Pliskova into Australian Open second round

World No.2 Karolina Pliskova has continued her unbeaten summer down under to move into the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Pliskova overcame a second-set challenge from Kristina Mladenovic to see off the French Fed Cup hero 6-1 7-5 in one hour and 24 minutes on Tuesday.

The winner of the season-opening Brisbane International, second-seeded Pliskova could face former semi-finalist Coco Vandeweghe for a place in the third round.

Playing on a wildcard this year after an injury-plagued 2019 campaign, Vandeweghe faces German Laura Siegemund in one of 45 women’s matches on a bumper day two schedule.

Half of Monday’s matches were washed out, leaving officials trying to get through a back-log of first-round encounters.

British No.1 Johanna Konta, meanwhile, will not be repeating her 2016 charge to the semi-finals after crashing out with a 6-4 6-2 loss to crafty Tunisian Ons Jabeur.

It was a disappointing exit for 12th-seeded Konta, who made the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year as well as the quarters at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, the 23rd seed and runner-up to Ashleigh Barty in Adelaide, continued her hot start to the summer with a 6-1 6-1 win over Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan.

The 19-year-old’s reward is a second-round shot at retiring 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki.

In other early results, Greek 22nd seed Maria Sakkari thrashed Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan 6-2 6-2 and Slovenian Polona Hercog set up a showdown with Barty with a 6-3 6-3 win over Swede Rebecca Peterson.

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