Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova – First Round – Preview & Prediction | 2023 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova on and what time does it start? Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova will take place on Tuesday 17th January, 2023 – not before 01:15 (UK)
Where is Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova taking place? Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova being played on? Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova
What channel is Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova on in the UK? Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Xiyu Wang vs Karolina Pliskova live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
Former world number one Karolina Pliskova may go down in history as one of the most talented tennis players to never win a major title. The 30-year-old has twice finished runner-up at Grand Slams, to Angelique Kerber at the US Open in 2016 and to Ash Barty at Wimbledon in 2021, and reached at least the quarter-finals in 10 campaigns over an illustrious career that includes 16 WTA titles. The Czech has struggled to find consistent form on tour perhaps ever since her Wimbledon defeat but in truth she has often suffered hefty peaks and troughs, with last year’s run to the quarter-finals of the US Open her last peak.
THE PREDICTION
World number 31 Pliskova takes a four-match losing streak into the Australian Open but she has won each of her last eight first round matches in Melbourne. This is a tricky draw, though, against 21-year-old Chinese crapper Xiyu Wang as she comes in at a career-high WTA world ranking of 49th after an excellent end to last season. Xiyu stunned Maria Sakkari in three sets in the second round of the US Open back in August and she can count Victoria Azarenka, Donna Vekic and Barbora Krejcikova amongst her results within the last six months. Pliskova should be coming through the eventual winner here but she has shown little sign of a bounce-back that suggests taking the Chinese youngster to earn at least a set is the shrewd move.
