By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, October 28, 2016
The ominous thud of Karolina Pliskova's damaging serve banging off the back wall can cause fright in some opponents.
That scary sound evoked resolve in Agnieszka Radwanska.
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The reigning WTA Finals champion responded with prescient court positioning, cagey shot selection and the power of prayer. Radwanska defused Pliskova, 7-5, 6-3, to advance to the Singapore semifinals against world No. 1 Angelique Kerber.
"Of course she's No. 1 and she's gonna finish No. 1," Radwanska said of Kerber. "But I think every match here is fifty-fifty. Of course it's the semifinals so I think everybody has the same chance. Of course, I think she probably has more pressure after fall season and being No. 1. But I think everyone can really go through and everything is open in the semifinals."
Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, who lost to Garbine Muguruza to finish round-robin play with a 2-1 record, will face Dominika Cibulkova in Saturday's first semifinal. The eighth-ranked Slovak has beaten Kuznetsova five times in a row and holds a 5-3 lead in their head-to-head series.
Striking shrewd combinations, Radwanska scored her seventh straight win over US Open finalist Pliskova, winning all 14 sets they've played.
"The only thing I could do if focus on the break points," Radwanska told Andrew Krasny afterward. "Very tight match. I'm just really happy I could do my best in the important moments."
The third-ranked Radwanska converted five of eight break points and won 16 of 25 points played on her opponent's second serve. Playing cleaner tennis throughout, Radwanska committed 21 fewer unforced errors than the fourth-seeded Czech.
Asked to explain her return mind-set against the WTA ace leader, Radwanska replied: "Just waiting and praying the first set isn't in and then you have a chance for the second serve."
"She's definitely one of the best or even the best server on the tour," Radwanska said of Pliskova. "I knew it was gonna be very tough. Every break matters tonight."
In their past encounters, Radwanska riddled Pliskova with varied pace, sharp angles and biting slice bending the 6'1" Czech into awkward positions on court.
At the outset, Pliskova nullified the Pole's magic touch with her massive serve and menacing first strike.
Whipping a wide ace, Pliskova held for 4-2 then gained break point for a potential 5-2 lead. But Pliskova scattered a short inside-out forehand wide, Radwanska wiggled free from stress and held. That sequence sparked a Radwanska surge.
"First set, I don't think I didn't do anything that bad," Pliskova said. "I was up 4-2, 30-love and I think she played a really good game at that time. She went for some good serves. I missed a short forehand down the line so it could be 5-2 and could be entirely different the whole match...
"I think she just did it and she controlled the whole match."
Correctly anticipating the wide serve, Radwanska stepped inside the baseline and bolted a backhand return winner down the line, breaking back for 4-all.
Pliskova continued to press forward, which is the right play for her against the accurate Radwanska. But she pushed a forehand volley wide to face triple set point in the 12th game.
Anticipation and match management are Radwanska assets: She is prescient playing the right shot at critical times. Reading the wide serve, Radwanska was already moving right when she drove a forehand return winner down the line sewing up the first set in 45 minutes.
Though Pliskova started the set strong, Radwanska played cleaner tennis throughout committing just six unforced errors compared to 15 for her opponent and nearly matching the powerful Pliskova in winners (13 to 15).
Crouching low, Radwanska belted a backhand pass down the line to break for a 2-0 second-set lead. By then, Radwanska had won seven of the last eight games.
Righting the ship, Pliskova kept applying forward pressure and squeezed out the break when Radwanska double faulted into net.
A revitalized Pliskova popped a backhand down the line earning the break and her third consecutive game for 3-2. Pliskova picked the worst time to play her sloppiest game, a pair of a double faults and pushed forehand into net gave the break right back.
The physical toll of playing her 63rd singles match of the season seemed to catch up to Pliskova, the only woman to qualify for both singles and doubles at the season-ending event. She badly bungled successive smashes into the bottom of the net gifting the break and a 5-3 lead to Radwanska.
On her second match point, Radwanska closed the 78-minute match when Pliskova netted a final forehand.
Kerber's coach, Torben Beltz, was scouting from the stands ahead of what should be a very tight test between good friends in the semifinals. Radwanska leads Kerber 6-5 in their head-to-head series, they've split their last six meetings and will square off for the first time this season with a trip to the final on the line.
"I think it is the semis so I really have nothing to lose at the moment, especially since I'm going to play the best player of the season," Radwanska said. "She definitely played great tennis... I think it's going to be an amazing challenge. I hope I can play better than I did today."