Czech teenager Bartůňková enjoying breakthrough Australian Open run
Nineteen-year-old Nikola Bartůňková has taken Melbourne by storm at her very first Grand Slam, stunning world number ten Belinda Bencic to reach the third round of the Australian Open. She is one of several Czech players still in the tournament — but the teenage newcomer is the story everyone is talking about.
Nikola Bartůňková defeated Belinda Bencic in three sets with fearless, aggressive tennis, with her style already being compared to Carlos Alcaraz and Roger Federer for its attacking mind-set and willingness to dictate play under pressure.
Once again, she had to recover from a heavy setback, losing the second set 0–6, just as she had done earlier in the tournament against Daria Kasatkina.
This time too, the Czech teenager showed remarkable composure to regroup and take control of the deciding set. Speaking to Czech Radio after the match, Bartůňková admitted that the dips in her second sets remain something she needs to address.
“Unfortunately, I need to improve that a bit. Players always relax, and there are turning points when the set slips away from me quickly. Belinda in particular is a player who knows how to take advantage of opportunities. I’m glad I came back, even though it got away from me for a while.”
Asked whether dropping the middle set might be a deliberate tactic to conserve energy, she was clear in her response.
“Not at all. I want to improve my second sets, I really don’t do it on purpose. I fight for every ball, but of course my opponents also raise their level and I’m tired after the first set. These last two matches had a different intensity and the opponents are different from the ones I used to play before. I still have a lot to improve, but today that doesn’t matter. The main thing is that I won.”
For the young Czech, her Australian Open run is also a clear sign of her progress. At this time last year, Bartůňková was only just returning to the tour after serving an unusual suspension for an unintentional doping violation. A place in the round of sixteen now awaits if she can overcome another top opponent, world number twenty-one Elise Mertens.
Bartůňková is not the only Czech teenager making waves in Melbourne. Tereza Valentová has also reached the third round after defeating her compatriot Linda Fruhvirtová and will now face Elena Rybakina.
Among the more experienced Czech players, Karolína Muchová reached the round of sixteen with a commanding win over Poland’s Magda Linette. She will next face world number three Coco Gauff in what will be her first appearance in the Melbourne fourth round since 2021.
Meanwhile, several other Czech singles players will compete for a place in the last sixteen on Saturday, including Karolína Plíšková, appearing at the Australian Open for the first time since returning from injury.
