Kristina Mladenovic and Daria Gavrilova met in the third round of the Australian Open with both women looking to get to the round of 16 for the first time in their careers here in Melbourne. The seeded Frenchwoman going up against the crowd favorite Gavrilova, who had just taken out the sixth seed in her previous match and looked to continue with her run. With one set all in a pretty even contest, it took 96 minutes in an incredible third set for the Aussie to seal the deal 6-4, 4-6, 11-9.
Gavrilova With The Better Start In The First Set
Gavrilova won the toss but elected to receive. Both women started well and held their serves well to make it 1-1. Mladenovic was not getting her first serves in as well as she was doing in her previous match against Nicole Gibbs, and this allowed Gavrilova to pounce on her second serve. The Aussie was rewarded with a break point which she grabs to go 2-1 up. Mladenovic, however, followed it up with break points of her own in the next game as Gavrilova's level dropped. A double fault gifted the Frenchwoman the break back.
Gavrilova found her groove and stepped up her aggression. Both woman pushed hard and at this point it was Mladenovic who had covered more distance than her opponent. The 28th seed came to the net more often adding variety but it was Gavrilova who handled the shots better and set up two break points with a perfect angled shot in the seventh game. Mladenovic could only see her shot hit the net as Gavrilova broke again to lead 4-3.
The Frenchwoman pressed to find the break but Gavrilova hung on and Mladenovic followed it up with a hold of her own. And it was the Aussie who served for the set at 5-4 and coolly wrapped to take it 6-4.
Mladenovic Fights Back To Take The Second Set
The second set starts like the first as both women held serve to level at 1-1. And it followed suit as Gavrilova drew blood first after errors from Mladenovic but just like in the first set, the Aussie gets broken immediately to tie at 2-2. As Mladenovic faced break point in the fifth game, she challenged a call mid point only to lose the point and the game to trail 3-2.
Things were not looking good at this point for the Frenchwoman but after the sit down, she came firing to get the immediate break back to tie at 3-3. Mladenovic got a love hold for the first time in the match in the ninth game, putting the pressure back on the Aussie to hold. At 5-4, Gavrilova played her worse game giving Mladenovic three set points.The Aussie only able to save one as Mladenovic seals the second set 6-4 to bring the match to a third set.
Double Faults Cost Mladenovic In An Epic 96 Minute Set
It was Gavrilova who got off to a better set in the deciding set getting the break after a double fault from Mladenovic. But she could not consolidate as after some good play from the 28th seed and errors off her own racket gifted the break back. The Aussie already made some bad challenges in that game and was now left with zero challenges.
Both players were relentless and persistent to hold their serves, At 4-4 on Mladenovic's serve, Gavrilova stepped it up a notch and gets two break point opportunities. The 28th seed unable to save as another double fault gives the Aussie the all important break and game away from winning the match. This was the second time in the set a double fault handed Gavrilova the game.
Gavrilova was one game away from victory but again Mladenovic fought hard to create three break chances, She stopped the Aussie party as she broke to level 5-5. As the set progressed, it was the Aussie who had the better of the chances. Gavrilova with break point in the 13th game but was unable to capitalize.
As the set progressed, it was Gavrilova who settled into her service games better with a few love hold games. Mladenovic was made to work harder to hold serve. And finally in the 19th game, Gavrilova got another look at Mladenovic's service game. The seeded player saved one break point but could not hang hitting a double fault at the worst possible time to give Gavrilova the lead at 10-9. Serving for the match at the second time, Gavrilova makes no mistake finishing the match 6-4, 4-6, 11-9.
The Winning Numbers
Both women won 69 percent of their first serves. Gavrilova hit five double faults but it was Mladenovic who hit twice as much as and most of them came at the worse times.
The Frenchwoman hit 45 winners which was more than Gavrilova's 33. But the 28th seed had twice as more unforced errors at 61 to the Aussie's 30.