Four of the six highest-ranked women in the bottom half of the Australian Open draw have advanced to the quarterfinals. These battles between top-10 seeds should produce intensity and quality worthy of the stage.

Maria Sharapova versus Eugenie Bouchard

For all of the upsets that have plagued the women’s field this tournament, the bottom quarter managed to finish exactly where it was supposed to when the draw was originally made.  Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard have successfully navigated their way to the last eight to set up what many anticipate will be a blockbuster match.

One of the odder elements that makes this match so intriguing to many is that people cannot help but compare the two, almost seeing Bouchard as a somewhat younger version of Sharapova.  There are the physical similarities, such as their build and blonde hair, but it does not stop there.  Both enjoyed a sudden and pronounced rise in the sport at a young age.  Both project a similar image with their approach to the game and on-court rituals.  Both possess a fierce fighting spirit, and both play a relentless attacking style of tennis.

That aggressive brand of tennis will be on full display Tuesday as Sharapova and Bouchard duke it out for on-court supremacy.  With four extra inches on the Canadian, Sharapova is in a better position to potentially do more damage on her first serve, and she also possesses more natural power on her groundstrokes.  But what ground Bouchard cedes to Sharapova in natural power she makes up for with her ability to take the ball early and rob her opponents of time.  Additionally, Bouchard has a decisive edge in the movement department, which could give her a slight advantage in the extended rallies over the course of the match. 

It is imperative that Bouchard stay with Sharapova in the long rallies and keep the match close in its early stages, because it is Sharapova who has won all three of their previous meetings.  After pulling off a Houdini act by escaping Alexandra Panova in the second round, Sharapova has been playing some brilliant tennis and will be fairly confident of getting a fourth straight win over the Canadian and advancing to the semifinals.  All of that said, Bouchard has made headway against Sharapova in those three previous matches.  Their most recent encounter came last year at Roland Garros, where Bouchard actually led by a set before succumbing in three.  So, in spite of her own mid-match meltdown that occurred in the last round, Bouchard will enter this match against Sharapova with plenty of belief that the fourth time could be the charm. 

When all is said and done, there is little to choose between these two.  It is apt to come down to who has the better serving day and keeps the unforced error count down.  That could be Sharapova, who has vastly more experience, or it could be Bouchard, who for the first time this tournament has the luxury of freely swinging away as the underdog.

Simona Halep versus Ekaterina Makarova

As the Australian Open inches closer to a conclusion, most eyes are on tournament favorites Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, or dark horses Eugenie Bouchard and Venus Williams.  By contrast, there has not been quite the same level of attention paid to Simona Halep and even less discussion about Ekaterina Makarova.  Yet, these two players have quietly become regulars at the business end of many tournaments, including the majors.  They will face off on Tuesday for a coveted spot in the semifinals.

Halep’s appearance in the quarterfinals is hardly a surprise.  She broke through at the majors by reaching this same stage last year and has done more than an admirable job of building on that appearance.  She earned herself the No. 3 seed at this event thanks to her stellar play in 2014, and everyone knew she came into this tournament playing some good tennis, as evidenced by her title run in Shenzhen. 

Although she is not ranked as high as the Romanian, Makarova’s journey to this point is not exactly unexpected either.  History has proven she plays some of her best ball Down Under.  She stunned Serena Williams in the fourth round here in 2012, and she has advanced to the second week of the Australian Open in each of the last four years.  In addition to that, she achieved another milestone when she reached her first major semifinal at the 2014 US Open.  So like Halep, Makarova has enjoyed a steady rise in the sport.

A steady rise up the ranks is not the only way in which Makarova is comparable with Halep, however.  They both share similar strengths that could turn their quarterfinal clash into an all-out war of attrition.  Neither woman possesses exceptional firepower, but they are both excellent movers.  They are going to have to work extra hard to create space in order to gain control of the points.  For Makarova, that means using the advantages that come with being a lefty, as well as utilizing her skills in the forecourt as much as possible in order to take time away from the speedy Romanian.  For Halep, she needs to look to consistently move the ball around the court to keep Makarova off balance and away from the net and try to also take the initiative by effectively employing that more aggressive first serve she has quickly become so fond of. 

Of course, it is never easy to be consistently efficient with a semifinal berth on the line.  Strategies aside, this match is likely to come down to who manages the handful of big points best.  Odds favor the third seed in such a scenario.  As evidenced by her higher ranking, Halep has consistently been the better performer over the last 12 months and has more experience at this elite level.  She also captured the win in her lone meeting with Makarova.  But the Russian is no stranger to upsets, and she has defeated players more accomplished than Halep.  She may be the definite underdog, but there is no reason to doubt her ability to get the job done.

Both women are worthy of a spot in the semifinals, but only one can advance.  Halep looks the surer bet.  She has not lost a match yet this season and is the overall better player.  But if Halep gets tight – and she has already shown signs of it here in Melbourne – Makarova has the tools to make her pay and grab the victory.  Either way, sit back, because this could be a long one.