ADVERTISEMENT

Kontaveit crushes Pliskova to reach semis at WTA Finals

Published - November 13, 2021 07:46 am IST

Kontaveit beat world number three and French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova on November 10 and is now guaranteed to finish in the top two in the group

Anett Kontaveit of Estonia celebrates a point against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, during a Mexican Tennis WTA Finals match, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, November 12, 2021.

Estonian Anett Kontaveit handed Czech Karolina Pliskova a 6-4 6-0 drubbing to become the first player to qualify for the semi-finals at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara, Mexico on November 12.

The number eight seed dominated the round-robin stage match and closed out the opener with a drop shot to break Pliskova's serve, having saved three break points in the third game.

The third-seeded Czech could not get a foothold in the second set as Kontaveit dropped only one first-serve point, while Pliskova struggled with her second serve.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was Kontaveit's first win in four meetings with Pliskova.

The WTA Finals divides the players into two groups of four, with each player competing in three matches. The top two from each group advance to the semi-finals.

Kontaveit beat world number three and French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova on November 10 and is now guaranteed to finish in the top two in the group.

ADVERTISEMENT

She came into the match on a career-best 11-match winning streak, having won the Transylvania Open and Kremlin Cup while reaching the quarter-finals at Indian Wells last month.

The Estonian has 28 wins in her last 30 matches.

"I've really been enjoying being on court, just having a good time," she said.

"I think that's been the main thing why I've been doing so well. I do feel like I can take on everyone. I never expect an easy match, I always expect it to be tough. I just try my best when I go out there."

As for finally getting a win against the hard-hitting Pliskova, she said it was all about having a short memory.

"I wasn't thinking about the fact that I was three-love down in previous matches," she said.

"Every time you step on the court, you have a new opportunity. The previous matches don't really matter. It's a new day and you have to beat the player you're playing against."

The evening session will see Czech second-seed Krejcikova take on Spanish sixth-seed Garbine Muguruza.

This is a Premium article available exclusively to our subscribers. To read 250+ such premium articles every month
You have exhausted your free article limit.
Please support quality journalism.
You have exhausted your free article limit.
Please support quality journalism.
The Hindu operates by its editorial values to provide you quality journalism.
This is your last free article.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT