Karolina Pliskova has booked a place in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park for the second straight year, recovering from a slow start to win a spirited late-night battle of the Czechs at Rod Laver Arena that finished well into the early hours of Tuesday morning.
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In a match that was not without significant danger for the No.6 seed, she eventually accounted for countrywoman Barbora Strycova 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 in 2 hours and 41 minutes.
“The first set took away from me a lot of power, but I was much more aggressive after that,” Pliskova said.
Strycova – at 31 the second-oldest woman left in the draw – looked more than capable of handling the clean ball-striking of her taller and younger opponent, with her experience and court craft able to subdue the Pliskova power game early.
Pliskova also appeared to be playing a little within herself, passing up the opportunity to be more imposing, especially on the Strycova second serve.
The first set moved inevitably towards a tiebreaker, some good fortune twisting it in Strycova’s favour after Pliskova double-faulted by way of a netcord before a Strycova forehand jumped over her racquet courtesy of the same.
It was enough for Strycova – the No.20 seed – to claim the first set in 69 minutes.
With Strycova’s former coach Thomas Krupa now by Pliskova’s side for the first time in a major, the world No.6 remained calm despite the initial deficit, and a loose game from Strycova to open the second set gave her the advantage, as Pliskova began to move up on the baseline and take time away from her opponent.
A second break gave Pliskova some significant breathing space, and while Strycova battled valiantly to bridge the gap, she quickly levelled proceedings at one set apiece.
The battle between the two former Australian Open junior champions (Pliskova in 2010 and Strycova consecutively in 2002-03) continued into the deciding set. They traded breaks in the opening two games, but Pliskova continued to look the forerunner, finally finding her rhythm and breaking down the Strycova game, which had held up so well to this point.
Pliskova now moves on to try and record her best result in Melbourne and reach a semifinal against top seed Simona Halep of Romania. “I think on this surface I have a good chance,” Pliskova said of the upcoming match.
Meanwhile, Strycova’s hopes remain in the women’s doubles, where she will compete in a quarterfinal with another fellow Czech, Lucie Safarova, who is looking to defend her crown from last year which she earned with American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.