Women's singles second round
Maria Sakkari avoided a shock loss to 18-year-old qualifier Diana Shnaider, securing a 3-6 7-5 6-3 comeback win to open Wednesday's play on Margaret Court Arena.
"It's never easy to play someone that you’ve never played before," admitted the two-time major semifinalist, who was surprised by Shnaider's powerful forehand and serve.
"I was a little hesitant, she was swinging very hard, she was playing very aggressive."
MORE: All the scores from Day 3 at AO 2023
MARIA SAKKARI: “I feel like I’m at home, especially in Melbourne”
The big-hitting left-hander, an AO 2022 girls' doubles champion, troubled her Greek rival early. In the opening set, she bossed around her elder opponent, striking 14 crisp winners to Sakkari's seven, before the sixth seed asserted herself into the match.
"I was very far back from the base line, running and defending every single ball, which is not my game. I tried to be more aggressive, just [told] myself to go forward, go to the net," Sakkari explained.
"If you are not aggressive they are going to eat you alive. No matter what your level is, you have to be brave, you have to go for it."
"There were moments in the match where I thought I was gonna lose, but then my belief somehow woke me up," said the Monte Carlo resident, adding that she was pleased to avoid a mental capitulation after dropping the opening set.
MORE: Australian Open 2023 women's singles draw
Shnaider saved two match points, including one with an ace before 27-year-old Sakkari slammed down a forehand winner to seal her second victory at Australian Open 2023.
"I'm here for a reason," Sakkari said. "I've shown myself and everyone I have a very good game and a game I can develop even more."
In the third round, her game will be tested against China's Zhu Lin, who upset 32nd seed Jil Teichmann 6-2 6-2.
Elsewhere, third seed Jessica Pegula booked a ticket to the round of 32 for a third consecutive year, conquering Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2 7-6(5) on Rod Laver Arena.
Sasnovich broke Pegula as she served for the match at 5-4, but the two-time AO quarterfinalist never looked flustered. "I just had to fend off her being really hot and kind of streaky there at the end, she was playing super aggressive."
The even-keeled American, who stunned world no.1 Iga Swiatek at United Cup, has a theory for her success Down Under.
"My game just really suits the conditions, the courts are pretty fast, the ball stays pretty low. I hit pretty flat so I like that I can get into a good rhythm and kind of hit my way through the court," said the 28-year-old.
Unlike other superstitious players, or those who don't want to think too far ahead, Pegula studies the draw.
In her own section, she dubbed Marta Kostyuk, the Ukrainian who upset 28th seed Amanda Anisimova in the first round, as "super talented" and "really dangerous".
But it wasn't all one-way traffic for the top-ranked women in action. Fifteenth seed and 2019 finalist Petra Kvitova was toppled 7-5 6-4 by Anhelina Kalinina.
"She deserved to win for sure," said the two-time major winner, gracious in defeat.
The 25-year-old Ukrainian may be into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, but unlike Pegula, believes it's "absolutely stupid" to look ahead in the draw.
When she eventually looks, Kalinina will see she's scheduled to face 20th seed Barbora Krejcikova, who outlasted qualifier Clara Burel 6-4 6-1.
Also advancing to the third round was two-time AO semifinalist and tenth seed Madison Keys, who dismissed China's Wang Xinyu 6-3 6-2, and 17th seed Jelena Ostapenko, who toughed out a 7-6(5) 5-7 6-0 win over Anna Bondar.