Australian Open 2012: Serena Falls; Djokovic Drops Set To Hewitt, But Advances

Australian Open 2012 Results, Scores: Novak Djokovic Defeats Lleyton Hewitt In Four Sets To Advance To Quarterfinals

Day 8 of the 2012 Australian Open is in the books and the quarterfinal matches for the men's competition are now set.

In the final men's fourth-round match on Day 8, the number one-ranked tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic, squared off against Australian native Lleyton Hewitt. Djokovic dispatched Hewitt in four sets, 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Djokovic had 15 aces in the match.

Djokovic will face No. 5 David Ferrer of Spain in the quarterfinals. Ferrer bested Richard Gasquet earlier in Day 8 competition in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.

In the other quarterfinal matches, Roger Federer will face Juan Martin del Potro, Rafael Nadal will be paired with Tomas Berdych and Andy Murray will play against Kei Nishikori.

In Day 8 women's competition, No. 4 Maria Sharapova needed three sets to dispatch Sabine Lisicki of Germany, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. No. 2 Petra Kvitova won over Ana Ivanovic in straight sets of 6-2, 7-6. Italian player Sara Errani also advanced in straight sets over Jie Zheng of China, 6-2, 6-1.

For more on Day 8 of the Australian Open, visit this StoryStream. Visit our tennis hub for full coverage of the tournament, including day-by-day results.

Australian Open 2012: Andy Murray Advances In Shortened Match

Andy Murray was well on his way to victory in the fourth round of the Australian Open, up two sets to none and leading the third set, 1-0. But Murray didn't need to finish off what was all but a formality as Mikhail Kukushkin retired, giving Murray a pass into the quarterfinal round in early action on Sunday night.

Murray quickly took the first two sets in his fourth-round match, putting away Kukushkin 6-1 in each. And following the 15th game, Kukushkin could go no further, succumbing to the heat and an ailing hip. The match lasted just 49 minutes, with Kukushkin's decision to withdraw coming only five minutes, and one game, into the third set.

With the win, Murray advances to face Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinal round. Nishikori defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the No. 6 seed, in five sets, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

For more on Day 7 of the Australian Open, visit this StoryStream. Visit our tennis hub for full coverage of the tournament, including day-by-day results.

Serena Williams Stunned In Straight Sets By Ekaterina Makarova

In a huge fourth round upset in the 2012 Australian Open, Serena Williams lost in straight sets to Ekaterina Makarova, a largely anonymous 23-year old from Russia who is not ranked among the top 50 female tennis players in the world.

Makarova won 6-2, 6-3, defeating Williams in a fast-paced match that lasted only 1:23.

Williams seemed stunned by the Russian's fight, dropping the first set fairly easily before battling back in the second.

In the decisive game, Williams beat back three match points before eventually falling to Makarova on a back-hand return that went out wide left. It was the theme of the match for Williams, who had 37 unforced errors and 7 double faults to 17 and 0 for her opponent.

Williams' loss opens up the draw for Maria Sharapova, who would have faced Williams in the quarterfinals but now has a relatively easy draw up to a possible semifinal matchup with 2 seed Petra Kvitova.

Australian Open 2012 Schedule For Sunday's Matches: Djokovic-Hewitt And Chalk

Day 8 of the Australian Open features an interesting new-versus-old matchup in Djokovic-Hewitt and the prevalence of likely chalk in the quarterfinals.