Australian Open 2012 live stream

If there is such a thing as a brick wall in today’s tennis, it has to be world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. He has cruised through his first three rounds at a loss of just 10 games – an average of 3.3 per match.

After three heroic victories – including a solid showing in a three-set retirement victory over Andy Roddick – the last thing the battered and aching body of Lleyton Hewitt needed is to run up against an immovable object. But that’s exactly what he gets in the Serb who is showing form reminiscent of Roger Federer when the great Swiss played like his game was from an alternate universe.

Unlike the raw Milos Raonic on Saturday night on a major Grand Slam stage against an icon of the sport for the first time, Djokovic, after an initial loss to Hewitt at the 2006 US Open, has beaten him at three Slams – twice at Wimbledon and once at the Australian Open in 2008. So there will be no intimidation factor.

At nearly 31 years old, and with a body that has had five consequential surgeries in the past four years, Hewitt deserves commendation for reaching the second week. Taking enough games against Djokovic to win a set would be worthy of at least an Order of Australia when the honours list is announced Thursday – Australia Day.

All the chatter about Ivan Lendl’s mentoring of Andy Murray has subsided somewhat even if his effect appears to have been positive so far. The Scot struggled with Mikhail Kukushkin in the first round in Brisbane three weeks ago when he was still in a right-of-the-boat, adaptation phase. He should now be ready to handle the big-hitting Kazakh – via Russia – with more ease.

Richard Gasquet, vulnerable in the heat, is playing great and has a real shot against fifth seed David Ferrer, unless the mid/late afternoon conditions work against him. The preceding match on Hisense Arena features his French compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who should avenge a loss Kei Nishikori in Shanghai last October.

In women’s round-of-16 matches, Ana Ivanovic takes a 3-0 record into her meeting with Petra Kvitova, but those wins were more than three years ago before the Czech lefty evolved into arguably the most potent force in the female game. Going up a level in opponent often leads to a lot of jittery service tosses by the tall, elegant Serb – and to losses.

Zheng Jie is a treat to watch with her clever angles and low-to-the ground ball-striking. It should be effective in Margaret Court Arena today, even against the impeccable tenacity and defensive skills of Sara Errani.

Despite remarkably one-sided scores in her first three matches – just five games lost – Maria Sharapova may have to pay for her lack tournament play (none in 2012) leading into the event. The heavy-hitting Sabine Lisicki could be just the player to de-stabilize the regal Russian.

Like Sharapova, Serena Williams entered the 2012 Aussie Open as a question mark following an ankle injury in Brisbane and no matches played after the US Open in 2011. Ekaterina Makarova, 23 and ranked No. 56, can play good tennis but has never been past the round-of-16 in 17 Grand Slams. It’s not about to happen here against opposition as robust as that provided by Ms. Williams.