Australian Open Tennis / Tony Keen / 26 January 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Federer and Williams will move into the final four of the Australian Open, says Tony Keen.

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)

Roger Federer was superb in his 6-2 6-3 6-4 victory over Lleyton Hewitt in the fourth round and will now go on to face Nikolay Davydenko, who progressed to the quarter finals at the Australian Open for the fourth time, albeit the hard way.

The Russian led two sets to love against Spanish No.9 seed Fernando Verdasco, but was forced into five sets before eventually prevailing, 6-2 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

Davydenko has lost 12 of his 14 matches against the Swiss ace but will head into this tantalising contest with some confidence, as he has accounted for Federer in their past two clashes.

However, both these wins came in best-of-three set matches, so beating Federer in a best-of-five set match will be an entirely different proposition.

Also of note was the Swiss champion's vast array of strokes in the win over Hewitt, with the 13-time grand slam winner cracking 49 winners.

Federer's incredible shot-making ability will get him over the line, with the result in 2010 mirroring the 2006 Australian Open quarter finals where he downed Davydenko in 4 sets.

Serena Williams (USA) vs. Victoria Azarenka (BEL)

Serena Williams is in the final eight at Melbourne Park for the seventh time in her career and will face Victoria Azarenka, against who she boasts a 3-1 record, although one of those wins did come after the Belarusian retired hurt in the fourth-round at last year's Australian Open.

Azarenka won the first set 6-3 in that match so she clearly has what it takes to upset the defending champion on the biggest stage.

However, Williams is currently serving very well and hitting the ball with tremendous power. In her 6-4 6-2 win over Australian Samantha Stosur in the fourth round, the American's winning percentage on her first and second serves were 86 and 81 percent respectively, while Azarenka's were just 61 and 50 percent in her three-set win over Vera Zvonareva.

Williams also made the most of her chances when it came to breaking Stosur's serve, converting three of her four break point opportunities. In comparison, Azarenka converted just six of 20 break point chances.

This all points to the American prevailing in two tight sets, with William's superior serving game and ability to make the most of her chances at crucial moments to be the difference.