Tennis Frontier

Tag: Karolina Pliskova

  • WTA: Week No. 2

    WTA: Week No. 2

    Heather Watson Petra Kvitova

    The second week of the season included a Premier-level event in Sydney, and an International-level event in Hobart. They were the final warm-ups to the Australian Open in Melbourne.

    Our own Correspondent Margaret McAleer watched as Petra Kvitova scored her 15 WTA title in Sydney. She faced fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova in the final and won in two straight tiebreaks, dodging a late surge by Karolina in the second set. Final score: 7-6(5), 7-6(6).

    Kvitova has now scored the most points during the first two weeks of the season, with 590. Currently ranked No. 4, she has an outside chance of becoming No. 1 if she wins the Australian Open, and Serena Williams has an early exit.

    Also, it’s worth noting that Simona Halep withdrew from Sydney due to illness.

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    Click here to discuss the Sydney tournament in the discussion forum.

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    Surprise results came out of a rainy and windy Hobart. Heather Watson became the first British woman in 30 years to score her second WTA title. She overcame a shaky first set to defeat American qualifier Madison Brengle. Final score: 6-3, 6-4. Watson did not drop a set during her run to victory, beating three seeded players, and winning the title on her first match point.

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    Click here to discuss the Hobart tournament in the discussion forum.

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    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis / VOXSPORTSdotNET

  • Eugenie Bouchard Wins Title in Nuremberg

    Eugenie Bouchard Wins Title in Nuremberg

    Eugenie Bouchard

    Canadian starlet Eugenie Bouchard broke through to win her first WTA title with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Karolina Pliskova to secure the Nuremberg Cup.

    Bouchard looked comfortable after bagging the opening set, and seemed to be cruising at 4-2 in the second. She then began experiencing problems with her serve. Pliskova accepted the invitation to get back in the match and duly reeled off four straight games to take the second set and level proceedings. The streak continued with her adding another game to take an early lead in the third.

    The deciding set was a roller coaster ride with both players being broken on multiple occasions before Bouchard steadied the ship to prevail and take her maiden title.

    “This is kind of like a stepping stone for me. Winning a WTA title is of course a goal I’ve had, and I’m so happy to accomplish it,” stated a relieved Bouchard after the match.

    Her win secured the first WTA title for a Canadian woman since Aleksandra Wozniak, in 2008.

    She is now scheduled to take on Israel’s Shahar Peer in her opening match of the French Open at Roland Garros.

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    Cover Photo by Yann Caradec (Creative Commons License)

  • Makarova Wins Pattaya Open

    Makarova Wins Pattaya Open

    Ekaterina Makarova

    Ekaterina Makarova won her first title in nearly four years clinching the Pattaya Open in Thailand with a 6-3, 7-6 (7) victory over Karolina Pliskova.

    The Russian took the match in 1 hour 36 minutes and fought off two set points in the second set tiebreak to take the championship.

    “It was a nervous ending and a really tough match, and she was playing really great tennis today,” stated Makarova after the match.

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    Cover Photo: angela n, Creative Commons License (Ekaterina Makarova)