And although she had lost to Mladenovic previously in Dubai - back in 2013 - that was not a factor that played on her mind. A quick break gave the Czech the advantage, which she built upon with an awkward service hold. We played in Australia, so I knew what to expect. Although the WTA World No.3 was below her best in terms of her serving, she found the resources to score victory in one hour eight minutes against an opponent she had eliminated from the Australian Open previously this year. It’s a little bit faster, which is better.”. Every week receive player features, tournament news, and WTA Insider content with the WTA First Serve newsletter. Mladenovic, fresh from her first main draw victory of 2020, was punished for a couple of loose service games in the opening set and was unable to generate any significant momentum in the second as her record in the last-16 of Dubai slumped to 0-4. They were locked at 2-2 in previous matches though this was their first meeting in a major. I think we had couple tough games. We use cookies to provide our services and for analytics and marketing. More AP Tennis: https://www.apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Head to head and prediction for upcoming matches Kristina Mladenovic vs Karolina Pliskova . H2H Rankings progression with comparison between the 2 players about their performance on hard courts, grass, clay and carpet . Karolína Pliskova’s power hitting dominated the marquee first match at Rod Laver Arena, the No.2 seed blasting through Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 7-5. She made a ferocious start on Tuesday. “But overall I think I had it pretty much all the match under my control. By continuing to browse our website, you agree to our use of cookies. The 28-year-old Martic broke three times in a 21-minute opening set and sealed victory with her third ace. I know it’s going to be a lot about me. Melbourne is already a favourite stop for the 27-year-old, though it would top her cities ranking if she were to clinch her first major here. Pliskova out of US Open after shock second-round defeat kerber.jpg. To find out more about our use of cookies and how you can disable them, please see our Privacy Policy. The question was whether Pliskova’s heavy baseline artillery would allow her to create chances in the forecourt. The Czech won a torrid 2016 Fed Cup final clash 16-14 in the third, and perhaps some feeling from that meeting resurfaced when Pliskova, asked about the form of Mladenovic on the eve of the tournament, said coolly: “I don’t know actually in which form she is in right now. She had six aces. The Czech herself double faulted to fall behind 0-30 but served out the victory in 84 minutes. Click here to find out more info. Out of nowhere, Pliskova gave back the advantage, Mladenovic varying the pace and loop on her shots enough to draw an error and level for 4-4, her first break. She held an imperious game to love and moved ahead 6-5 when Mladenovic conceded her serve on a double fault. “I like these conditions. Having played four matches, including three qualifiers, to reach this point against an opponent untested in these conditions this year, it might have been expected that the French No.1 would settle quicker, but Pliskova rattled through her opening service game after serving a double fault. “Well done, Karolina, Melbourne loves you!” shouted a fan courtside, while the relieved winner lifted her racquet in acknowledgement. Pliskova’s opponent in the final is seventh-seeded Petra Martic, who defeated Kristina Mladenovic 6-0, 6-3 in the other semifinal. After the blowout first set, it was hard to compute that this was the same Mladenovic who ripped the Fed Cup final from the Australians at Perth last November. “With my game, there is not really anybody who I would be super scared of because it's mostly about me. I'm not saying I can't lose. Martic won her first title this year — in Istanbul — before she reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time at Roland Garros and made the Top 20 rankings. A former doubles No.1, Mladenovic is one of the few players who enjoys venturing forward and chancing her arm at the net. Boasting arguably the best first-serve, first-stroke combo in the game, Pliskova snapped up the set 6-1 in 25 minutes, blasting nine winners to one. Pliskova, who had fallen off her cracking pace, held with thunderous serving and then seemed to have the match in hand when she broke to lead 4-3, two service games from the win. Neither player’s delivery would be impressive over the course of the match, with Mladenovic serving four of her five first-set double faults in the second game, allowing Pliskova to break under relatively little strain. Mladenovic had been representing France at the Fed Cup since 2012. Pliskova’s opponent in the final is seventh-seeded Petra Martic, who defeated Kristina Mladenovic 6-0, 6-3 in the other semifinal. Pliskova was right to be wary of Mladenovic. Pliskova sprang to 2-0 without dropping a point, wiped two break point chances to hold for 3-0 and by the time she secured a double break for 4-0 there were signs of panic from the Frenchwoman, whose parents and brother were nervous spectators. They were locked at 2-2 in previous matches though this was their first meeting in a major. The Czech won a torrid 2016 Fed Cup final clash 16-14 in the third, and perhaps some feeling from that meeting resurfaced when Pliskova, asked about the form of Mladenovic on the eve of the tournament, said coolly: “I don’t know actually in which form she is in right now. It set the tone for the opening set, in which Mladenovic wrestled with her consistency while Pliskova was able to churn out service holds without facing a break point, despite making only 46% of her first deliveries on serve. I like to play in the sun. By contrast, Pliskova was solid throughout, making 14 winners to just 10 unforced errors and converting on four of seven break points. It was quite a solid first round,” she said after taking her record against the 26-year-old to 4-2 in her favor. Kristina Mladenovic vs Karolina Pliskova all matches, with stats on their H2H rivalry. Pliskova, who could have been serving for the match, instead found herself serving at 4-5 to save the set. Pliskova was not so charitable, and after another shaky service game from Mladenovic, she secured a double break then held once more to set up a quarterfinal against Elena Rybakina, who downed Pliskova's Fed Cup teammate Katerina Siniakova, later in the day on Wednesday. Even if she’s playing great, I think I can still beat her.” So she proved. Pliskova leads 3:2 in matches against Mladenovic. Tennis Australia acknowledges that the AO is held on Aboriginal Land and we extend our respects to the Traditional Owners, their ancestors and Elders past, present and emerging and to all First Nations People. “I think it was [a] very tough first round, but good test to start with such a tough opponent,” Pliskova said after her victory over the world No.41. @KaPliskova claims the opener, 6-1 #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/JYKmSxmPwL. The 26-year-old won all three rubbers, against Ajla Tomljanovic, a tide-turning thriller against No.1 Ash Barty, and the decisive doubles. If I'm solid, if I am there just focus every point, I think it should not happen.”. Mladenovic stiffened her resistance in the second set, saving a breakpoint to hold the opening game and threatening to break the Czech’s serve at 2-1 with a delicate drop shot winner. Pliskova clinched her third straight win against Tomljanovic this season, taking 93% of her first service points to reach her fifth final of the year. Martic won her first title this year — in Istanbul — before she reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time at Roland Garros and made the Top 20 rankings. Although she was able to set up opportunities, such as a forehand chance to go 0-30 up on the Pliskova serve in the third game, these were invariably missed. Last match was played this year at AO and Pliskova won 6-2 7-5.Pliskova is currently ranked at the third sport in the world while Kiki Mladenovic … Pliskova moves on to face the winner of Laura Siegemund and wildcard Coco Vandeweghe. ATP & WTA Kristina Mladenovic head to head tennis search. Mladenovic was the women's doubles runner-up in four other Grand Slam tournaments – the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, the 2016 US Open, the 2018 US Open, and the 2019 Australian Open. Karolina Pliskova raced through her first Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships match of 2020 against qualifier Kristina Mladenovic. Serve continued to be an issue for Mladenovic, though she continued to scrap away and showed some real moments of quality, such as a deft dropshot to get on the board in the second set or a scooped backhand winner to flick the balls off her toes to move to 3-2. ZHENGZHOU, China (AP) — Top-seeded Karolina Pliskova advanced to the Zhengzhou Open final with a clinical 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ajla Tomljanovic on Saturday. Kristina Mladenovic vs. Karolina Pliskova - Match Highlights (R1) | Australian Open 2020. The languid Czech with the easy power and wolf-grey eyes has her sights set on a breakthrough Grand Slam, hoping to shed the unwanted tag of the best player without a major title. Even though she played some great shots, some good serves, I think I was in charge of most of the games. But the statuesque all-courtier has since endured an unsettled start to the year, losing in qualifying at Brisbane, pulling out of the doubles semifinal to contest Adelaide qualifying, only to be barred from entering. Pliskova maintained the ascendancy at the beginning of the second as the 2019 Fed Cup winner continued to struggle to find her groove. In contrast, the AO is mysteriously Mladenovic’s least successful major in singles - with four wins from nine appearances - though she was a doubles champion and finalist at Melbourne Park in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Her Fed Cup win-loss record is 9–7 in singles and 11–2 in doubles. DUBAI, UAE – No.2 seed Karolina Pliskova eased into the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over qualifier Kristina Mladenovic. “I think the score little bit is easier than it really was. Of course, sometimes it can be even I play good, but I can still lose, especially to the top players, especially to the players which also have a big game,” she said. Will be used in accordance to our Privacy Policy. Head To Head. “It’s always a tough one against her. Pliskova was right to be wary of Mladenovic. Coming off a third Brisbane title, Pliskova thrives in Australia, site of her best major performance of 2019, when she was shaded by eventual champion Naomi Osaka in the semis but only after overcoming Serena Williams in a dramatic quarterfinal, from four match points and 5-1 down in the third set. “But I think with her it has always been more about me. DUBAI, UAE – No.2 seed Karolina Pliskova eased into the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over qualifier Kristina Mladenovic.