Los Australian Open 2023: 14 Czechs will play in the first round

A few hours after the end of qualifying, the Australian Open organizers added the remaining names to the first round match schedule. Among them are Dalibor Svrcina, Sara Bejlek and Brenda Fruhvirtova, who made it through the final matches of the qualifying round to complete the 11 other Czechs on the starting list.

Kvitova may face Krejcikova

Czech number one Petra Kvitova will face Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanckova (70th) in the first round. Kvitova has been in great form lately, her winning streak was snapped by world No. 8 Daria Kasatkina in Adelaide.

If she advances, she may meet Barbora Krejcikova (21st) in the third round. She will face 16-year-old Sara Bejlek (175th), who successfully passed the three-round qualification.

Strong opponents for Siniakova and Martins

The fate was not too kind to Katerina Siniakova (48th) and Tereza Martincova (73rd). While Siniakova will challenge the world number seven, American Coco Gauff (7th), Martintsova will face the world number five Aryna Sabalenka (5th).

Bouzkova may face Swiatek

Marie Bouzkova can’t be too happy with the draw either. In the first round, she will have to beat former US Open winner, Canadian Bianca Andreescu (42nd). If she advances, she may challenge the reigning world number one and the biggest favourite at the Australian Open, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, in the third round.

A tougher draw for Pliskova, Vondrousova and Muchova

Karolína Plíšková (31st) has a far more pleasant lot, and she may be caught by a match against China’s Xiu Wang (49th). Karolína Muchová can’t complain either, as she will face qualifier Lesya Tsurenko (134th) of Ukraine. Marketa Vondrousova (78th) will challenge Alison Riske (41st) of the United States.

The Fruhvirt sisters will be making their Australian Open debut

Fifteen-year-old Brenda Fruhvirt has been rising up the world rankings following the example of her older sister Linda and now they both have a big debut among adults at the Australian Open. Linda goes into the main draw as a seeded player, while Brenda had to qualify in the qualifying round.

Linda got a playable opponent in the form of home-grown Australian Jaimee Fourlis (160th) Brenda will have a slightly tougher job as she will face Belarusian Alyaksandra Sasnovich (38th) in the first round.

A tough draw for the men

The lot was merciless to the men. Czech men’s number one Jiri Lehecka (78th) will face returnee Borna Coric (23rd), who recently won the comeback of the year award and is playing in good form.

Tomas Machac (115th) has an even tougher draw. He will challenge the third player in the world, Nora Casper Ruud. Although he has not been doing so well lately, he is still one of the world’s top players and is the favourite to advance to the second round.

The debutant in the main stage of the Australian Open, Dalibor Svrcina (219th) got in the first round the clay player Jaume Munar (62nd) from Spain. He is on a four-match winless streak on the hard surface.

The complete schedule of the Czechs in the 1st round of the Australian Open (times to be determined for all matches)

1. men’s singles round –
Jiri Lehecka (78th) – Borna Coric (23rd, Croatia)
Tomas Machac ( 115th) – Casper Ruud (3rd, Norway)
Dalibor Svrcina ( 219th) – Jaume Munar (62nd, Spain)

1. women’s singles round
Petra Kvitova (16th) – Alison Van Uytvanck (70th, Belgium)
Barbora Krejcikova ( 21st) – Sara Bejlek (175th)
Marie Bouzkova (26th) – Bianca Andreescu (CAN, 42nd)
Karolina Pliskova ( 31st) – Xiu Wang (CHN, 49th)
Katerina Siniakova (48th) – Coco Gauff (USA, 7th)
Tereza Martincova ( 73rd) – Aryna Sabalenka (5th)
Markéta Vondroušová (78th) – Alison Riske-Amritrajová (USA, 41st)
Linda Fruhvirtova (80th) – Jaimee Fourlis (AUS, 160th)
Karolína Muchová (133rd) – Lesja Curenkova (UKR, 134th)
Brenda Fruhvirtova (135th) – Aljaksandra Sasnovic (38th)

Source: Australian Open