By Erik Gudris | Saturday, May 2, 2015
Karolina Pliskova won a tour-leading 28th match this season to win the Prague title over Lucie Hradecka.
Photo Credit: J&T Banka Prague Open
In an-all Czech final, Karolina Pliskova completed a comeback win over her countrywoman Lucie Hradecka to claim the J&T Banka Prague Open.
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"It was very tough to play a Czech girl in the final in front of a Czech crowd," Pliskova said to WTA.com. "Lucie and I are good friends, we practice a lot together at tournaments, and we played Fed Cup together twice, so we know each other pretty well. I didn't want to beat her, but I had to!"
The win and title were especially sweet for Pliskova as Prague is her hometown. Yet the top-seeded Pliskova was made to work for it by Hradecka who came through qualifying in search of her first ever singles title.
Early on, it appeared Hradecka might just complete the dream week for her. Despite only serving at 48% in the first set, Hradecka broke Pliskova en route to taking the lead 6-4.
Pliskova withstood 16 aces from Hradecka in the first two sets and managed to grab the second set 7-5.
With Hradecka's aces diminishing (she only served one in the final set), Pliskova made her move. Pliskova broke Hradecka to take 3-1 lead in the decider. Though Hradecka threatened to break back, Pliskova kept hold of her advantage.
Hradecka fought off three match points against her serve to hold for 2-5. But it only delayed the inevitable as Pliskova sealed success with a put away winner up at net in the next game. With that, Pliskova celebrated the hometown victory 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
This is Pliskova's first title of the year and fourth overall. She also earned her 28th win of the season. That leads everybody on tour so far as Pliskova passed Simona Halep earlier in the week who holds 26 wins.