• Australian Open, Day 10

Hot and cold dogs on offer

Kei Nishikori could well make a play for the Hot Dog King title © PA Photos

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• News: Djokovic wary of 'eager' Murray
  
• Features: Familiar foes in Melbourne
  
• News: Murray cruises to win over Nishikori
  
• News: Murray gets chance for revenge as Djokovic wins
  
• News: Murray looking to lay down marker against Djokovic
  

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A bug's death
The bugs have been a problem for the players, especially at night, and Petra Kvitova made a pre-emptive strike during the first set of her quarter-final with Sara Errani. With what is best described as a sizeable creature flapping around, Kvitova swatted it away with her racket. And before the bug had any chance to exact revenge, a frame of the racket crushed it - literally. It might not have been too bad, but a super-slow motion replay caught the act in all its gore. Blood and guts all over the court.

Beaten by the boyfriend
Petra Kvitova's boyfriend Adam Pavlasek was not courtside for her semi-final with Sara Errani, as he had business to attend to in his Junior Boys' Singles clash with Frederico Ferreira Silva. Kvitova got the job done 6-4 6-4 and was given the news that Pavlasek had also won. And the man in the relationship will have bragging rights, as he toppled No. 5 seed Ferreira Silva 6-3 6-2.

Slip, slop, slap
It's the Australian motto for sun-worshippers. With the temperature rising into the 70s and Maria Sharapova wearing a bare-shouldered number, Factor 50 was the order of the day. Amazingly, though, for a player who is so organised it was an amazing sight to see the Russian applying the lotion in the seconds before starting the match. Being from England, I'm not often required to reach for the suncream but I can say that when I do, the hands are always left a shade slippery. So it wouldn't be our advice to do it in the moments before starting an Australian Open quarter final. Sharapova sent down two double faults in the first game, but that could be as much to do with the ropey service action as the suncream.

Blistering backhand
Ekaterina Makarova claimed a huge win over Serena Williams in the fourth round, with her victory built on dominance from the back of the court and not allowing one of the game's power players to impose herself on the contest. Maria Sharapova is another of the game's big hitters and the Russian seemed to have done her homework as she was the one who set the tempo with some fierce hitting. There were errors, which is understandable given the high-risk strategy, but they were matched by winners and one of the highlights was a stunning crosscourt backhand on set point in the first set. She met the ball crisply and sent it flashing across the face of Makarova who could only look on as the ball hit the line.

The Hot Dog lob
Roger Federer is the king of the Hot Dogs, Novak Djokovic is pretty good at them as well. But they have a rival in Kei Nishikori. Andy Murray gave the Japanese the old one-two by dragging him in to the net and throwing up the lob one shot later. Nishikori tracked it down and set himself for the between-the-legs shot, but it came with a twist as he turned it into a lob. It foxed Murray, who could only push the ball into the middle of the court and Nishikori powered the ball away for the winner.

Murray's cold dog
With Nishikori rising up the Hot Dog hit parade, Murray looked to show he has it in his locker. Sadly for the Brit, he was left with egg on his face as he went for the between-the-legs strike but made contact with thin air only after over-running the ball.

Net benefit
A fine low drive from Nishikori appeared to have Murray in trouble as he was asked to play a half-volley with the ball almost behind him. His superb feel allowed him to make a play on the ball, but he needed a slice of luck to win the point as the ball cracked into the net before jumping up and landing on the top of the tape and falling down on Nishikori's side of the court.

Awesome even when injured
Novak Djokovic appeared to play with a damaged hamstring during his win over David Ferrer on Wednesday, but it did not stop the Serbian producing some memorable points. None were better than midway through the second set, when Ferrer was attempting to pressure his rival whilst the injury was still prominent. Djokovic countered with a drop shot, which was answered by a cross-court forehand from Ferrer close to the net. Djokovic controlled the pace with a volleyed backhand, and then sent up a lob after Ferrer once again raced towards the net. Finally the Spaniard succumbed, running to the back of the court and lashing a backhand into the net on the spin as the atmosphere at Rod Laver Arena turned to screams.

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