Australia’s final hope Daria Gavrilova in the singles draw faces off against twelfth seed Timea Bacsinszky for a spot in the fourth round. Can the world No.26 send Bacsinszky crashing out or will the hometown hero’s run come to a halt? Join The Roar from around 7pm (AEDT) for live coverage.
With Ash Barty and Bernard Tomic falling, Daria Gavrilova is Australia’s last player left standing in the singles draw and will be looking to produce something big in front of a big home crowd.
After a tough start to the summer in her Hopman Cup title defense, Gavrilova is starting to find her stripes as the competition intensifies in the first grand slam of the year.
Dasha started the new year in Perth on a sour note with back-to-back losses to Lucie Hradecka and Lara Arruabarrena before she turned it all around with a win over Coco Vandeweghe in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
After failing to defend her Hopman Cup title with Nick Kyrgios, the 22nd seed visited Sydney where she earned a first round scalp over Donna Vekic winning 6-3, 7-6 before falling at the hands of world No.9 and eventual champion Johanna Konta 6-1, 6-3.
The Australian has struggled to get off to a good start in her meetings so far at the Australian Open. Her first round matchup with Naomi Broady saw her recover from a slow start to come through 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Dasha started well against Croat Ana Konjuh before buckling in the second set, eventually winning out in a close encounter 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Gavrilova is now closing in on Samantha Stosur as Australia’s No.1, booking her place in the quarterfinals will secure that hope.
Gavrilova’s opponent Timea Bacsinszky had a tough finish to 2016, winning only four of her last ten matches.
The Swiss started her Australian Open campaign in tough circumstances against Italian Camila Giorgi, securing a three-set victory 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. She then knocked off Danka Kovinic in straight sets 6-1, 7-6.
Bacsinszky will need an impressive start if she is to defeat Gavrilova. By winning the first set, it will put immense pressure on the shoulders of the Australian who may struggle to fight back.
Gavrilova has defeated Bacsinszky in both of their meetings. Their most recent encounter was their first on hard court, the Australian winning out at Beijing last year in three sets 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.
The winner faces a fourth round clash with either fifth seed Karolina Pliskova or Latvian Jelena Ostapenko.
Prediction
Australia’s flame will remain alight with Gavrilova to storm into the fourth round on a high.
Gavrilova in three sets.
Join The Roar from 7pm (AEDT).
Be sure to drop a comment in the box below if you’re watching the match.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Gotta love that. Tough slog coming up for the men. Cheers Riley.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
That concludes The Roar’s coverage of Daria Gavrilova vs Timea Bacsinszky. There will be plenty more action tomorrow as the fourth round gets underway, headlined by Roger Federer vs Kei Nishikori. Scott Pryde will have live coverage of that one tomorrow night from 7pm (AEDT). Thanks for following along.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
WOMEN'S SINGLES FOURTH ROUND Angelique Kerber vs CoCo Vandeweghe Sorana Cirstea vs Garbine Muguruza Mona Barthel vs Venus Williams Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Svetlana Kuznetsova Karolina Pliskova vs Daria Gavrilova Jennifer Brady vs Mirjana Lucic-Baroni Ekaterina Makarova vs Johanna Konta Barbora Strycova vs Serena Williams
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
MEN'S SINGLES FOURTH ROUND Andy Murray vs Mischa Zverev Roger Federer vs Kei Nishikori Stan Wawrinka vs Andreas Seppi Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Daniel Evans Gael Monfils vs Rafael Nadal Roberto Bautista Agut vs Milos Raonic Dominic Thiem vs David Goffin Dimitrov/Gasquet vs Denis Istomin
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
DAY 7 KEY MATCHUPS Andy Murray vs Mischa Zverev Stan Wawrinka vs Andreas Seppi Roger Federer vs Kei Nishikori Angelique Kerber vs CoCo Vandeweghe Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Daniel Evans
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
AUSSIE WATCH A good day for the Australians with three wins from four matches. Dasha is through to the fourth round of the women's singles while both Barty and Dellacqua, and Groth and Guccione stay alive with big wins. Daria Gavrilova (AUS) defeated Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 A.Barty (AUS)/C.Dellacqua (AUS) defeated M.Hingis/C.Vandeweghe 6-2, 7-5 S.Groth (AUS)/C.Guccione (AUS) defeated T.Huey/M.Mirnyi 7-6, 7-6 Z.Saisai/A.Peya defeated S.Peers (AUS)/J.Peers (AUS) 7-6, 6-3
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FINAL Aces: 2 - 4 Double Faults: 3 - 4 First Serve %: 53/88 (60%) - 71/105 (68%) Break Points Won: 8/15 (53%) - 6/9 (67%) Winners: 37 - 25 Unforced Errors: 40 - 40 Total Points Won: 103 - 90 Daria Gavrilova 6 5 6 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 4
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FINAL Daria Gavrilova has endured a three set thriller with Timea Bacsinszky, her game at the net unrivalled seeing her rocket into the fourth round against Karolina Pliskova keep the torch alight for Australia. Daria Gavrilova 6 5 6 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 4
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
You were right Nate, tough match next up against Pliskova.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Daria Gavrilova with a very quick interview with Rennae Stubbs: "I am so happy. I feel sorry for the men [Dimitrov and Gasquet], a long day. I'm just exhausted, and so happy."
Nate
Guest
See Riley? Just had to stop talking...haha! Well done Dasha!
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Dasha hits the forehand volley winner at the net. That is game, set and match. Gavrilova is through to the fourth round against Karolina Pliskova in three sets Daria Gavrilova 6 5 6 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 4
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Bacsinszky makes the unforced error wide off the backhand, three match points Daria Gavrilova 6 5 5 40 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 4 0
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Gavrilova with the backhand winner, produces the drop shot Daria Gavrilova 6 5 5 30 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 4 0
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Bacsinszky on serve, she puts it into the net off the backhand. Daria Gavrilova 6 5 5 15 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 4 0
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
UPDATE Karolina Pliskova is through to the fourth round against Gavrilova or Bacsinszky with a three set win over Jelena Ostapenko 4-6, 6-0, 10-8.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Bacsinszky gets us back on serve, breaking with a backhand winner Daria Gavrilova 6 5 5 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 4
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Gavrilova challenges as Bacsinszky hits the forehand winner, it is unsuccessful. Break point Daria Gavrilova 6 5 5 40 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 3 AD
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Bacsinszky overplays the forehand off of Gavrilova's strong serve, deuce Daria Gavrilova 6 5 5 40 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 3 40
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Gavrilova overplays it again off the backhand, break point Daria Gavrilova 6 5 5 30 Timea Bacsinszky 3 7 3 40