Karolina Pliskova and Caroline Wozniacki are among the favorites to do well at the 2017 Australian Open. They were both in action early on Thursday, each looking for a spot in the third round. Pliskova had absolutely no trouble in booking her spot quickly and the Dane likewise followed suit.
Pliskova defeated Anna Blinkova
In what looked like a huge mismatch heading into the day's action, Karolina Pliskova had drawn Anna Blinkova. The match lived up to its billing as Pliskova demolished Blinkova, the World No. 189. The final score in the match was 6-0, 6-2 as Pliskova looks forward to what could be a very deep run at Melbourne Park this season.
Next in the draw, the Czech will face Jelena Ostapenko, a Latvian player that has enjoyed some improved results of late. Ostapenko eliminated a seeded player in straight sets in the 2nd round so there is some potential for a competitive match when she takes on Pliskova. However, Ostapenko, including this year's Aussie, only has four career match-wins to date in majors. Pliskova had more than that at the 2016 US Open alone.
Wozniacki untroubled by Donna Vekic
A short time after Pliskova eliminated Blinkova, Caroline Wozniacki finished off Donna Vekic. The line score in that match was 6-1, 6-3. Wozniacki did not have a fantastic start to the WTA season as she went 4-2 in the opening weeks. However, following two wins in Melbourne she is 6-2 on the season as she prepares for what should be a major test.
Wozniacki will face Johanna Konta in the third round, each player looking for a spot in week two of the 2017 Australian Open.
Between the two players, Wozniacki is certainly the more accomplished. She has twice made the US Open final, while Konta's main claim to fame is her semifinal run from a year ago in Melbourne. Wozniacki has also made the Australian Open semifinals, however, that was a number of years ago now (2011).
Dominika Cibulkova, who also advanced on Day 4, is another key player in the Dane's section of the draw. The three players (along with Ekaterina Makarova) share a path to the quarterfinals in what is a competitive section of the draw.
