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Australian Daria Gavrilova has a tough task on her hands when she faces off against world No.35 Lucie Safarova. Join The Roar for live scores from 1am (AEST).
After a stellar start to the year, Daria Gavrilova has struggled and has been unable to continue her form that saw her rocket to the fourth round at the Australian Open and claim a title at the Hopman Cup.
The Australian fan favourite is quickly regathering pace however, reaching the third round of Cincinnati having received an extremely tough draw.
After defeating Mona Barthel and Naomi Osaka in qualifying, she came up against familiar foe Caroline Garcia whom she knocked over 7-5, 6-3 before defeating Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-2.
It then saw her pitted up against world No.5 Simona Halep whom she was unable to pass going down 6-1, 6-2.
It came after she lost at the Canadian Masters to the Romanian during the second round having defeated Annika Beck a week earlier.
Gavrilova also received a bitter draw at Rio, losing in the first round to world No.1 Serena Williams 6-4, 6-2.
Her recent experience against big name opponents might serve her well as it has highlighted her weaknesses.
If she is to get past Lucie Safarova she must always stay in the match and avoid losing any easy points when closing out as has proved costly in the past.
Safarova has also failed to find form with first round exits at Montreal and Cincinnati to top 50 opponents after retiring in the second round at Rio.
The Czech had a slow start to the year sitting out the Australian Open, the first grand slam she has missed since way back in 2006.
She then returned at the French Open making her way through to the third round before going a step further at Wimbledon.
The US Open is her weakest grand slam with the left-hander traditionally struggling on hard court.
Safarova must contain Gavrilova and limit her ground work if she is to book a place with either Simona Halep or Kirsten Flipkens in the second round.
The pair have played each other twice before winning a match each.
Both meetings have come on hard court with Safarova victorious on their last meeting coming at New Haven last year with a 6-3, 6-4 victory just a week after Gavrilova trumped her at the Canadian Masters 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.
Prediction
Lucie Safarova will only just edge out Gavrilova in a three-set thriller.
Safarova in three sets.
Join The Roar for live scores from 1am (AEST).
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You can find Riley on Twitter @rileypettigrew.
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