Steely Pliskova
It’s a curious anomaly of Karolina Pliskova’s career that as she prepared to celebrate one of her most notable achievements she also experienced one of her more frustrating results. The Czech rose to world No.1 in the week after last year's Championships, even thoughshe had been shocked in the second round.
A year on, the No.7 seed at last seems to be setting things right.
Already achieving a career-best performance by reaching the third round, following five consecutive second round losses, Pliskova improved that record as she defeated Mihaela Buzarenscu 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 to book her place in the last 16.
The near two-hour victory showcased both the form and composure that’s long been expected of the big-serving Pliskova on grass.
Momentum
The world Romanian No.28 was a difficult opponent, given the stunning momentum she had amassed in recent weeks. Her career stalled by injury in recent years, Buzarnescu claimed her first Grand Slam main draw wins at Roland-Garros, defeating world No.4 Elina Svitolina as she progressed to the fourth round.
That confidence showed as Buzarenscu disarmed Pliskova early on, opening the match with consecutive winners and breaking serve in that first game. With the crafty Romanian maintaining her level, Pliskova initially couldn’t bounce back.
But if there was a contrast as Buzernscu claimed the set in 27 minutes, there was a bigger difference in their experience on tour. Contesting her seventh main draw at Wimbledon, in her 25th Grand Slam, Pliskova also has the benefit of her US Open final in 2016. In only her fourth main draw at a major; Buznerscu was playing the main draw at Wimbledon for the first time.
There had been hard-fought gains for Pliskova at this Wimbledon too. Taking two hours to defeat British wildcard Harriet Dart 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-1 in the first round, Pliskova also battled through a three-set test against former two-time Australian Open champion and former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka.
When Buzarenscu broke and then held to take a 4-1 lead in the second set, Pliskova simply endured. Her own service break secured in the seventh game, the steely Czech pushed to a tie-break where her renewed authority was soon underlined.
Winning the first point on the Buzernescu serve after a long rally, Pliskova made the perfect start. Helped by one of the six aces served for the match, she won every one of her service points in the tie-break to secure the set in just under an hour.
With Buzarenscu increasingly frustrated and appearing to tire, Pliskova’s steeliness kicked in. A service break secured in the fourth game, she claimed another in the sixth and secured victory on her second match point.
Grit and patience
“It was very hard today. I think she played great tennis. A set-and-a-half she played better but I kept fighting,” said the Czech. “I got some chances and the third set was 6-1. It looked easy, the score, but it wasn’t.”
Still, the experienced Pliskova knows what’s required at this point. “I didn’t feel the best in the first set but believed I’d get my chances,” she said. “She’s a great player and playing great this year. She was playing very fast.”
Pliskova, on the other hand, is competing with equal grit and patience as she prepares to meet Kiki Bertens in the final 16. The No.20 seed from the Netherlands earlier upset Venus Williams – reminding Pliskova of another tough assignment ahead.
“For sure this [competition] is very open. Almost all the seeds are gone from the top 10, so anything is possible,” she said.
