WTA Miami: Karolina Pliskova downs Vondrousova to set Simona Halep clash
In the battle of the hard-hitting Czechs, the 5th seed Karolina Pliskova is through to the second Miami semi-final in three years following a 6-3, 6-4 win over a teenager Marketa Vondrousova in an hour and 20 minutes. The more experienced player delivered better tennis in the crucial moments, fending off four out of five break points and earning three breaks of serve from six chances, taking six of the last seven games to book the place in the last four where she will face Simona Halep. They had a similar number of winners, dominating with their serves and forehands, with Marketa giving her best to extend the match despite serving at only 49%, having a chance to prolong the encounter with a couple of break points that Pliskova saved in the last game while serving for the win.
Karolina held at 15 in the first game of the match with a service winner, converting the second break point in game two after a double fault from a left-hander to gain an instant lead. Serving at 3-1, Pliskova sprayed some unexpected errors to offer a couple of break points to the youngster, erasing them both to increase the lead, creating a set point on the return at 5-2. Marketa saved it with a beautiful forehand down the line winner to survive for another game and force Karolina to serve out for the set which she did with a perfect drop shot winner for a 6-3.
Vondrousova was the player on the mission at the beginning of the second set, delivering two great holds and a break in the second game thanks to a forehand error from Karolina to forge a 3-0 advantage. Serving at 3-1, a teenager sent a forehand long to lose serve and draw Pliskova back into contention, suffering another break at 3-3 when her forehand landed long to push the more experienced rival in front. Serving for the triumph at 5-4, Pliskova had to face two break points but she dismissed them both with winners before sealing the deal after a forced error from the youngster to join Simona Halep in the semi-final battle that promises to be one of the matches of the tournament.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2OvU68L
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