A tennis feast! - Day 7

Marin Cilic and Juan Martin Del Potro put on a monumental show of big hitting in this fourth round match in which the scoreline swung back and forth throughout. I am absolutely delighted and relieved to tell you that the beast Del Potro was beaten, Cilic winning this marathon, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. Del Potro was a huge threat to Federer should he have reached the final.

Current Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal faced off against giant-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic in a close encounter. Nadal took the opener only for Karlovic to level in the next set. But nadal began reading the Croat's serve and was totally on top by the fourth set. He won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Nadia Petrova continued her giant-killing act as she powered past 3rd seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets, the final score reading 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Belgian maestro Justine Henin came up against young compatriot Yanina Wickmayer. The youngster had been the surprise package of last year's US Open, and after losing a first set tiebreak, she went on to race through the second set 6-1. But Henin, seven times Grand Slam champion, kept her cool and put on another great exhibition of her skills, winning the decider 6-3 to set up a quarter final with Petrova. As much as Henin insists it is a great physical challenge for her after missing the last couple of years on tour, she nevertheless looks like she's never been away.

In the first match of the day, Andy Murray quite comfortably beat an inept John Isner in three straight sets. While the American has a serve to boast of, he possesses absolutely nothing else based on this performance, and was rather incapable of maintaining, let alone winning, a rally. Where does this leave Andy Murray? He has had four simple matches in which he hasn't been stretched in the least, and now he must be prepared to take on the second best player on the planet in Rafael Nadal. I think we will be seeing the Scot on a plane out of Melbourne in the very near future, perhaps on Tuesday.

Petrova Pulverizes Poor Princess - Day 5

Nadia Petrova stunned the Rod Laver arena audience into silence as she dismantled reigning US Open princess Kim Clijsters, 6-0, 6-1. Clijsters played poorly throughout, but Petrova deserves credit for playing a magnificent match when it mattered most. Nothing seemed to go right for the Belgian and this is a big setback in her climb back into the top ten. For Nadia Petrova, she will now go into a match against Svetlana Kuznetsova in full confidence of causing another upset.

Kuznetsova was a set and a break down in her 3rd round match with qualifier Angelique Kerber, before battling her way to victory in 3 sets, the winning scoreline reading 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Sweating profusely, she showed why she is a Grand Slam champion by turning around this match as it was beginning to slip away.

In the mens draw, Rafael Nadal encountered an intense match with German Philip Kohlschreiber, who was going for winners all over the court. Nadal fought out the first two sets, but Kohlschreiber's persistence was repayed when he pulled one back. However, Nadal also put on a powerful show and emerged with the victory in 4 sets to set up a clash with Giant Croat Ivo Karlovic.

Andy Roddick and Fernando Gonzalez both won and will meet in a mouth-watering clash in the last 16. Andy Murray enjoyed another easy win and big-serving American, John Isner, overcame the charismatic Gael Monfils of France. Murray and Isner will meet in the last 16 in what should be the Scot's first big test in Melbourne.

Sadly, Britain's Elena Baltacha came to the end of the road when she was comprehensively beaten by Dinara Safina, who herself has been quietly making her way through the draw, as she looks for her first Grand Slam title.