Pliskova scores first win over Radwanska in Cincinnati

3m read 14 Aug 2018 6y ago
Karolina Pliskova (©Getty)

CINCINNATI, OH, USA - 2016 Western & Southern Open champion Karolina Pliskova beat former World No.2 Agnieszka Radwanska for the first time in their prolific head-to-head, knocking out the Pole, 6-3, 6-3, to advance into the second round.

"It was a tough round for me because I've never beaten her, never even taken a set," a breathless Pliskova said during her on-court interview. "I was so happy when I won the first set because I thought, 'Finally, one set for me!'

"I think the match was under my control," she added in her post-match press conference. "She had a couple of break points, but even if she would break me I still felt like I'm the better one today. I had even like some of her service games under control. So it was pretty much about me. The conditions here I feel quite good, not because I won here two years ago and played the semis last year, but just it's flying, it's pretty fast, so I felt like there was no wind, so it was perfect for me today."

Playing for the first time since the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global two years ago, Pliskova had never taken a set from the 2012 Wimbledon finalist in seven previous meetings but finally reversed the trend on Tuesday after 90 minutes on Center Court.

"We played so many times. I think I always played her at her best level, so it was always tough. But I had some chances to at least win a set in the previous matches when we played."

Pliskova is playing just her second tournament since marrying fiancé Michal Hrdlicka ahead of the US Open Series, having already fallen in the second round of the Coupe Rogers and split with coach Tomas Krupa.

"I don't think I was playing the best tennis now in the last two months, but somehow I just felt like maybe this could be the chance, because she hasn't play tournaments on hardcourts. It was her first match. So there was few things which I felt they were a little bit more on my side.

"Once we started, I just felt maybe this is gonna be the day, because I was just hitting the ball pretty clearly, and I just felt like I have a good chance to win after couple of games where we played. My serve was okay today, not the best, but it was quite working, helped me saved some break points. I think everything was just great."

The former World No.1 raced out to a bright start and a double break advantage in the opening set only to see Radwanska claw back to within one game of even footing.

Pliskova gamely held to 30 and broke for the set in a titanic final game that featured six deuces as Radwanska saved four set points before the perennial WTA ace leader converted her fifth.

The second set featured just one break of serve as the No.9 seed shook off a missed 0-40 opportunity in the sixth game to break serve in her very next opportunity.

At the behest of coaching consultant and former WTA doubles No.1 Rennae Stubbs, the former US Open finalist remained aggressive throughout, striking 35 winners to 24 unforced errors.

While Radwanska struck 18 winners of her own, she could only convert one of eight break point opportunities, compared to four of 15 for Pliskova.

Ending the match with her fourth ace, the 26 year old next plays rising Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka for a spot in the third round.

Sabalenka scored her first career Top 5 win at the Coupe Rogers last week over Caroline Wozniacki in Montréal, and got another big win over British No.1 Johanna Konta on Monday.

Pliskova and Sabalenka last played at the Aegon International in Eastbourne, where Sabalenka won in three tough sets. 

"I like hardcourts, so for me, it's for sure better. I don't know what's better for her. But I think she just played great in Eastbourne. She won so many matches, I think two matches, 7-6 in the third. It was so close. I had 4-1 in the third. I don't really take this match that I lost; I lost but I lost because of me.

"Of course she has improved. She beat Wozniacki last week. I just saw couple scores. She can be dangerous. She has a good game. She's young, so she's not really scared. She's not defending anything. She can be dangerous, for sure. I think if I play a little bit like I was playing today, maybe little bit more aggressive, for sure I can have the match under my control."