MATCH POINTS

Karolina Pliskova and Lesia Tsurenko have been playing each other since 2009, alternating victories over five encounters with the Czech currently leading 3-2. At ITF level, Pliskova won their first meeting in the 2009 Brno 25K quarterfinals 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(4); Tsurenko avenged the loss in the final of the 2011 Bratislava 25K final 7-5, 6-3, before Pliskova won again in the 2012 Ismaning 75K quarterfinals 6-4, 6-3. Tsurenko captured their first WTA-level meeting 6-2, 6-2 in the 2015 New Haven quarterfinals - their only previous outdoor hard court encounter - but Pliskova was the victor in their most recent match, 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-2 in the first round of Madrid in 2017.

2017 winner Karolina Pliskova is bidding to become the third two-time Brisbane champion in the tournament's history, following Serena Williams (2013-14) and Victoria Azarenka (2009, 2016). The 26-year-old has now reached a WTA final in seven consecutive seasons, and a win would garner her 12th career title.

Lesia Tsurenko will compete in her fifth career final, and first at Premier level. Thus far, the Ukrainian has a perfect 4-0 record in finals.

Karolina Pliskova is 11-11 in career finals overall, but has won five of her last six, with the only loss coming to Caroline Garcia in Tianjin last October.

Brisbane holds fond memories for Lesia Tsurenko: it was the site of her maiden WTA semifinal in 2013, when she reached the last four as a Lucky Loser.

This is the fourth consecutive year in which the Brisbane final has paired a seeded player against unseeded opposition. In 2017 and 2018, the seed won, with No.3 Pliskova defeating Alizé Cornet and No.3 Elina Svitolina defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich respectively; in 2016, the unseeded Victoria Azarenka beat No.4 Angelique Kerber for the title.

ORDER OF PLAY (starts 3pm)

PAT RAFTER ARENA
After 1 ATP match, not before 5pm
Karolina PLISKOVA (CZE) [5] vs Lesia TSURENKO (UKR)