Saturday, 25 January 2020

AO - Day 6 - Pliskova v Pavlyuchenkova

World #2 Karolína Pliskova, a semi finalist last year, was first on RLA on Day Six, 2020 AO. She would be playing Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, someone she had beaten in all of their previous half dozen contests.

Pavlyuchenkova held serve in the first game without much drama, but Pliskova took an eternity to draw level, 30 points required. 12 deuces and 6 break points saved.
At 1-2, errors from the Czech racquet and a backhand winner from Pavlyuchenkova brought up three break points. Two aces saved a couple. A failed backhand meant that the third couldn’t be saved and Pavlyuchenkova led 3-1.

Serving at 4-2, Pavlyuchenkova wasted a game point when she double faulted, and break back point arrived with a wayward forehand. It was saved with a rifled backhand down the line. A second break point was faced after a less than satisfactory backhand, and the break was confirmed when a backhand floated long. 
5-5 came without another deuce, then Pavlyuchenkova endured her longest stretch at the line, saving five break points before edging ahead 6-5.
Pliskova wasted no time taking it to a tie break, serving a love game.

The #2 seed won the first point, against serve, with a forehand passing shot. Pavlyuchenkova won two points against the Pliskova serve, a Czech backhand error on the third, and a Russian backhand winner on the sixth. 4-2 Pavlyuchenkova at the end change.
The ninth point saw a double fault from Pavlyuchenkova, and the tie break was back on serve. A forehand winner from Pavlyuchenkova created two set points, and the set was hers 7-6(4) after Pliskova netted a forehand.

In set two, Pavlyuchenkova broke Pliskova in the opening game, but was broken back in the sixth.
Pliskova survived a 24 point game to take a 6-5 lead, and Pavlyuchenkova tied it at 6-6, saving two set points in so doing.

This tie break was 2-2 when Pliskova hit the net, and Pavlyuchenkova led with a mini break. Serving at 2-5, Pliskova suffered a Pavlyuchenkova forehand winner, setting up four match points. One was saved  with a Czech backhand winner. The match ended next point when the #2 seed netted a forehand.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won 7-6(2) 7-6(3).

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