Daria Gavrilova started off her first round match in sunny Melbourne against the Russian, Lucie Hradecka. Both unseeded players had previously never met before. The Australian was with a slight edge in the match after coming off a win in the Hopman Cup for her country. It was a close fight throughout the first set which was decided by a tiebreaker going in favor of the Australian. It remained a close affair in the second too, until Gavrilova got the crucial break to seal victory 7-6(3), 6-4.

A Tight First Set Settled By The Tiebreaker

Play was on serve throughout the first set. Hradecka was serving heavily and troubling Gavrilova with her explosive play, but the young Aussie hung on to save all break points that she was up against. The veteran was just not able to break her opponent when the chances arrived. Gavrilova got better as the match went on and had her first break point chance in the 10th game, but Hradecka saved it to level the match at 5-5. The Czech had three break points in the 11th game but could not capitalize once again as the Aussie stood strong. As both women held serve, it went to a tiebreak.

In the tiebreak, Gavrilova started out strong leading 3-0 before she squandered the lead as the Czech levelled it to 3-3. From then on, it was all Gavrilova as she battled her nerves to clinch the first set 7-6(3).

One Break Of Serve Was All That Was Needed For Gavrilova

Hradecka started the second set with a good hold and put pressure on Gavrilova's serve in the next. With the home crowd behind her, Gavrilova battled once again to save break points. The match went on serve until the seventh game as the Czech was serving. Hradecka, with a double fault and a couple of errors, handed the Aussie three break points, but the veteran saved one. However, she didn't save the next, as Gavrilova grabbed hold of the first break of the entire match. She then calmly consolidated the break to lead 4-3 in the second set. The doubles expert hung on to make it 5-3 and put pressure on Gavrilova to serve it out. A nervous Gavrilova came through in the end beating the Czech 7-6(3) 6-4.

Gavrilova was the first Australian through to the second round in Melbourne. 

"I'm very happy I got through in the end", gushed the 21 year old during her on-court interview.

Up next she faces another Czech in sixth seeded Petra Kvitova.

Match Statistics

Hradecka must be frustrated as she failed to convert any of her 10 break point chances. On the contrary, Gavrilova only had three but successfully converted one for the only break of serve in the entire match.

The Czech also had 35 winners, which was 16 more than the Aussie's. However, Hradecka hit 34 unforced errors to Gavrilova's 22.