Pliskova outlasts Kuznetsova for second straight win in Eastbourne
EASTBOURNE, Great Britain - No.3 seed Karolina Pliskova rallied from 1-4 down in the final set to edge past No.7 seed and 2004 Aegon International champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-4 and reach the semifinals in Eastbourne.
Pliskova and Kuznetsova battled to a final set tiebreak in the round robin stage of last year's BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, and played two more tiebreaks in the BNP Paribas Open semifinals back in March, so it only made sense to kick off Thursday's quarterfinal with a fourth straight sudden death.
The Russian had won their last two encounters and had set points on her own serve ahead of the tiebreak, and had to save four of her own before finally earning the opening set.
Both women were in their second match of the day, with Pliskova surving a clash with Peng Shuai while Kuznetsova earned her first win over doubles partner Kristina Mladenovic. The Czech powerhouse appeared to be the fresher of the two as she dug out a long sixth game in the second set to eventually level the match and force a third set - the second of Kuznetsova's matches to go the distance.
Still, the No.7 seed raced out to a break lead and got within two games of victory before Pliskova roared back to clinch victory after two hours and 16 minutes on court.
Awaiting Pliskova in the semifinals will be either World No.1 Angelique Kerber or British No.1 Johanna Konta.
Source: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/pliskova-outlasts-kuznetsova-second-straight-win-eastbourne
Pliskova and Kuznetsova battled to a final set tiebreak in the round robin stage of last year's BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, and played two more tiebreaks in the BNP Paribas Open semifinals back in March, so it only made sense to kick off Thursday's quarterfinal with a fourth straight sudden death.
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| Karolina Pliskova won the last five games of a titanic three-set thriller against 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova to win her second match of the day at the Aegon International and advance into the semifinals. |
Both women were in their second match of the day, with Pliskova surving a clash with Peng Shuai while Kuznetsova earned her first win over doubles partner Kristina Mladenovic. The Czech powerhouse appeared to be the fresher of the two as she dug out a long sixth game in the second set to eventually level the match and force a third set - the second of Kuznetsova's matches to go the distance.
Still, the No.7 seed raced out to a break lead and got within two games of victory before Pliskova roared back to clinch victory after two hours and 16 minutes on court.
Awaiting Pliskova in the semifinals will be either World No.1 Angelique Kerber or British No.1 Johanna Konta.
Source: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/pliskova-outlasts-kuznetsova-second-straight-win-eastbourne
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