Australian Daria Gavrilova’s wretched run in 2019 has continued with a heart-breaking straight sets first round loss to the Czech Republic’s Tereza Martincova at the Karlsruhe Open.
Gavrilova was in control against Martincova when leading 4-1 40-0 on serve in the first set before the wheels completely fell off at Karlsruhe.
The 25-year-old lost the first set 6-4 and while she would again lead 5-1 in the second, Gavrilova couldn’t finish the job, losing the deciding set 7-6 to world no. 141 Martincova, making for her 18th loss this year.
Gavrilova, who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in both 2016 and 2017, has won just seven matches in 2019.
Ranked world no. 20 in August 2017, Gavrilova has slid down to 85 after losing in the first round at this year’s Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.