Karolina Pliskova clinched her spot in the semifinals of the WTA Finals late Tuesday night. The former number one and world number three played out a tricky match in which neither player showed full strength but got the win beating Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-2 on Centre Court at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The two former number ones met for a ninth time and second in Singapore where the Czech edged out a win over Muguruza in a three setter. Both had solid straight set victories over their opponents, assuring that one of them would accept defeat. Muguruza and Pliskova continue to stand in the running for the world number one spot that made playing every point so important.
The Czech opened with a massive 3-0 lead on Muguruza getting the jump she wanted. After breaking the Spaniard twice, she was also broke in the fourth that brought an end to her winning streak. The pace of breaks continued with Muguruza climbing back before it was a two-game margin on another break. A hold in the seventh for Pliskova allowed her some room to close out the set with the former number one on the edge. The world number three put the set away with a service hold that beat Muguruza on point finishing the set in 26 minutes. Her six winners were the biggest factor of difference aside from Pliskova’s handling off offense to lead.
She kept things going on her forehand that produced another 2-0 lead that was just the beginning for her. She dominated the world number two through the next three games that ultimately set up a bagel defeat for Muguruza in what was her last chance to turn things around. It was not meant to be as Pliskova has three break chances to end Muguruza. All those went sour as the 24-year-old recovered to fight on deuce that spanned two breaks. It was there that the Spaniard avoided the shutout but knew that the inevitable was coming.
Another game was saved on a break by Muguruza that leveled her best from the previous set but as Pliskova had three more chances left, she wanted an end to the night. Another triple break chance was set up for the Czech who finished a lengthy rally with a line drive away from Muguruza that clinched her a semifinals spot at 62 minutes.
“I think I played well in the last two games but just happy to get through,” Pliskova said to Andrew Krasny after the match. “We both didn’t play well, it was just tough because we waited so long, but I’m just happy that I’m through.” While she was the winner of the group, she had to play Thursday against Jelena Ostapenko who was mathematically eliminated from moving on with Pliskova’s win.
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