The Czech legend!

Alexandrova is the logical favourite on paper, she knows this tournament inside out and her ability to dominate rallies on clay is real. But the Russian had to withdraw from Charleston last week with a back injury, and her presence in Linz was only confirmed at the very last moment. She therefore arrives with no matches under her belt on this surface, with no reference points on this low bounce that she is discovering here for the first time, and with a physical question mark still hanging over her.

Pliskova, for her part, delivered yesterday in the best possible way, firing 16 aces against Sasnovich on this centre court she knows well since her title in 2014. Her serve is intact, and so is her confidence. She’s used to starting fast and strong, exactly the opposite of Alexandrova, who traditionally lets the early games slip away before finding her rhythm. On indoor clay with an ultra-low bounce that amplifies the impact of first serves, the conditions are in place for the Czech to steal the first set before the defending champion has even really settled into her match.