Daria Gavrilova faces her toughest challenge yet against the WTA’s form player, world No.5 Karolina Pliskova. Can Dasha claim a spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals or will Pliskova continue her charge for a maiden grand slam title? Join The Roar from 7pm (AEDT) for live coverage.
After a mixed start to the summer, Daria Gavrilova has found form at the Australian Open and is staring at the possibility of a best-ever grand slam performance.
The adopted Aussie kicked off the new year in Perth with Nick Kyrgios at the Hopman Cup defending their title. It was a sour start for Dasha, losing out to both Lara Arruabarrena and Lucie Hradecka before finally securing a win against America’s CoCo Vandeweghe 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
Gavrilova then ventured to Sydney for a short-lived run at the Sydney International, earning a first round scalp over Donna Vekic 6-3, 7-6 before losing to eventual champion and Aussie Open bolter Johanna Konta 6-1, 6-3.
She opened her Australian Open dropping the first set off the back of a weak service game before fighting her way back to a three-set victory over Brit Naomi Broady 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
In the second round, Dasha sent Croat teen Ana Konjuh home, once again enduring a three-set tussle 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Gavrilova is coming off a red-hot win over Timea Bacsinszky, sending the 12th seed crashing out 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Gavrilova can’t afford to have another slow start and must not become complacent in the second set, otherwise she will face a stern test from Karolina Pliskova who has proven herself as the WTA’s form player.
Pliskova kicked off 2017 with a bang, cruising to victory at the Brisbane International with wins over Yulia Putintseva, Asia Muhammad and Roberta Vinci before bundling Elina Svitolina in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.
The Czech came racing out of the blocks in the final against Alize Cornet of France winning 6-0, 6-3 in a convincing display.
Pliskova didn’t face much of a challenge in the opening two rounds of the Australian Open, knocking off Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2, 6-0 before getting a win over Anna Blinkova 6-0, 6-2.
She looked at risk of being on the receiving end of a huge upset in the third round against Jelena Ostapenko, fighting back from 4-6 down in the first set to take the second set 6-0. Pliskova eventually held off a fierce Ostapenko to book her place in the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time in her career with a 4-6, 6-0, 10-8 victory.
Two meetings have come between the pair, Pliskova winning on both occasions including one on hard court. Their most recent encounter came at Eastbourne last year, Pliskova cruising through in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. In their other clash, the Czech downed the Australian 6-3, 6-2 at Miami in 2015.
The winner will meet either qualifier Jennifer Brady or Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the quarter-finals.
Prediction
Daria Gavrilova’s run will come to an end with Karolina Pliskova to solidify her status as the tournament dark horse in a solid, straight sets win.
Pliskova in straight sets.
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Preview written by Riley Pettigrew.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me for The Roar's live coverage of Karolina Pliskova and Daria Gavrilova as the Australian got knocked out in straight sets. There are now no Aussie's left in the main singles draw. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Next is Rafael Nadal vs Gael Monfils. You can join the coverage of that one here. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH KAROLINA PLISKOVA ACE! There it is. Pliskova straight through to the quarter-finals in an absolute blitz. Her power game her the win there, with Gavrilova simply unable to handle it. Karolina Pliskova 6 6 Daria Gavrilova 3 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Pliskova before she serves wide. Gavrilova defends from corner to corner but has no chance of making the overhead. Match point again. Pliskova 6 5 - AD Gavrilova 3 3 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Garilova saves the second! Some more defence and Pliskova makes an unforced error coming forward for the forehand. Pliskova 6 5 - deuce (1) Gavrilova 3 3 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Pliskova with a fault but then she sends a forehand wide. Gavrilova with some nice defence to force the error and save the first match point. Pliskova 6 5 - 40 Gavrilova 3 3 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Gavrilova now returns a second serve pretty well but sends a backhand long trying to put it into the corner and get herself off the defensive. 2 match points. Pliskova 6 5 - 40 Gavrilova 3 3 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Pliskova before Gavrilova returns very short. Pliskova has all the time in the world but plants the forehand long. Pliskova 6 5 - 30 Gavrilova 3 3 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Pliskova with a wide serve now and Gavrilova runs around it, trying to change the momentum and pace of the match but sends her forehand wide. Pliskova 6 5 - 30 Gavrilova 3 3 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve and Gavrilova runs back around it, but puts the forehand into the net. Pliskova 6 5 - 30 Gavrilova 3 3 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Lovely shot to hold serve again from Gavrilova! Big forehand down the line on the run, but Pliskova is now serving for the match. Pliskova 6 5 - Gavrilova 3 3 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Good body serve now from Gavrilova and the return thuds into the net from the 5th seed. Pliskova 6 5 - 15 Gavrilova 3 2 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Gavrilova with a fault now before she attacks the body. Hits a nice forehand, but Pliskova smacks one back into the corner. Pliskova 6 5 - 15 Gavrilova 3 2 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Gavrilova serves wide. Pliskova 6 5 - 0 Gavrilova 3 2 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Gavrilova now serving to stay in the match and starts with a fault. Pliskova attacks the second, then goes for a big backhand and sends it wide. Pliskova 6 5 - 0 Gavrilova 3 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Another serve down the middle and Pliskova holds serve again as Gavrilova returns the backhand long. She is now one game away from the match. Pliskova 6 5 - Gavrilova 3 2 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Pliskova serves wide. Gavrilova challenges, but it was in. Pliskova 6 4 - 40 Gavrilova 3 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Big serve down the middle from Plsikova and then a cracking forehand into the corner. Pliskova 6 4 - 30 Gavrilova 3 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Gavrilova with a decent return of serve now, then plenty of depth on a backhand before Pliskova finds the net. Pliskova 6 4 - 15 Gavrilova 3 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Pliskova serves her 10th of the match going wide. Pliskova 6 4 - 15 Gavrilova 3 2 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Gavrilova with a fault, then a wide serve and Pliskova hits the backhand into the corner. Nice shot and she extends the game a fraction further. Pliskova 6 4 - Gavrilova 3 2 -