Practice partners Karolina Pliskova and Karolina Muchova will renew their friendly major rivalry in the Australian Open third round.
Former world No. 1 Pliskova defeated Danielle Collins 7-5, 6-2 to reach the AO third round the seventh straight year. Meanwhile, Muchova swept German Mona Barthel 6-4, 6-1.
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Pliskova and Muchova were daily practice partners at Melbourne Park during mandatory quarantine and know each other's games well from training throughout the years.
"Of course, we know each other so much," Pliskova said. "Even if we would not practice those two weeks in quarantine, we practice a lot in Czech. We're actually quite good friends.
"I think it's going to be at least like good atmosphere, there is not really the tension that we hate each other. I think it can be good match."
If it's anything like their last encounter it could be epic. Muchova fought off Pliskova 4-6, 7-5, 13-11 in the 2019 Wimbledon fourth round avenging Pliskova's 6-3, 6-2 sweep at the 2019 Australian Open.
"Of course, she's a dangerous player," Pliskova said. "She can play well. She has a different style. It's going to be very tricky. Last one I lost very close in Wimby, I won here, so let's see."
Photo credit: Karolina Muchova Instagram