Pliskova sprang to 2-0 without dropping a point, wiped two break point chances to hold for 3-0 and by the time she secured a double break for 4-0 there were signs of panic from the Frenchwoman, whose parents and brother were nervous spectators. Pliskova clinched her third straight win against Tomljanovic this season, taking 93% of her first service points to reach her fifth final of the year. Pliskova was right to be wary of Mladenovic. Tennis Australia acknowledges that the AO is held on Aboriginal Land and we extend our respects to the Traditional Owners, their ancestors and Elders past, present and emerging and to all First Nations People. We played in Australia, so I knew what to expect. H2H Rankings progression with comparison between the 2 players about their performance on hard courts, grass, clay and carpet After the blowout first set, it was hard to compute that this was the same Mladenovic who ripped the Fed Cup final from the Australians at Perth last November. I know it’s going to be a lot about me. Melbourne is already a favourite stop for the 27-year-old, though it would top her cities ranking if she were to clinch her first major here. Neither player’s delivery would be impressive over the course of the match, with Mladenovic serving four of her five first-set double faults in the second game, allowing Pliskova to break under relatively little strain. Mladenovic had been representing France at the Fed Cup since 2012. Karolína Pliskova’s power hitting dominated the marquee first match at Rod Laver Arena, the No.2 seed blasting through Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 7-5. “I think it was [a] very tough first round, but good test to start with such a tough opponent,” Pliskova said after her victory over the world No.41. Mladenovic stiffened her resistance in the second set, saving a breakpoint to hold the opening game and threatening to break the Czech’s serve at 2-1 with a delicate drop shot winner. Every week receive player features, tournament news, and WTA Insider content with the WTA First Serve newsletter. The Czech won a torrid 2016 Fed Cup final clash 16-14 in the third, and perhaps some feeling from that meeting resurfaced when Pliskova, asked about the form of Mladenovic on the eve of the tournament, said coolly: “I don’t know actually in which form she is in right now. Karolina Pliskova raced through her first Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships match of 2020 against qualifier Kristina Mladenovic.

It was quite a solid first round,” she said after taking her record against the 26-year-old to 4-2 in her favor. Martic won her first title this year — in Istanbul — before she reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time at Roland Garros and made the Top 20 rankings. Pliskova leads 3:2 in matches against Mladenovic. Last match was played this year at AO and Pliskova won 6-2 7-5.Pliskova is currently ranked at the third sport in the world while Kiki Mladenovic … “It’s always a tough one against her. @KaPliskova claims the opener, 6-1 #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/JYKmSxmPwL. A quick break gave the Czech the advantage, which she built upon with an awkward service hold.

Mladenovic was the women's doubles runner-up in four other Grand Slam tournaments – the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, the 2016 US Open, the 2018 US Open, and the 2019 Australian Open.

The 28-year-old Martic broke three times in a 21-minute opening set and sealed victory with her third ace. I'm not saying I can't lose. Pliskova, who could have been serving for the match, instead found herself serving at 4-5 to save the set. They were locked at 2-2 in previous matches though this was their first meeting in a major. She made a ferocious start on Tuesday. Coming off a third Brisbane title, Pliskova thrives in Australia, site of her best major performance of 2019, when she was shaded by eventual champion Naomi Osaka in the semis but only after overcoming Serena Williams in a dramatic quarterfinal, from four match points and 5-1 down in the third set. It’s a little bit faster, which is better.”. “With my game, there is not really anybody who I would be super scared of because it's mostly about me. But the statuesque all-courtier has since endured an unsettled start to the year, losing in qualifying at Brisbane, pulling out of the doubles semifinal to contest Adelaide qualifying, only to be barred from entering. Click here to find out more info. If I'm solid, if I am there just focus every point, I think it should not happen.”.