Elena Rybakina survived a huge test from Karolina Pliskova as the third seed won 7-6(6) 6-4 to reach the second round.
Last year’s finalist had to recover from a break down early on as Pliskova came out firing early on.
Rybakina responded immediately though breaking back as the Kazakh entered this match with a 3-0 head-to-head record against the Czech Republican.
Both players found confidence in their baseline game earlier on in the set and Rybakina had to find some magical shots in order to keep up with Pliskova.
In the end the Brisbane champion did well to force a tiebreak as Pliskova was playing with no pressure on her shoulders.
However there was more intensity and pressure from Pliskova as she dominated the early stages of the tiebreak and had three set points at 6-3.
Something special is what Rybakina needed to escape this tough situation and that is exactly what the former Wimbledon champion produced as she reeled off five points in a row.
From then on it was all about Rybakina as she took control of the match with an early break of serve and secured the win in straight sets.
An important win for Rybakina, who secured her eighth win of the season and is looking like the favourite to win the tournament.
After the match Rybakina admitted it was a tough contest but she was happy to claim victory, “Yeah, it was really tough match. Especially Karolina, it’s always not easy,” Rybakina said in her press conference.
“She has very big serves. Today I think her percentage of the first serve was pretty high, so it was not easy, especially the tiebreak. Yeah, I’m just happy in the end managed to win the first set. The second was a bit easier. But still I think it’s a good win, especially for the first round.”
The next challenge for the third seed is Anna Blinkova on Thursday, where Blinkova leads the head-to-head 1-0.
