Karolina Pliskova v Naomi Osaka
A look at the records of Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova and Japan's Naomi Osaka before their semi-final match at the Australian Open on Thursday (prefix number denotes seeding):
7-KAROLINA PLISKOVA
Age: 26
WTA Ranking: 8
Grand Slam titles: 0
2018 Australian Open performance: Quarter-finals
Best Australian Open performance: Semi-finals (2019)
Pliskova, who reached world number one in 2017 but has yet to win a Grand Slam title, has a chance to regain the top ranking if she wins the tournament.
The Czech saved four match points to record a remarkable comeback win over 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams in the quarter-finals.
4-NAOMI OSAKA
Age: 21
WTA Ranking: 4
Grand Slam titles: 1 (US Open 2018)
2018 Australian Open performance: Fourth round
Best Australian Open performance: Semi-finals (2019)
After winning her first major at the US Open last year, Osaka's run to her maiden Australian Open semi-final proves she belongs among the top players on the circuit.
Osaka has managed to keep a lid on her simmering temper so far and her game management skills will be tested again when she takes on Karolina Pliskova, who defeated the Japanese youngster in the Tokyo final last year.
HEAD-TO-HEAD (Pliskova 2 - Osaka 1)
2018 Pliskova d Osaka 6-4 6-4 (Tokyo, hard)
2018 Osaka d Pliskova 6-2 6-3 (Indian Wells, hard)
2017 Pliskova d Osaka 6-2 6-7(4) 1-0 (retired) (Toronto, hard)
Petra Kvitova v Danielle Collins
A look at the records of Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova and American Danielle Collins before their semi-final match at the Australian Open on Thursday (prefix number denotes seeding):
8-PETRA KVITOVA
Age: 28
WTA Ranking: 6
Grand Slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2011, 2014)
2018 Australian Open performance: First round
Best Australian Open performance: Semi-finals (2012, 2019)
It is the first time Kvitova has reached a Grand Slam semi-final since being stabbed in a home invasion in late 2016, requiring surgery to her left hand.
The Czech power-hitter has started the new year with a bang, winning the Sydney International title followed by five wins at Melbourne Park without dropping a set.
DANIELLE COLLINS
Age: 25
WTA Ranking: 35
Grand Slam titles: 0
2018 Australian Open performance: Did not play
Best Australian Open performance: Semi-finals (2019)
Collins was ranked 162nd a year ago, before she recorded wins over Madison Keys on her way to the Indian Wells quarter-finals, CoCo Vandeweghe and Venus Williams during a Miami semi-final run and Victoria Azarenka en route to another semi-final in San Jose.
The American had not recorded a match win at Grand Slams until this year but now has five of them. She knocked out three seeded players, including world number two Angelique Kerber.
HEAD-TO-HEAD (Kvitova 1 - Collins 0)
2019 Kvitova d Collins 6-7(6) 7-6(6) 6-3 (Brisbane, hard)
