WUHAN, China - Zhengzhou champion Karolina Pliskova was back to her winning ways at the Dongfeng Motor Open Wuhan, needing two sets against the on-the-rise teenager Amanda Anisimova to advance into the Round of 16. 

“I think there was a little bit of everything in the match,” Pliskova told wtatennis.com afterwards. “Of course, the start was very slow for me. A lot of waiting, so I think I was a little bit, not sleepy, but just not really there. 

“After, I think it was not a bad match. At some parts I think I was playing good tennis from the baseline. I felt actually quite good, but also it was the first night match for me. It was a little bit different, the conditions, for me. I just needed some time to get used to it.”

In photos: High five: The previous winners in Wuhan from Kvitova to Sabalenka

In Zhengzhou, Pliskova made a solid run to her first WTA title on Chinese soil, dropping just one set and recording a win over No.6 seed Sofia Kenin in the quarterfinals and defeating No.7 seed Petra Martic in the final.

No.2 seed Pliskova was eager to continue her momentum in Wuhan against Anisimova, who was playing her first tournament since Cincinnati. The 18-year-old had to take a month and a half break from tennis following the sudden passing of her father and longtime coach, Konstantin Anisimov. 


Anisimova held a break lead in both sets, starting each one 2-0, but the former World No.1 turned around the deficits to claim the victory 6-3, 6-3. Pliskova fired 33 winners and six aces en route to her fifth consecutive match win in China.

Read more: Karolina Pliskova secures qualification for 2019 Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen

“It was a different stress [arriving in Wuhan] in the last years, because I was playing this tournament and I was still not sure if I qualified [for WTA Finals] or not,” Pliskova said. “So now I’m trying to be more relaxed. Maybe it’s going to be better. 

“At least I can learn to play a bit more relaxed, maybe in the next matches!”

Indeed, Pliskova found herself in trouble early on, falling behind a 2-0 deficit as Anisimova claimed an early break. Aided by five unforced errors from Pliskova, Anisimova won the first eight points in a row to record a commanding start.

But the former World No.1 bounced back emphatically just in time; with Anisimova a point away from making it 3-0, Pliskova charged back to hold serve and raised her level to make it 2-2. After trading breaks at 3-3, Pliskova took command of the match with another solid hold, before a late break at 5-3 sealed the set for the Czech. 

The same pattern unfolded in the second set, when the American once again powered her way to an early break for a 2-0 lead. Pliskova responded in the same way, cutting down on her unforced error count and reeling off the next five games in a row to reclaim the momentum, 5-2. 


Anisimova did well to save a match point and break the big-serving Pliskova to extend her stay in the match, but Pliskova broke straight back to claim the victory on her second match point, 6-3, 6-3 in 69 minutes.

Into the third round of Wuhan, Pliskova will take on another on-the-rise teenager as she faces 19-year-old Ukrainian player Dayana Yastremska in her next match. Yastremska edged past American qualifier Christina McHale 6-3, 7-6(7) earlier in the day to advance. 

Yastremska held four match points in the pair’s only previous encounter, with Pliskova coming back from a set down to win 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-3 in Madrid earlier this year.

Read more: Pliskova powers to Yastremska comeback in Madrid

“It was very close in Madrid, but it was clay, for sure not my favorite surface,” Pliskova said. “And that’s not the way I am now, because in Madrid I was after injury. 

“I think it’s going to be lots of chances, but on the other hand, lots of winners. She can play fast so she can miss a lot, but of course she can play amazing. I have to be ready.”