Daria Gavrilova has produced a performance worthy of the Australian Open’s biggest stage, downing Irina Falconi to advance to the second round.
Under the bright lights of Rod Laver Arena, Australia’s No.2 women’s player turned it on against the American qualifier, winning 6-1 6-1 in 63 minutes on Monday night.
Gavrilova lost her opening serve then put together nine straight games to take a stranglehold on the match.
Her biggest issue didn’t seem to be her opponent, but her own supporters.
As she headed towards success in the second set, she repeatedly motioned towards her own box, questioning where family and friends had gone.
As it happened, they were answering the call of nature.
“I wasn’t too happy with some of them leaving. I wasn’t too happy but that’s OK. They needed to go,” she said.
Toilet breaks aside, Gavrilova said she was satisfied with her night’s work.
“I’m really happy with the way I played today,” she said.
“All I thought about was competing and I did that well.”
Gavrilova’s success was built off her return of serve.
She didn’t allow Falconi a single service hold, tallying a mammoth 13 break points in seven games.
She recorded 23 winners to five in a dominant display over the qualifier – which would have been fellow Australian Priscilla Hon if their third-round qualifying clash on Sunday went the other way.
Gavrilova’s reward is progression to a clash with Belgian world No.36 Elise Mertens on Wednesday.
The world No.23 said she wouldn’t look further than that.
“I’m not putting expectations on myself and no one in my team does,” she said.
“All I do is go out and fight every point.”