By Chris Oddo | Tuesday March 28, 2017

Karolina Pliskova booked her spot in the Miami Open semifinals for the first time in her career on Tuesday, defeating 35-year-old Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 6-3, 6-4, to avenge a quarterfinal defeat at this year’s Australian Open.

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There were breaks of serve and well-struck forehands a aplenty in this tilt, and it was Pliskova who managed to keep the upper hand despite some inspired tennis from the second-oldest player in the draw.

Pliskova dominated the first set, winning 11 of 12 second-serve return points and converting four of five break points.

But Lucic-Baroni hung tough in the second set and raced out to a 4-2 lead before Pliskova took over and claimed the final four games. The Czech, who now has a tour-leading 23 wins on the season against just three losses, closed affairs at the 72-minute mark when she ripped a forehand that forced the Croatian’s backhand reply long.

Pliskova will face the winner of tonight’s quarterfinal between No.12-seeded Caroline Wozniacki and Lucie Safarova in the semifinals.