WTA Miami: Karolina Pliskova scores late win over Simona Halep to hit final
The world no. 7 Karolina Pliskova has been on a roll so far in 2019, winning the title in Brisbane, reaching the semi-final at the Australian Open and the quarters in Dubai and Indian Wells, building the confidence before another big tournament of the season in Miami. Delivering mighty impressive tennis, Karolina is through to the 22nd WTA final and the biggest since the US Open 2016, beating the 2nd seed Simona Halep 7-5, 6-1 in an hour and 14 minutes to set Ashleigh Barty clash. It was rain that caused Pliskova more problems than the Romanian who missed a chance to pass Naomi Osaka and become world no. 1 again, though, with a few delays and late finish after 1 AM!
This was their ninth meeting on the Tour and the third win for the Czech, the second in a row after Madrid last year following a great display on both serve and return. Pliskova lost just 18 points in ten service games, suffering two breaks but erasing that deficit quickly with a dominant display on the return that saw her winning more than half of the points behind Simona's initial shot and scoring five breaks from seven chances. The Czech player had 23 winners and 16 unforced errors, dictating the pace in the exchanges and leaving Halep on a negative 14-20 ratio, unable to impose her shots or to defend better against deep and strong attacks from the other side of the net.
Simona drew first blood in the fifth game with a perfect backhand down the line winner, losing the advantage already in the next game when her forehand landed long. Karolina hit a double fault to suffer another break in game seven, allowing the Romanian to serve for the opener at 5-4 where she broke back at love when Simona netted a backhand to level the score and extend the set. Karolina had the momentum now, holding at love in the 11th game with a forehand winner and securing another break in the following game thanks to a fantastic defense that pushed her 7-5 up, rattling off the last four games of the set for a turnaround.
Simona disappeared from the court after that, losing serve in the second game of the second set when Pliskova placed a forehand winner and again at 0-3 and a loose forehand that pushed the Czech further in front. Serving for the win after another rain delay, Karolina held at 15 in game seven to seal the deal and advance into the title match where she will face the newly-crowned top-10 star Ashleigh Barty.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2FDWTbI
No comments