Czech tennis player Karolina Pliskova defeated Chinese player Shuai Zhang 6-0, 6-4 in 57 minutes of play in the fourth round of the Australian Open. The world No. 31 will face Magda Linette or Caroline Garcia.
Tournament results
Tournament bracket
Karolina Pliskova is far from her best version, which led her to the top of the world rankings in 2017. However, the Czech is looking to regain her form. In 2022, she did not win any titles, but reached the semifinals of the WTA 1000 Toronto and the WTA 250 Strasbourg. Additionally, she made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open and the WTA 500 Berlin. In 2023, she lost in the first round in Adelaide 1 and made it through the qualifying rounds of Adelaide 2. In Australia, she defeated Wang Xiyu, Yulia Putintseva, and Varvara Gracheva.
Shuai Zhang had a very good 2022, winning a title and having positive weeks to break into the top 30 of the rankings. Last season, the Chinese player won the WTA 250 Lyon. Additionally, she reached the final of the WTA 250 Birmingham. Among other good results, she made it to the semifinals in Tokyo. She also reached the quarterfinals in Nottingham, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Andorra, and Limoges. Her 2023 season started in Adelaide, where she lost in the first round and then in qualifying. In Australia, she defeated Patricia Maria Tig, Petra Martic, and Katie Volynets.
Pliskova advances without problems
Karolina Pliskova and Shuai Zhang faced each other in the round of 16 of the Australian Open.
In the first set, there was hardly any development. The Czech player dominated the match with complete solidity, breaking serve three times and not facing any break points. Pliskova convincingly took a 6-0 lead in just 22 minutes.
In the second set, the Chinese player came out with a different strategy and a different mindset to compete. A little looser and much more precise, Zhang surprisingly broke serve to go up 4-2. However, Karolina did not lose her composure, she stayed focused and with a lot of quality, she won four consecutive games to seal the 6-0, 6-4 victory in 57 minutes.