By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, July 1, 2017
Karolina Pliskova waited a year for another shot at the Eastbourne title.
The third-ranked Czech made the most of her final return today.
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Pliskova pounded 10 aces and did not drop serve dispatching Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4, 6-4, to collect her ninth career title at the Aegon International Eastbourne.
"It's been a year so I was just hoping this year I could get the trophy," Pliskova said. "I feel quite okay on grass. I’m still waiting for a good result at Wimbledon. I think the serve is definitely my biggest weapon and if it’s working then it's trouble for the opponent."
A year ago, Pliskova fell to Dominika Cibulkova, 7-5, 6-3, in the Eastbourne title match. In her return, Pliskova blistered 37 aces in four tournament wins, raising her record to 36-9 on the season.
Facing Wozniacki for the third time this season, Pliskova scored her second final triumph over the former world No. 1 following a 6-3, 6-4 victory in the Doha final.
It is Pliskova’s third title of the season.
Contesting her 46th final, which is fourth most among active players, Wozniacki fell to 0-4 in finals this season.
"I definitely would have loved to have won today, but I guess the fifth time is the charm," Wozniacki said. "I actually thought I played really well. Karolina played better than me today and definitely with the serves I had trouble getting a lot of returns back. I thought we played some great tennis, both of us, obviously it’s great preparation for Wimbledon."
Competing with a relaxed intensity, the 25-year-old Czech cracked a drive earning the first break in the fifth game. Pliskova pumped an ace to back up the break for 4-2.
The third-seeded Pliskova effectively slid her serve out wide, dragging Wozniacki off the court and setting up her first strike. Firing her forehand down the line, Pliskova extended the lead to 5-3.
Serving for the set, Pliskova attacked net.
A fine lunging backhand volley followed by an angled forehand volley brought the US Open finalist to set point. Pliskova handled a half volley with grace, ladling a drop shot winner to take the 34-minute opener, winning 91 percent of her first-serve points.
It was a near pristine set for Pliskova, who produced 18 winners—10 more than her opponent—against only three unforced errors. Pliskova’s willingness to move into the frontcourt and her skill finishing at net were keys to the first set.
Wozniacki did not play poorly, but couldn’t extend the power player in baseline rallies in the opening set.
Still, the former world No. 1 protected her serve in the early stages of the second set working her way through a deuce hold for 2-1. Continuing to go after her serve, Wozniacki stamped a love hold for a 3-2 second-set lead.
A Pliskova double fault gave the Dane her first break point, but Pliskova thumped a twisting serve out wide to save it. Continuing to apply pressure, Wozniacki raced forward, dug out a tricky slice forehand and snapped a smash for a second break point. Pliskova saved it with a smash of her own, but a return right back into the body set up a third break point. Wozniacki took a big swing at a forehand down the line but sent it long.
Pliskova erased a fourth break point with a forehand winner, slid her 34th ace of the tournament out wide then slashed another ace down the middle navigating an eight-minute hold for 3-all.
Frustration finally boiled over for Wozniacki, who missed a backhand then slammed her racquet to the turf facing triple break point in the ninth game. The way Pliskova was serving, the break points seemed virtual match points.
Wozniacki warded off two break points, but on the third Pliskova lasered a clean forehand winner down the line breaking with a clenched fist for 5-4.
On her third championship point, Pliskova crunched a forehand into the corner sealing her ninth career championship in one hour, 21 minutes.
The 2016 US Open finalist is the first Czech woman to win Eastbourne since Jana Novotna, in 1998. Novotna went on to win Wimbledon that year—the most recent player to complete the Eastbourne-Wimbledon double.
While Pliskova has won just four matches in five Wimbledon appearances if she can play with the control and command she showed today, the Roland Garros semifinalist will be a threat at SW19.