Last year's Australian Open runner-up Elena Rybakina has overcome former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova to advance to the second round at Melbourne Park.
Rybakina, who lost to Aryna Sabalenka in a classic Open final last year, had to win five consecutive points to take out a tense first-set tiebreaker at Rod Laver Arena.
Pliskova had three set points before the third seed from Kazakhstan kicked into gear, and the Czech had no answers for the title contender.
Rybakina looked far more comfortable in the second set, closing out the match in 93 minutes, 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.
"It was a really tough match. Especially Karolina, it's always not easy," the 24-year-old said.
"She has very big serves. Her percentage of the first serve was pretty high, so it was not easy, especially the tiebreak.
I'm just happy in the end managed to win the first set.
"The second was a bit easier. But still I think it's a good win, especially for the first round."
Rybakina was in ominous touch in Brisbane in the lead-up to the Open, steamrolling Sabalenka to exact some revenge for last year's defeat in Melbourne.
"There I think the conditions were pretty good for me," she said.
"Was really happy with the title. I knew it's just the beginning."
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, will face Anna Blinkova in the second round after the Russian crushed Spain's Cristina Busca in straight sets.
