Pliskova too strong
On her seventh visit to the All England Club, Karolina Pliskova has reached the third round for the first time. Long has it been said that the big-serving Czech has the type of game to succeed at Wimbledon; perhaps this is her chance.
In a duel between two former world No.1s on Centre Court, Pliskova defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-3, in one hour and 12 minutes, to break a sequence of second round losses stretching back to 2013.
The No.7 seed did not face a break point in her nine services games, broke her opponent’s three times, and played a smooth, solid match that left nine-time ladies' singles champion Martina Navratilova proclaiming her fellow Czech native as a title contender, should she maintain a similar level of play.
“I think I was pretty solid today, I was very strong on my serve which was really important," said Pliskova, who next plays Romanian No.29 seed Mihaela Buzarnescu, a straight sets winner over British wild card Katie Swan.
“I’m very happy with my victory because it’s my first time in the third round here. The last few years I was waiting for a good result, but it still didn’t come; maybe this year is the time. I’m feeling great,’’ she added.
The pair’s third meeting of 2018 was their first on grass of six overall, and Pliskova’s edge on serve and weight of shot was soon apparent, with the first break of serve coming in the fourth game.
Azarenka was landing a high percentage of her first serves, but being punished on the second ball, and unable to make an impression on Pliskova’s. The 26-year-old is as languid and impassive as Azarenka is intense and voluble, but also showed good variety in an impressive all-round display.
Pliskova was renowned as a Grand Slam underachiever until reaching the 2016 US Open final, and 12 months ago started a brief stint as world No.1. Yet, with seven different winners of the past seven Grand Slams, Wednesday’s performance will add to her sense of confidence that there may be another new name to add to the list soon.
Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open champion, gave birth to her son, Leo, in December 2016 and has had her schedule limited by a bitter custody battle with her ex-partner. She is still rebuilding a ranking that is currently at No.87.
It would be no surprise, however, to see her eventually return to the top 10, at least, even if the dual semi-finalist could not manage a vintage display on her return to Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
Pliskova rated her performance a seven or eight out of 10, with her best shot - the serve - the one with the most room for improvement. “I still think I can have better percentage, maybe more aces. I know I can feel a little bit better. It was so far one of my best matches on grass, for sure. I mean, she's always tough, so it's never easy.’
Her ambition this year is to be more relaxed, having felt the burden of expectation as the No.2 seed here in 2017.
“Everybody thought maybe I'm going to win. The pressure was a little bit bigger,’’ Pliskova said. “But this time, it's also, I was playing against good player, so the pressure was little bit also on her side. I was playing more freely today. That's why I played better than in the first round.
“I didn't change many things, but I just believed. Look, I always believed that I can get far here. I don't know if third round, fourth round, but there is always a chance for me.
“I feel like my game, if I play well, doesn't matter which surface I play. It's just about, like, me, how I play, how I feel. There is a chance to beat everybody.’’
