Australian Open spectators face a dilemma when crowd favourites Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis compete in the quarterfinals on Wednesday for a possible semifinal against top seed Maria Sharapova.
Clijsters was once known as ”Aussie Kim” when she dated local hero Lleyton Hewitt and Hingis won here three times and says appearing on the Rod Laver Arena is ”like coming home”.
The Melbourne Park crowd retains a soft spot for both players and Clijsters said she did not know who would generate the loudest cheers as they play out an intriguing rematch of their quarterfinal last year.
”It doesn’t matter … I love playing on the Rod Laver Arena,” the Belgian said. ”It’s very cozy. People are not shy to yell out things, to laugh. I think that makes it a lot more fun.”
Fourth seed Clijsters, the bookies’ favourite for this year’s event, won her 2006 match with Hingis 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 before retiring hurt in her semifinal against eventual champion Amelie Mauresmo.
The 23-year-old also dumped the Swiss Miss out of the French Open quarterfinals last year and this is her last chance to win the season-opening Grand Slam before retiring at the end of the year.
But at the time, five-time Grand Slam champion Hingis was on the comeback trail after three years out from the game and Clijsters expects a tougher match this time against an opponent seeded six.
She said Hingis’ dazzling array of shots meant she was always able to spring a surprise.
Hingis (26) was wary of Clijsters’ power.
”I’m more of a counterpuncher, she’s the more offensive player,” she said.
”I know I have to come out a hundred percent and be ready from the beginning, otherwise I’ll be run over.”
The pair are in a strong half of the draw that could throw up top seed Sharapova as a semifinal opponent.
The 19-year-old Russian, who has just regained the world number one spot, faces compatriot Anna Chakvetzadze in her quarterfinal.
Sharapova admitted she needed to lift her game after coming within two points of a shock exit in her first match and struggling to finish off Vera Zvonareva in the fourth round.
”I’ll definitely have to step it up against [Chakvetzadze] … she’s had some great results in the last couple of months and she’s a big hitter,” Sharapova said.
The ultra-competitive Sharapova said she was unfazed the bookies were backing Clijsters, who beat her at an exhibition event in Hong Kong earlier this month before winning the Sydney International.
”She’s been playing great tennis,” Sharapova said. ”She played against me really well in Hong Kong, won in Sydney — I didn’t play there. So, yeah, that’s cool.”
Chakvetzadze, contesting her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, is by far the lowest profile quarterfinalist in her section of the draw.
She was refreshingly candid about her past performances in Melbourne, admitting ”I usually I play very bad in Australia”, and refusing to engage in the chest thumping of some other players.
”I don’t want to talk like some of the players who like to say they will win a Grand Slam,” she said.
”All the players want to win a Grand Slam and all the players want to win their next match, but I just like to play and we will see what happens.” – Sapa-AFP