Karolina Pliskova’s quarter-final clash with sentimental favourite Mirjana Lucic-Beroni begins a spectacular day’s play the Australian Open.

Statistically, it’s a battle between the tournament’s leading server with the biggest forehand.

But statistics don’t begin to tell Lucic-Beroni’s story.

The 34-year-old Croatian has astounded and delighted by qualifying for the last eight at Melbourne Park, 19 years after her last match win at the Open.

Troubled by an abusive relationship with her father that caused an eight-year hiatus from the grand slams, it’s a wonder the former teen prodigy is competing at all.

Both Pliskova, the fifth seed, and Lucic-Baroni have achieved their career best Open results in 2017 already.

The same can’t be said for Johanna Konta and Serena Williams, who are second up on Rod Laver Arena in a titanic clash.

Konta is the year’s form player, putting together nine straight wins in Australia including her Sydney International triumph.

Williams is the highest-ranked male or female player left at the Open, and with 22 major trophies in the cabinet, cannot be underestimated.

The pair have never met, adding a level of intrigue.

The marquee men’s match of the day pits 2009 champion Rafael Nadal with the top seed remaining in the draw, world No.3 Milos Raonic.

The super-serving Canadian has edged world No.9 Nadal already this season, with a tight three-set win in the Brisbane International.

In-form Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who claimed the Brisbane crown, takes on 11th seed David Goffin in the other men’s quarter-final, and will play the winner of the Nadal-Raonic match on Friday.