Stuttgart champ Pliskova pulls out of Prague

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Czech No.1 Karolina Pliskova was forced to withdraw from this week's J&T Banka Prague Open, citing a right thigh injury.

The perennial Ace Leader won her first title of 2018 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Sunday, and was set to play sister Kristyna in the first round as the top seed in Prague.

"When we play together it’s always bad, you know," she joked after defeating CoCo Vandeweghe in the final. "So, it’s bad quality because we know each other and there is some pressure and nerves."

It was a physical week in Stuttgart for the big-hitting Czech star, particularly in the quarterfinals against reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, whom she beat, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.

Pliskova's spot in the draw will be taken by Aliaksandra Sasnovich, now the No.9 seed in Prague, while lucky loser Tamara Korpatsch enters the main draw to take on France's Océane Dodin.