Daria Gavrilova met Carla Suarez Navarro to open up the night session on Rod Laver Arena. The match was supposed to start around 7 PM local time, but Gilles Simon and Novak Djokovic had other ideas as the world number one on the men’s side was pushed but survived the inspired Frenchman. This match between “Dasha” and Suarez Navarro brought just as much dramatics as Simon and Djokovic. The Spaniard ended Gavrilova’s run winning in three sets 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.

“Dashing” To The Perfect Start

Gavrilova, popularly known as “Dasha” literally dashed her way to the perfect start. She opened up with a hold at 30 and subsequently broke straight away on her second break point up 30-40. Gavrilova struck again in the fourth game, breaking at love as Rod Laver Arena was thrilled to see their countrywoman well in control. It was not long as she broke for the set with another break at 30 for a devastating bagel.

The set was ultimately one to forget for the Spaniard. She hit 31 percent (5/16) first serves in and won none, yes.. none, of those first serve points. She even managed to knock up double digit unforced errors with 10 in the set while Gavrilova pounded out nine winners.

Suarez Navarro Forces Decider As Gavrilova Begins To Feel Pressure

After saving break points to open the set, Gavrilova had a couple of her own to make it eight games on the bounce. However, a mixture of brilliant slice backhands as well as errors from the Australian finally put the Spaniard on the board. The Spaniard continued to battle and finally picked up the break in the fifth game to put her ahead as Rod Laver Arena sensed a turn in the momentum.

The Spaniard would go onto save a break point to consolidate the break and extend her lead to 4-2. Suarez Navarro took a medical timeout late in the set which clearly ticked some people off as a sign of gamesmanship. The 10 seed broke Gavrilova to end the set to force a deciding set.

Gavrilova With Early Break Before Suarez Navarro Ends Australian Hopes

After getting broken to end the second set, the Australian began the third set with a bang by breaking Suarez Navarro. The following game was a 15 point duel where Gavrilova saved four break points to hold for 2-0. After this, it all turned.

Suarez Navarro held for 1-2 and began her stunning run. She broke for two-all and made it 3-2 with another hold. The Australian was beginning to feel the pressure as her emotions began to get the best of her. The Aussie finally succumbed as she could not handle it anymore, dropping three more games to drop the set and the match 2-6. The 10 seed will now face