Another seed falls in Open carnage
Second-seeded Karolina Pliskova yesterday went the same way as seven-time champion Serena Williams and defending champion Naomi Osaka, exiting in a chaotic third round at the Australian Open.
Pliskova, a semifinalist in Melbourne last year, lost 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) to 30th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a match lasting almost two-and-a-half hours. It was an ominous start, with Pliskova needing almost 18 minutes and fending off six break-point chances before holding in her first service game.
Williams and Osaka lost at the same stage on day five, when Caroline Wozniacki was also beaten in a loss that sent the 2018 Australian Open winner into retirement.
Three-time major winner Angelique Kerber bucked the trend by beating Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena.
The 2016 Australian Open winner will play Pavlyuchenkova for a spot in the quarter-finals.
“It was a tough battle,” the 17thseeded Kerber said. “It’s great to be in the second week in Melbourne again. It’s still a long way.”
Pavlyuchenkova had taken only one set off Pliskova in six previous matches, but changed her approach this time and attacked one of the best serves in women’s tennis.
“I even had goosebumps after some points,” the 28-year-old Russian said. “And to beat Karolina for the first time, it’s amazing.”
Pavlyuchenkova won the junior title at Melbourne Park more than a decade ago and said she was using that as motivation this time.
“It brings me like ‘you can do it,’ confidence,” she said, “Keep going.”
Rafael Nadal demolished fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to win through to the fourth round. Nadal didn’t even face a break point as he wiped Carreno Busta off Rod Laver Arena.
“My best match of the tournament so far without a doubt,” Nadal said.
French 10th seed Gael Monfils defeated Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-3, while Alexander Zverev is back in the fourth round after beating 36-year-old Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.
Stan Wawrinka advanced after 19th-seeded American John Isner stopped playing in the second set. Wawrinka led 6-4, 4-1 when Isner was visited by a trainer at a changeover and then retired from the match.