Announcer. Andy Taylor. The Voice of the US Open
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Karolina Pliskova def Magda Linette 62 61
After winning Brisbane, Doha and Eastbourne – not to mention a Semifinal run at Roland Garros – it is no surprise that Karolina Pliskova has become World #1 during Serena Williams’ maternity leave.
Last Summer in Flushing, she bested Venus in a 3-set thriller before falling to Angelique Kerber in the Final. It was her best Grand Slam result to date.
Depending on how the draw plays out, she is one of seven remaining players who could claim, or in her case lose, the WTA’s top ranking. Jo Konta’s defeat on Monday reduced that list from eight to seven.
After a routine win on Tuesday, briefly interrupted by a rain-inspired roof-closure on the set-break, Pliskova is poised to maintain upward momentum at this year’s Open. Broken once in the first set, Karolina conjured-up three breaks of her own to gain the upper hand.
In the second, she dominated, allowing Linette only one service game after the first sit-down.
After the match, she told ESPN’s Andrea Joyce that last year’s Open was her career breakthrough. The win in Cincinnati and first Major Final appearance at the US Open boosted her mental game, leading to the three titles and top-ranking she’s earned in 2017.
