The Dunlop balls will be in for a bruising experience when Karolina Pliskova and Naomi Osaka collide in the Brisbane semifinals.
A clash of two of the game's most explosive servers marks their first meeting since Osaka out-dueled Pliskova 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the Australian Open semifinals last January. Osaka went on to defeat Petra Kvitova to capture the Australian Open title.
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The second-seeded Pliskova has split four career meetings with Osaka and expects another tight test.
"I think it can be challenging because we didn't play for a while," Pliskova said. "The last time we played was in Melbourne last year and it was pretty close. All the matches are always one break in each set.
"So there is not many chances because she can serve well I can serve well. It's gonna be about a couple of points."
Oddschecker lists Osaka as an 8 to 1 choice to successfully defend her Australian Open title, second only to Serena Williams among oddsmakers. Pliskova listed at 14 to 1 to break through and win her first major in Melbourne.
Both women enter the season with new coaches. Pliskova is working with Dani Vallverdu, who previously coached Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov. Osaka is playing her first event with new coach Wim Fissette.
The 39-year-old Belgian is Osaka's third coach in the last year. She split with Sascha Bajin after winning Melbourne and parted with coach Jermaine Jenkins after the US Open. Pliskova sees a happier Osaka these days.
"I think she's playing pretty good this week so it's gonna be tough," Pliskova said. "Of course she has a new team too. So I think she looks more happy than she did maybe last year at times.
"Of course it's gonna be tough, but I'm looking forward to it too."
The winner of the Pliskova-Osaka showdown will play either the fifth-seeded Kvitova or eighth-seeded Madison Keys in the Brisbane final.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve