Pavlyuchenkova began her 2019 season with early exits at the Shenzhen Open and the Hobart International, losing to a pair of youngsters in Veronika Kudermetova and Vera Lapko, respectively. Unseeded at the Australian Open, she began her campaign with a victory over Monica Puig. She then came from a set down to upset ninth seed Kiki Bertens, before defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich to reach the round of 16. There, she came from a set and a break down to upset fifth seed Sloane Stephens and thus, earned herself a berth in her fifth Grand Slam quarterfinal, where she faced first-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Danielle Collins. Despite having won the opening set comfortably, Pavlyuchenkova was upset by the American player in the end. Pavlyuchenkova followed up that result with a quarterfinal showing in St. Petersburg where she lost to eventual champion Bertens in three sets.