By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, April 29, 2018
Clay-court tennis once excited Karolina Pliskova as much as a school-zone speed limit enthralls a Formula 1 driver.
A driven Pliskova changed speeds shrewdly riding the red-clay route into Stuttgart history today.
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Pliskova pumped 11 aces conquering CoCo Vandeweghe, 7-6 (2), 6-4, becoming the first Czech woman to win the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix title and the keys to the red Porsche 718 Boxter convertible.
The fifth-seeded Pliskova, who beat Vandeweghe by the same score in Stuttgart last year, collected her 10th career title, leveling her finals record at 10-10.
It is the explosive Czech's second clay-court crown and first since she won Prague in 2015.
Familiarity, an imposing serve and her willingness to challenge Vandeweghe in forehand crosscourt exchanges helped Pliskova capture her first title since she defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the Eastbourne final last June.
The WTA ace leader has become a player for all surfaces. Pliskova's last three titles—Doha, Eastbourne and Stuttgart—have come on three different surfaces.
Last weekend, Pliskova defeated former No. 1 Angelique Kerber helping the Czech Republic defeat Germany to reach the Fed Cup final on the same red clay of the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart.
This week, the 26-year-old Czech looked completely comfortable knocking off three heavy hitters—reigning Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko, 31st-ranked Annet Kontaveit and Vandeweghe—in succession.
Contesting her first career clay-court final, Vandeweghe fought hard throughout. But she struggled to gain traction in her opponent's service games and was not nearly as effective rushing net as she had been dispatching three Top 10 players—US Open champion Sloane Stephens, world No. 1 Simona Halep and seventh-ranked Caroline Garcia—to reach the final.
"I tried my best—even a little bit of blood—I couldn't get there at the end," said Vandeweghe, who took a tumble to the red clay in the second set.
This match was a rematch of the 2017 US Open quarterfinals, which Vandeweghe won 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Guarding ground near the baseline, Pliskova engaged Vandeweghe in forehand-to-forehand exchanges thwarting the American's variety and all-court attack.
The 2016 US Open finalist flicked a short-angled pass crosscourt that helped her work through a trying deuce hold for 6-5.
Serving to force a tie break, Vandeweghe opened with an ace. Deadlocked at 30-all, Vandeweghe showed guts serving-and-volleying and scooping out a tough half-volley to set up a backhand volley winner. Vandeweghe held firm to force the tiebreak.
It was the fifth straight encounter between the pair that escalated into a first-set tie break.
The 16th-ranked American swept an ace wide for a 2-0 tiebreak lead.
Then Pliskova produced a higher gear. Sliding a second-serve ace, she evened the breaker igniting a run of six straight points. Pliskova took the tiebreak with a flourish, firing another ace and jolting a backhand down the line snatching a one-set lead.
It was the fifth straight encounter between the pair that escalated into a first-set tiebreak, including their 2017 Stuttgart round-of-16 match that featured the same tiebreak score.
The winner of the first set had won all five prior meetings between the pair.
Slipping behind the baseline, Vandeweghe tumbled to the court, cutting the fingers on her racquet hand in the opening game of the second set.
Vandeweghe climbed off the court, her legs streaked with clay, and held serve then took a medical time-out to have her fourth and pinky fingers on her right hand taped up.
When play resumed, Pliskova powered through a love hold in 55 seconds.
There's nothing in this match—you know that," coach Pat Cash told Vandeweghe after she held for 2-1. "Our goal is to compete and we've been competing really well. Keep competing—that's all I ask whether you win or lose."
Pliskova's patient probing of the American's forehand wing paid off. When Vandeweghe slapped a forehand into the middle of the net, Pliskova had the first break of the match for 3-2.
Earning break-back point in the sixth game, Vandeweghe sailed a forehand then spiked her Yonex racquet to the court. Vandeweghe picked up her stick and handed it to a fan in the front row.
Shrugging off the stress, Pliskova, who served more cautiously in the sixth game, backed up the break for 4-2 as a groaning Vandeweghe netted a backhand return.
Decisive forehand strikes were key to the second set for the Czech.
Zapping a forehand down the line, Pliskova gained a second break point in the seventh game. Pliskova broke again for 5-2 on a Vandeweghe error as her box erupted trading high-fives to celebrate the Czech's fourth straight game.
The first American to contest the Stuttgart final since Lindsay Davenport won the title in 2005 wasn't done yet. Vandeweghe scraped out a fine forehand volley winner for break point and banged a forehand to break back for 3-5.
Serving for the title again, Pliskova was bouncing up and down the baseline trying to activate her legs and energy.
Pounding a serve winner out wide, Pliskova got to 30-all. An exchange of sharp-angled slices ended with Vandeweghe pushing a shot long giving the Czech championship point.
When a sliding Vandeweghe pushed a backhand volley long, Pliskova thrust her arms in the air closing an impressive performance in one hour, 56 minutes.
An emotional Vandeweghe embraced coach Cash after capping the best clay-court week of her career coming up short.
Pliskova continued her winning ride.