Pliskova wins Brisbane title again

Final Day in Brisbane as Karolina Pliskova and Madison Keys meet for the very first time in a WTA Tour match.

2020 Brisbane International - a WTA Premier tournament, on Hard Greenset Cushion, in Brisbane, Australia, 4-12 January 2020.

Defending champion:

Karolína Plíšková (5) who defeated Lesia Tsurenko 4-6 7-5 6-2 

 

Final

Madison Keys (8) v Karolina Pliskova (2)

Both players have been finalists in the US Open, and are renowned for their power hitting. Throughout this tournament, quality tennis has been a feature for each, including a fighting comeback from Keys in her semi final against Petra Kvitová, when all appeared lost.

Karolina also seemed set for the exit gate as Naomi Osaka held a match point in their semi final. But in a superb contest, it was the reigning champ who prevailed as the rain poured down.

Keys served first in the 2020 Brisbane event, and after a 40-0 beginning, a splendid Pliskova backhand return winner, and a double fault, the American stumbled into deuce. Steadying, she held for 1-0. Pliskova also felt the pain of a return backhand winner, but it mattered not as she levelled with comfort.

Keys was ok from the line, but her issues came with inconsistency around the court, leading to another deuce game. Still no actual scoreboard drama.

Two decisive service games, one each, and Keys was ahead 3-2.  An American forehand down the line winner in the sixth game was matched by a Czech ace and another big serve barely touched by Keys. 3-3. 

The first break points of the match were faced, and saved, by Pliskova in the eighth game. Then Keys dropped serve to love, and suddenly the defending champion was serving for the opening set.

Forehand return winner from Keys 0-15. Backhand return winner from Keys 0-30. Volley put away by Pliskova 15-30. Ace 30-30. Forehand netted by Keys and set point. Deuce after Pliskova found the net. Another Keys forehand into the net. Set point #2. Keys forehand way long and Pliskova ahead 6-4.

The fifth game of set two proved a disaster for Keys who wasted game points and eventually relented, giving up her serve to trail 2-3. Two winners in the next game put some zip back into the step of the eighth seed, and a backhand sent wide by Pliskova brought up three break back points. A forehand was even wider and Keys levelled at 3-3.

At 4-5 Pliskova was the one to fold, and she was broken, leaving the match square, Keys doing as she did against Kvitova in the semi final fighting back.

In the decider, Keys saved a break point in the first game, and Pliskova was taken to deuce in the second. Thereafter, order was restored, at least until game seven where, from 40-15, Keys failed to win another point, falling behind 3-4. She held for 4-5, but could only hope for a Pliskova stumble as the Czech number one served for the trophy. The stumble occurred after 30-30, and 5-5 was the score.

In what was the equal longest game of the match, points wise, deuce was reached three times, Keys saved a break point, as well as frittering away two game points, before Pliskova converted her second break point to reach 6-5.

In her second attempt to serve out the match, there were no issues, and the love game gave Karolina Pliskova another Brisbane International title. The Evonne Goolagong-Cawley trophy was lifted after a terrific final, won by Karolina 6-4 4-6 7-5.