Pliskova extends hot start at Open
Wozniacki, Kerber, Sharapova win
MELBOURNE, Australia — Karolina Pliskova extended her winning start to the season by reaching the third round of the Australian Open with a rain-interrupted, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Madison Brengle on Wednesday.
The 2016 U.S. Open finalist started this year with a run to the title at the Brisbane International and entered the season’s first major seeded seventh, still with a chance to regain the top ranking depending on her performance at Melbourne Park.
After dropping serve twice in the first set against Brengle, Pliskova completely dominated the second and third sets and capped it with a pair of aces.
“Some breaks, some good tennis, and some bad mistakes from me too,” Pliskova said. “The first set wasn’t very good from my side, but she played some good points and was very solid.”
She’ll next play No. 27 Camila Giorgi, who beat Iga Swiatek, 6-2, 6-0.
In other early matches, WTA Finals winner Elina Svitolina beat Viktoria Kuzmova, 6-4, 6-1, in 67 minutes, No. 13 Anastasija Sevastova beat teenage Canadian qualifier Bianca Andreescu, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, and No. 21 Wang Qiang Wang had a 6-2, 6-3 win over Aleksandra Krunic.
Peters Township’s Alison Riske and Jennifer Brady won their first-round doubles match, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, over Astra Sharma and Isabella Wallace of Australia.
Down a set and 3-0 in the second, Frances Tiafoe, 20, of the United States came back to stun two-time Grand Slam finalist and No. 5 seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa, 46, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5, in the second round.
“These are the matches where they kind of define you and help you feel more and more comfortable to keep winning matches like that,” Tiafoe said.
“So, yeah, I’m definitely going to remember this one.”
He was joined in the third round by another kid from the U.S. who’d never been far at Melbourne Park, Taylor Fritz, 21, who saved 12 of the 13 break points he faced while dispatching No. 30 seed Gael Monfils of France, 6-3, 6-7 (8), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5).
Next for Fritz is a matchup against Roger Federer, the two-time defending champion in Australia and owner of 20 Grand Slam titles, who beat Dan Evans, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3), 6-3.
“I grew up watching a lot of the guys I play today. I can’t tell you how many times I watched Monfils’ highlight reel on YouTube, just growing up. ‘Fed,’ obviously, my whole life growing up, he was always the best, winning everything,” Fritz said.
Eighth-seeded Kei Nishikori withstood 59 aces from Ivo Karlovic before beating the veteran Croatian 6-3, 7-6 (6), 5-7, 5-7, 7-6 (7) and advancing to the third round..
Rafael Nadal, the 2009 champion, set up a thirdround match against 19year-old Alex de Minaur with a straight-set victory.
The defending women’s champion, Caroline Wozniacki, also advanced in straight sets, beating Johanna Larsson, 6-1, 6-3, and will face Maria Sharapova next. Sharapova’s five major titles include the 2008 Australian Open, had a 6-2, 6-1 win over Rebecca Peterson.
Three-time major champion Angelique Kerber moved on with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia.