Pliskova takes Doha - 2nd 2017 win

Karolina Pliskova won the Qatar Open in Doha, defeating Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets 6-3 6-4.  This was the second title already in 2017 to be pocketed by the Czech world number three, already having triumphed in Brisbane in January.  Both wins were Premier level tournaments, confirming Pliskova's status as the best player currently not to have won at Grand Slam level, but most likely to shake that tag soon.

The win was established, as many are, on a dominant first set, itself structured not so much around the wonderful serve, which sets her apart from most women in the game, but more about her returning skills against the Wozniacki delivery.

Wozniacki was able to win a number of points, both on first and second serves, and even managed to convert the single break chance she was given, but this was after losing the first four games and being under constant pressure from the Pliskova shot making.  

Serving at 3-5 Wozniacki was broken once more and she had dropped her first set for the week.

The second set showed why Wozniacki was in the final, and the pair were equally comfortable holding serve through the greater part.  The one break point created was Danish and that was easily dealt with by Pliskova who served her way to 5-4.  With the pressure of serving second and now needing to hold to stay in the match, Wozniacki lapsed and at 15-40 netted a Pliskova forehand, ending proceedings.

A first glance at the stats makes it hard to see how Wozniacki could lose in two sets having made only five unforced errors in the match.

The answer is with the 27 clean winners off the Pliskova racquet, and the aggressive shot making leading to forced mistakes from Wozniacki in addition to the five recorded.

The title for Pliskova included her first wins ever over both Cibulkova and Wozniacki, so she continues to present herself as an increasingly intimidating force on tour.