It is a quartet of the highest order.
One of these men will grace the Australian Open semifinals, but first we are set to witness two compelling fourth-round battles.
In the bottom quarter of the men’s draw, fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will take on fellow Top 10 talent Matteo Berrettini, after second seed Rafael Nadal is reacquainted with the mercurial Fabio Fognini.
ORDER OF PLAY: Monday 15 February (Day 8)
Marquee names. Masterful talents. Two matches in a loaded section.
With concerns over a back injury waning, second seed Nadal is switching up the gears at Melbourne Park. The 2009 champion hasn’t dropped a set but is understandably cautious ahead of facing Fognini for a 17th time.
The Spaniard has a 218-1 record in Grand Slam matches having won the first two sets. The one cross on the record sheet came at the US Open in 2015 against... Fognini.
The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd watched on in disbelief as Fognini clattered 70 winners past Nadal for a memorable 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 scoreline in New York.
“He's one of the most talented players on tour with a lot of amazing things. When he's playing well, he's one of the most dangerous opponents on tour without a doubt,” said an alert Nadal. “Today he had an amazing victory against a great opponent, so will be a very tough match.”
On the other hand, Fognini isn’t taking anything from his monumental win, instead thinking forward.
“The past is the past. The future is gonna be the future. So I'm really looking forward, trying to be ready again for a great match in front of me,” declared Fognini, who is 4-12 against the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
The Italian has returned from ankle surgery in the off-season to fine form in Melbourne, highlighted by halting Australia’s leading prospect Alex de Minaur in straight sets on Saturday.
“I didn't expect to feeling great on court like that, feeling my tennis is coming back so early,” admitted the 33-year-old.
“I have to say that my tennis is ready, yes. The second thing, because Rafa, everybody know him that it's more physically than mentally than most of the other thing. Tennis, I'm ready. I think he's more fresh than me, but it's a big challenge for me… we should remember that he won everything.”
As he proved in New York, when in the zone, Fognini can take down the very best. He might need to channel the high-risk, high reward strategy from 2015 at Flushing Meadows.
World No.6 Tsitsipas and 10th-ranked Berrettini will have a strong say in that quarter.
The Greek youngster is in fine fettle, undefeated in five 2021 matches including the ATP Cup and only surrendering one set to Thanasi Kokkinakis in week one.
Meanwhile, Berrettini also ignited his 2021 at the ATP Cup, dismissing Dominic Thiem 6-2 6-4 before disarming the likes of Kevin Anderson and Karen Khachanov in the opening rounds at AO 2021.
“We know each other pretty well. He’s a great player, a great fighter,” Berrettini said following his 7-6(1) 7-6(5) 7-6(5) finely poised battle with Russian Khachanov.
“He’s beaten me both times, once here in a great match. For sure it’s going to be a real battle."
Good memory from Matteo. Tsitsipas prevailed in a tight three-setter in US Open 2017 qualifying and then recovered from losing the opening set to Berrettini in the AO 2019 first round.
“Has a very modernised, very fast game - serve, try to take the forehand from early on and press,” analysed Tsitsipas, an AO 2019 semifinalist.
“I think our level of tennis is pretty much the same, so I think it all comes to fighting and just determination.”