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No.6 Seed Karolina Pliskova Outclassed by Karolina Muchova in Third Round of Australian Open 2021

Karolina Pliskova

In the first 4 days of the Australian Open 2021, it became clear that this Grand Slam is different. From many WTA seeds already cleared out, the tournament was moving towards an unforeseen end. And to find their place ahead in the game, Karolina Pliskova and Karolina Muchova battled to qualify for the fourth-round. As an outcome of the All-Czech clash, Muchova defeated Pliskova 7-5, 7-5.

The sixth seed of the tournament, Pliskova won the last two games in straight sets. Not much different from her, the 25th seed, Muchova also reached the third round without losing a set. However, this time around, it was not easy to get the same kind of result.

Pliskova misses two breakpoints, Muchova takes the lead

Karolina Muchova
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 13, 2021, Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova reacts during her third-round match against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

It did not start very well for the former World No. 1 player as Muchova got two early breaks in the opening set. However, Pliskova recovered half of her loss in the sixth game, making it three each.

Between the two, the 24-year-old Muchova showed more desire to go to the next round. Breaking her opponent’s serve once more, she found herself in the lead again.

Pliskova had a chance to drag the set to a tiebreaker, but she buttered away that chance. Recovering two breakpoints, the current World No. 27 won the first set 7-5.

Karolina Pliskova gives a 5 games lead away

Karolina Pliskova
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 11, 2021, Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova in action during her second-round match against Danielle Collins of the U.S. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

The 2019 Australian Open semifinalist was not going to be another straight-sets victim for Muchova. So, tieing up the loose ends of the first set, Pliskova made a staggering return in the game. She won 5 consecutive games and was 4 points away from settling the score even.

However, it did not take long enough for the winds to change the direction. Jumping back into the game, Muchova served to save the set and found her lost rhythm. Clearly, she did not want the match to go to three sets.

It all came down to the eleventh and twelfth game of the second set. Surprisingly, Pliskova gave away 2 set points and a 5 games lead under the heat in Rod Laver Arena.

Fighting the conditions and the passion of the 24-year-old Muchova was weighing heavy on the 2016 US Open finalist. Unable to find her way into the game, Pliskova lost the battle in straight sets after all.

This match adds up to the long list of the WTA upsets this year. However, from here on, the ones who display their best tennis will only survive.

Muchova, who made it into the last 16 for the first time, will meet the winner between Belinda Bencic and Elise Mertens. Hold on to your ropes as the Happy Slam is going to be more titillating in the coming days.

Who do you think will lift the Australian Open 2021 title?

Also Read: “Crushed Me in French Open”: Simona Halep On Up Next Iga Swiatek Challenge at Australian Open 2021

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