By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Karolina Pliskova pumped 16 aces rallying past Naomi Osaka 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 into the Brisbane round of 16 in a clash of former world No. 1 players.
Photo credit: Bradley Kanaris/Getty
In a duel of disarming servers, Karolina Pliskova pulled the plug on Naomi Osaka.
Playing bold first-strike tennis, Pliskova pumped 16 aces rallying past Osaka 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 into the Brisbane round of 16.
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A clash of former world No. 1 champions lived up to the hype.
This sixth meeting between the pair saw them combine for 30 aces. Osaka, who outplayed Pliskova for a set-and-a-half, showed signs of rust converting just two of 12 break-point chances.
The 16th-seeded Pliskova converted both of her break points, including firing a forehand winner to gain the crucial break for a 2-1 lead in the final set.
It was just Osaka’s second match in the last 15 months and she showed signs of the high quality that make her a four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka hit the wide serve sharply, cracked several forehand winners, changed direction with her forehand well at times and played on the front foot for long stretches.
Credit Pliskova, who was making her 2024 debut, with withstanding some jarring Osaka returns in the opening set, standing her ground and imposing her ferocious serve-forehand combination at critical stages of the final set.
Wearing heavy taping around her left wrist, Pliskova was under fire from Osaka’s drives from the start.
The Czech committed three double faults but hung tough fending off four break points in her opening service game. Osaka lined up a backhand and torched her two-hander down the line, converting her fifth break point for a 2-0 lead.
Osaka betrayed her cause, missing a backhand and double faulting to give back the break in the third game.
Playing her second match in 15 months, Osaka was leaning into her returns actively attacking the Czech’s second serve.
Stepping into the court, Osaka ended a 12-shot rally zapping a forehand strike down the line for her second break and a 4-2 lead.
While Osaka was threatening the Pliskova second serve, the Japanese was nearly untouchable on first serve in the opening set.
Slashing successive aces brought Osaka triple set point. Osaka showed signs of rust when she mistakenly let a Pliskova return go believing the ball would land long only to see it lace the line.
That return saved the second set point. Osaka coaxed an errant backhand to convert her third set point.
The two-time Australian Open champion won 17 of 19 first-serve points and pumped five aces against one double fault building a one-set lead. Osaka hit two more winners—13 to 11—in the 38-minute opener with the length of her drives often pinning Pliskova behind the baseline.
Contesting her first match of the season, Pliskova showed stubborn spine coming back from triple break point down to five five points in a row and hold for 2-1.
Pliskova held firm through her first four service games of the set. The former Wimbledon finalist tested Osaka at 15-30 in the eighth game, but Osaka lifted her level, lashing an ace to even the set, 4-4.
The 16th-seeded Pliskova pounded down a flying forehand holding at 15 for a 6-5 lead.
A poised Pliskova surged to a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker. Osaka used the slider serve wide on the deuce side to close the gap to 4-3. Pliskova answered with a backhand down the line and serve winner for set points at 6-3.
When Osaka sailed a backhand to end the set, Pliskova bent over and bellowed “come on!” forcing a final set.
Pliskova fired eight aces, won 24 of 26 first-serve points and saved all three break points she saved in the second set.
Though Osaka had good success serving wide on the deuce side, Pliskova read it and rifled a return down the line setting up a backhand drop shot for break point. Pliskova cranked a crosscourt backhand return then nearly skimmed the net with a forehand winner breaking for 2-1.
Staring down double-break point, Pliskova saved both, flattening out an inside-out backhand winner to draw even at deuce.
Drilling her 13th and 14th aces in succession, Pliskova held strong for 3-1. Pliskova denied a break point holding for 5-3 then served out a dynamic win stamping her fourth love hold of the match.
Turning Point
Serving at 4-3 in the final set, Pliskova dodged break point then rocketed her 16th ace followed by a bold second-serve winner down the T holding for 5-3. Pliskova served it out at love winning the final six straight points on serve.
What this win means for Karolina Pliskova
This is Pliskova’s fourth win in six meetings with Osaka, including her second straight win in Brisbane following a 6-7(10) 7-6(3) 6-2 in the 2020 semifinals. The fact Pliskova served so well under pressure should infuse her with confidence as she chases a record-extending fourth Brisbane championship. Pliskova will face another hard-hitter—either third-seeded Jelena Ostapenko or Camila Giorgi—for a quarterfinal spot.
What this loss means for Naomi Osaka
Given this was just her second match in the last 15 months, new mom Osaka should be pleased with her serving and ball striking. Obviously, Osaka will want to improve on the poor break-point conversion rate, she was sometimes taking one big step running to her backhand side rather than several smaller steps and made some questionable shot-selection choices down the stretch, but still played a strong match overall.
What the result means for us
If these two former world No. 1 champions can stay healthy, it can create some explosive potential showdowns with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek as well as imposing servers Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka. Pliskova doesn’t move as well as those three players and often seems more vulnerable to the low ball, but when she’s striking so cleanly and powerfully she doesn’t need to do a whole lot of running holding serve.