Jelena Ostapenko ousts Pliskova in three sets

Jelena Ostapenko performed well enough to defeat Karolina Pliskova at the Brisbane International Thursday. 

Jelena Ostapenko felt the pressure and managed it at the Brisbane International Thursday. The Latvian struggled at times against Karolina Pliskova but edged the Czech in three sets 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 at Pat Rafter Arena at the Queensland Tennis Center. The 26-year-old remained hot at the start of 2024, getting the wins tied together.

The two superstars met for an 11th chapter to their long history. Last year they met twice, with Ostapenko taking wins in Adelaide and Cincinnati against the Czech. In her first appearance of the tournament, the Latvian manhandled Camila Giorgi in straight sets. She notched 23 winners and only had 14 unforced errors throughout the 17 games played.

Being reminded of her run at the Australian Open last year put her in a place to potentially repeat against Pliskova. The six-foot-one star put her best against returning former world number one Naomi Osaka, scoring 16 aces. Despite having 11 double faults in her victory, Pliskova has a good history in Brisbane and is eager to take on another big name in the sport.

Ostapenko opened scoring to lead 40-15 until the Czech fought to force a deuce. The two traded AD points through four breaks until the Latvian held up. She captured the break in the second and went three straight before Pliskova got on the board. The Czech faced a steep climb as Ostapenko left nothing back in her offensive strengths. By the sixth, the third seed was a double break and up 5-1.

Pliskova denied her to serve out the set, breaking back in the seventh. The 16th seed wanted to hang around in the set, serving up an ace in the eighth, until an error forced deuce. Ostapenko was gifted set point twice, failing to lock it down and put Pliskova a set down. After six breaks, the Czech handed Ostapenko a third shot that was good to close the first in 46 minutes. It was a rough conclusion for the Latvian, who had three double faults and ten unforced errors.

Managing to keep the numbers low, the third seed got into position but the second set didn’t start the way she wanted. The 16th seed came to life, allowing a point from her opponent before getting the break. Pliskova backed up a two-game margin on serve getting in place for what the third seed responded. Ostapenko smashed out a quick third game, blanking the Czech, and ending the short streak.

She turned it around in the fourth to hold serve for the lead, but Ostapenko followed suit to keep the margin small. She broke Pliskova in the sixth to level the score and go for the lead change on serve. Pliskova broke back to retain control of the scoreboard, with Ostapenko close behind. The 16th seed widened the gap to make it 5-3 to consolidate her hard work and force a third set.

Ostapenko refused to go down on serve, smashing big with the forehand to bring it back within a game. Pliskova served for the set but two chances went down on winning returns by the Latvian to force deuce. The 16th seed rushed to gain a third set point that was the charm to force the match to a decider after 40 minutes.

It was a race to the finish as both players battled it out in the opening game that went four breaks. Ostapenko struggled with errors sprinkled in the game but came through with the hold. Pliskova made it look easy in the second, switching up fast to challenge the third seed serving the third. They played 11 points and three breaks before Ostapenko sealed the win. The pace settled down with a pair of quick games and the Latvian leading by a small margin.

She jumped out to 5-2 after putting in work in the sixth to break Pliskova and get in place for the match. The 16th seed shut her down in the eighth, giving up a point on serve, with the aces in tow. Ostapenko had the time to get it done on serve, overcoming a loss of points and surging to the AD point where she capped it on the second attempt to finish in 2 hours and 17 minutes.  

The competition wouldn’t drop for the third seed as she faced Victoria Azarenka in Friday’s quarterfinal.