Danka Kovinić advanced to the second round of a major for the third time in her last four Slams with an impressive display against American Samantha Crawford, the darling of Brisbane after making the semifinals of that event as a qualifier.

Kovinić Gets Off To A Quick Start

Crawford began the match on serve, her most powerful weapon that tore through Brisbane, holding to 30. Kovinić's first service game saw her hold to 15, and she quickly had Crawford in a bind, setting up two break points at 15-40. Not taking her chance on the first, she didn't waste her second try to edge out in front 2-1 as Crawford missed a backhand wide. A quick hold to love armed Kovinić with a 3-1 lead, Crawford responding with a solid, quick hold of her own to draw within 3-2.

Little did she know at the time that would be the last game she would win in the opening set. First, Kovinić survived a 13-point sixth game on serve, saving three break points for a 4-2 lead. Next, she cobbled together an insurance break with Crawford missing a forehand long, extending her lead to 5-2. Finally, she served out the set, a tense game that saw Crawford save the first set point against her, but not the second as Kovinić took the opening frame 6-2 as the American netted a forehand. 

Crawford Tries To Make A Comeback, But The Montenegrin Advances

The second set began ominously for Crawford, her serve being tested again as Kovinić was presented with three opportunities to break. The Montenegrin couldn't capitalize on the first two, but made no mistake with the third, slipping a forehand down the line after Crawford's previous shot had popped up off of the net, racing out to a quick advantage. Sensing her strong position in the match, Kovinić held to love, jumping out to a 2-0 lead.

Crawford, clearly continued showing nerves, falling behind 0-30 on her next service game, the match threatening to slip away from her. She rallied for a hold and Kovinić's lead was trimmed to 2-1. Kovinić held at love for a 3-1 lead now having won 10 straight points on serve going back to the end of the first set. What looked like a quick, easy hold for Crawford turned into a marathon, 10 point long game, with Kovinić seizing her second break chance of the game to race out to a 4-1 lead thanks to Crawford shaking a forehand wide.

Another hold at love put the Montenegrin on the brink, a 5-1 lead as her serve points won streak was now 13, including nine straight to open up the second. Facing elimination, Crawford struggled to hang on, escaping the end with a narrow hold to stay alive. Now serving for the match at 5-2, Kovinić wobbled for the first time, losing a 30-0 lead as Crawford battled back to win four points in a row, the last on a Kovinić double-fault.

Now at 5-3, Crawford engineered another hold after being two points from defeat. At 5-4, Kovinić was given a second chance to finish the match and she took it with Crawford dumping a forehand into the bottom of the net. The match was hers and a  second round match with 14th seed Victoria Azarenka awaits.