Australian Open Day 4 Preview: Vika, Murray Seek Third Round Spots

The second round of the Australian Open will come to a close later this evening, as the bottom half of both the men’s and women’s draws will play for a spot in the tournament’s third round.

Below are some of the men's matchups to watch:

(2) Andy Murray (Great Britain) vs. Sam Groth (Australia)
Andy Murray has often been a bridesmaid but never the bride at the Australian Open. The world number two has reached the final in Melbourne four times, but has never come out on top. He is playing some of his best tennis recently, and handled a tough first round opponent in Alexander Zverev. He has never played the big hitting Groth, but Murray’s return game and baseline groundstrokes should allow him to move past Groth.

(8) David Ferrer (Spain) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (Australia)
Lleyton Hewitt is playing in his final tournament as a professional this week in Melbourne, so it is no secret who the Aussie crowd will be rooting for. Hewitt is the face of Australian tennis and is bringing his legendary career to a close, but not without one more deep run he hopes. He faces a tough task in Ferrer, the eighth-seed whose game mirrors Hewitt’s: two hard-working, gritty players who are relentless from the baseline. Ferrer leads the all-time series 2-1, but the two haven’t played since the 2012 U.S. Open. Look for a lot of long points in this one.

(13) Milos Raonic (Canada) vs. Tommy Robredo (Spain)
There may not be anyone on the tour (sans Novak Djokovic) who is playing better tennis than Milos Raonic. The Canadian captured the Brisbane title a couple of years ago, defeating Roger Federer in straight sets. Raonic has always been known for his big-serve, but the 25-year old has shown a more balanced and consisted game to start 2016. He takes on a veteran and former quarterfinalist here in Spain’s Tommy Robredo, whom he is 5-0 against in his career.

Rest of Day 4 Men’s Matches:
►(4) Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) vs. Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic)

►(10) John Isner (United States) vs. Marcel Granollers (Spain)

►(16) Bernard Tomic (Australia) vs. Simone Bolelli (Italy)

►(18) Feliciano Lopez (Spain) vs. Guido Pella (Argentina)

►(21) Viktor Troicki (Serbia) vs. Tim Smyczek (United States)

►(23) Gael Monfils (France) vs. Nicholas Mahut (France)

►(25) Jack Sock (United States) vs. Lukas Rosol (Czech Republic)

►(30) Jeremy Chardy (France) vs. Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia)

►(31) Steve Johnson (United States) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil)

►(32) Joao Sousa (Portugal) vs. Santiago Giraldo (Colombia)

►Fernando Verdasco (Spain) vs. Dudi Sela (Israel)

►John Millman (Australia) vs. Gilles Muller (Luxembourg)

►Rajeev Ram (United States) vs. Stephane Robert (France)

Below are some of the women's matchups to watch:

(14) Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) vs. Danka Kovinic (Montenegro)
The two-time champion Azarenka entered the tournament with a ton of confidence and a ton of expectations, as many people look at her as a favorite in Melbourne, following an injury-riddled 2015. The Belarusian has looked phenomenal in 2016, dropping just 17 games in her six matches, including double-bageling Alison Van Uytvanck in the opening round. This will be the first matchup between these two.

(15) Madison Keys (United States) vs. Yaroslava Shvedova (Kazakhstan)
Last year, Madison Keys burst onto the scene at this very tournament, storming into the semifinals with wins over Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams, before falling to eventual champion Serena Williams. Keys’ powerful game is a perfect fit for the hard, fast courts, and she displayed that once again in the opening round. Shvedova has won the only previous meeting between these two, but Keys seems to raise her level under the hot sun in Australia.

(3) Garbine Muguruza (Spain) vs. Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium)
The 22-year old Garbine Muguruza enjoyed a wonderful 2015, and her run at the WTA Finals secured her spot inside the top five for the first time in her career. She looked in top form in her 6-0, 6-4 first-round win over Anett Kontaveit despite it being only her second match of the year. Kirsten Flipkens has beaten her once before, but look for Muguruza to continue playing well as she advances further in this tournament.

Rest of Day 4 Women’s Matches:
►(7) Angelique Kerber (Germany) vs. Alexandra Dulgheru (Romania)

►​(9) Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) vs. Julia Goerges (Germany)

►​(11) Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) vs. Annika Beck (Germany)

►​(18) Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) vs. Naomi Osaka (Japan)

►​(19) Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) vs. Laura Siegemund (Germany)

►​(20) Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) vs. Anastasija Sevastova (Latvia)

►​(21) Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) vs. Tatjana Maria (Germany)

►​(30) Sabine Lisicki (Germany) vs. Denisa Allertova (Czech Republic)

►​Alize Cornet (France) vs. Shuai Zhang (China)

►​Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic) vs. Vania King (United States)

►​Johanna Konta (Great Britain) vs. Saisai Zheng (China)

►​Madison Brengle (United States) vs. Johanna Larsson (Sweden)

►​Varvara Lepchenko (United States) vs. Lara Arruabarrena (Spain)