By Chris Oddo | Sunday, March 15, 2015

Karolina Pliskova moved past her newly anointed rival Garbine Muguruza with more ease than last month’s cliffhanger in Dubai, but today’s 7-5, 6-4 victory still had its tense moments.

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Asked whether she might end up facing Spain’s rising star 20 times before their careers are finished, the lean, sinewy Czech was quick to say how she felt: “I hope not. She’s serving well and playing really fast,” said Pliskova, “even if I’m leading 30-0 or 40-0 on her serve it really doesn’t mean anything. In Dubai I had like 20 break points (the number was actually 14) and I converted two, today it was a little bit easier.”

In that match in Dubai, Pliskova recovered from 0-40 down in the final game to seal the 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 victory to reach the final. Today, Pliskova saved the only break point she faced before breaking in the 11th game of the first set.

Muguruza, who hardly dropped a point on serve until that game, appeared to grow more and more frustrated by the icy-cool Pliskova’s service bombs, and it showed in her temperament and game.

After an early break in the second set, Pliskova took over the match with her serve. She dropped only four points on serve in the set, and didn’t face a break point. At one point late in the final set, Muguruza tossed her racquet to the back of the court and was given a warning for racquet abuse.

Pliskova, meanwhile, just kept cruising. Any trouble she faced, she quickly defused with crisp, authoritative ball striking. Though she made her share of errors on the day, she tightened up her game on big points like a savvy veteran. Pliskova will face either Simona Halep or Varvara Lepchenko in her first round of 16 contest at Indian Wells. She says that losing to Halep in two tight sets in Dubai will help her be prepared to face the world No. 3 if that encounter should occur.

“That was a close match,” said Pliskova. “I already played with her once, so I know a little bit how to play against her and I’m looking forward to it.”

Elsewhere on a busy Sunday at Indian Wells, Elina Svitolina pulled a big upset over Lucie Safarova, 7-6(5), 7-5, to set up a round of 16 battle with Timea Bacsinszky. The 20-year-old from the Ukraine has already tallied a Top 10 win over Angelique Kerber, but today’s win over the 11th-ranked southpaw could be her biggest of the season, given the importance of Indian Wells.

Svitolina, who credits improved footwork for her early season success, says she’s hoping to move higher in the rankings in the near future. “Yeah, my main goal is top 15 at the end of this year,” said the world No. 29, “but of course it will change if I reach top 15, which is—I think it's possible for me. Even after three Grand Slams, after Wimbledon, I think I can reach this goal. So I'm looking forward to this season, and looks not so bad for now.”