No. 5-seeded Karolina Pliskova was one of the clear favorites to win the title in Melbourne. The Czech backed that up by dropping just a combined four games in her first two matches. But then she came up against Jelena Ostapenko, one of the top, young players who you probably haven’t heard of.
The Latvian found a way to turn the tide against Pliskova in the third set after getting bageled in the second. Ostapenko served for the match twice and despite failing to close things out, hung in there with one of the biggest hitters on tour deep into the deciding set before dumping a backhand in the net on match point.
“I got so tight!” Ostapenko told Pliskova in the locker room according to reports. At least she knows.
Check out No. 3.
