WTA Rome: Karolina Pliskova powers past Johanna Konta to conquer the title
Competing in the third WTA final of the season, world no. 7 Karolina Pliskova took down Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 25 minutes, claiming the 13th WTA title and the biggest one on clay! Johanna Has been playing her best tennis on clay in the last couple of weeks, defeating world no. 4 and Madrid champion Kiki Bertens in the semi-final on Saturday and giving her best to stay in touch with Karolina as well. The Czech proved to be too strong, though, delivering fury from the initial shot and dropping 17 points in ten service games to face only one break point.
The Briton failed to convert it and the pressure was on her side of the net all the time, having to play against seven break chances and suffering one break in each set to propel Pliskova over the finish line. Karolina had 21 winners and just 14 unforced errors, leaving Konta on a 19-26 ratio that wasn't enough for at least a set, staying on only one win against the Czech in eight matches. Settling into a desired rhythm right from the start, Karolina lost just four points in the first four service games, clinching an early lead with a break in game two when Johanna netted a backhand.
A service winner pushed the Czech 5-2 in front in the seventh game and she created a set point on the return in the next game, denied by Konta who forced her rival to serve for the opener. Standing so close to the finish line, Pliskova faced a break point in game nine, saving it after a colossal forehand error from Johanna and taking the set 6-3 after a poor drop shot from the Briton. Delivering one good hold after another, Pliskova controlled the pace in set number two as well, reducing the number of errors and constructing the points nicely to keep the rival away from the comfort zone.
Konta stayed in touch in the opening six games before playing against four break points at 3-3, falling on the last one when Karolina landed a forehand drive-volley winner who crossed the finish line with a hold in game ten to celebrate one of the career-best titles. Pliskova is back to world no. 2 position with these points and she will be seeded second behind Naomi Osaka in Paris in seven days time.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2LVtkJn
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