams won the match 6-4, 6-4. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI. | License Photo
Serena Williams celebrates after winning a point in the
second set of her match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 4, 2015. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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Serena Williams returns a ball to Roberta Vinci in the
thirrd set in the semifinals at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 11, 2015. Vinci defeated Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and Williams fails to become the first player to complete the calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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Serena Williams attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on February 28, 2016. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams prepares to serve during her French Open women's final match against Garbine Muguruza in Paris on June 4, 2016. Muguruza
defeated Williams 7-5, 6-4 to win her first French Open Championship. Photo by David Silpa/UPI |
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Serena Williams returns the ball in her Women's Final match against Angelique Kerber at the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 9, 2016. Williams claimed her 22nd Grand Slam title with a 7-5, 6-3
win over Kerber. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI |
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Serena Williams bounces the ball as she gets ready to serve to Johanna Larsson in the
first set of their third round match at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2016. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI |
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Serena Williams reacts
after defeat from Angelique Kerber in the Women's Final of the Wimbledon Championships on London on July 14, 2018. Kerber defeated Williams 6-3, 6-3. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI |
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Serena Williams jumps rope with kids on the court at Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the U.S. Open in New York City on August 25, 2018. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams hits a forehand in her
straight sets victory over Carina Witthoft in the second round of the U.S. Open Tennis in New York City on August 29, 2018. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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Fans watch Serena Williams cry on the court between games against Naomi Osaka of Japan in the Women's Final in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 8, 2018. Naomi
Osaka won in straight sets and becomes the first Japanese woman in history to win a major championship. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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Serena Williams stands behind Naomi Osaka holding the championship trophy after defeating Williams in the U.S. Open Women's Final as the crowd boos. Osaka later
shared some encouragement Williams offered her amid the chaos of the crowd. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian arrive on the red carpet at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Benefit
"Camp: Notes on Fashion" at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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Serena Williams serves during her
French Open women's third round match against Sofia Kenin in Paris on June 1, 2019. Photo by David Silpa/UPI |
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Serena Williams reacts after
losing a point during her French Open women's third round match against Sofia Kenin in Paris on June 1, 2019. Kenin defeated Williams 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the fourth round. Photo by David Silpa/UPI |
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Serena Williams high-fives doubles partner Andy Murray in their first round mixed doubles match against Alexa Guarachi and Andreas Mies at Wimbledon in London on July 6, 2019. Williams and Murray won the match 6-4, 6-1. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams waits for the trophy ceremony after
losing to Bianca Andreescu in straight sets in the Women's Final at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 7, 2019. Andreescu defeated Williams 6-3, 7-5 to win her first-ever major championship. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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Designer Serena Willams and daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. step out on the runway at the end of the
S by Serena Williams fashion show at Metropolitan West 639 during New York Fashion Week: The shows in New York City on September 10, 2019. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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