The Brisbane International has claimed yet another big name, with former world number one Victoria Azarenka dumped from the tournament by rising Czech star Karolina Pliskova.
The 22-year-old, who last year rose from number 63 in the world to sit just outside the top 20, punished a rusty Azarenka, winning a 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 boilover at Pat Rafter Arena.
It was a disappointing start to Azarenka’s Australian Open preparations as she continues her comeback from a foot injury that restricted her to just 24 matches last season.
But it was another milestone for Pliskova, who overthrew two top 10 opponents last year and appears ready to back up her breakthrough 2014 campaign.
“It’s definitely one of my biggest wins. I’m really happy to be in the second round here in Brisbane,” she said.
“It was a really great match.”
Predictions of a quick and painless night for Azarenka appeared on the money early on, with the Belarusian doing it easy on her way to a 3-0 lead in the first set.
Yet that was as easy as it got, with a spirited Pliskova testing Azarenka in all departments and saving two match points before getting the better of her in a see-sawing 193-minute epic.
In the second set, Pliskova fought back from 4-2 down to win a thrilling tiebreak with the two-time Australian Open champion.
Azarenka grabbed the first break with a trademark backhand winner and serving for the match at 5-4, appearing to have done enough to snuff out Pliskova’s brave challenge.
But she survived, broke back and then held her serve to go ahead for the first time in the match.
Azarenka struggled with her forehand all night, and overblew her second match point in the tiebreaker at 6-5, opening the door for Pliskova to creep in front.
The arm-wrestle stretched long into the deciding set, when Pliskova gritted her teeth and saved multiple break points to record a memorable victory.
The result puts Pliskova on track for a potential semi-final clash with Ana Ivanovic, after the only other seeded players on their side of the draw – Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova and Germany’s Andrea Petkovic – were dumped from the tournament across the first two days.
