Karolina Pliskova came back from a set down to win the 2019 women’s singles title at the Brisbane International.
Final score
Karolina Pliskova 4 7 6
Lesia Tsurenko 6 5 2
Karolina Pliskova takes on Lesia Tsurenko late today on Pat Rafter Arena in the Brisbane International WTA final. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6pm (AEDT).
Karolina Pliskova, the current No.8 ranked player in the world, won this tournament in 2017 and will be keen to double up tonight.
It hasn’t been the easiest run for her to the final, losing sets along the way to Yulia Putintesova and Alja Tomljanovic.
However, she hit her best form last night when she comfortably accounted for Donna Vekic in their semi-final.
Pliskova has a big game, using her 186cm height to generate pace on her serve and groundstrokes. If she is allowed to control the rallies, she will win.
Lesia Tsurenko is looking to become only the 4th unseeded player to win Brisbane. Although at a world ranking of 27, this is more a reflection of the high quality of the Brisbane field and Tsurenko is a very real chance of winning her 1st Premier WTA title.
Tsurenko is yet to drop a set in this tournament, with the highlight the 6-2 6-4 semi-final win over reigning US Open champion, Naomi Osaka.
Prediction
The head to head doesn’t give anything away, with Pliskova holding a slim 3-2 record. Their last clash was in 2017 when Pliskova won on clay. Their two hard court matches were both won by Tsurenko, although the most recent of these was in 2015.
Tsurenko doesn’t have Pliskova’s serve but will be trying to move her around in rallies before looking to win points with her backhand. It is important that she was able to do this successfully against another powerful player, Osaka.
However, Osaka was not at her bessemi-finalkova’s semi final win showed she was in good form.
I’m tipping Pliskova tonight in a close one that will be a lot tighter than many people expect.
Pliskova in 3 sets.
johnty
Guest
I am very excited for it
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great sportsmanship from Pliskova who checks that Tsurenko's ankle is ok. Pliskova is obviously elated with her win. These two are drawn to play in Sydney first round this week. I will take a short break now and be back shortly for the men's final
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great backhand crosscourt winner from Tsurenko. 15-0. Forehand catches the tape. 15-15. Solid forehand return from Pliskova forces the error. 15-30. Tsurenko has overhit the forehand. 15-40 ansd 2 championship points. Big return from Pliskova and she has won the Brisbane International. GAME SET MATCH PLISKOVA 4-6 7-5 6-2 Pliskova 4 7 6 Tsurenko 6 5 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Pliskova wins with a driving backhand volley. 15-0. Double fault for 15-15. Big serve wins that point. 30-15. Pliskova forces the serve wide to the backhand and wins with some forehands. 40-15. Crosscourt forehand goes wide. 40-30. Wild forehand from Pliskova and deuce. Tsurenko has found her range again. Big serve sets up a forehand winner. Ad Pliskova. Serve down the T clinches the hold and Pliskova is 1 game away from the title. Pliskova 4 7 5 Tsurenko 6 5 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ace to start for Tsurenko. 15-0. Tsurenko controls the rally and forces a forehand error. 30-0. Anothet good serve and 40-0. Backhand netted by Tsurenko. 40-15. Forehand from Pliskova catches the tape and Tsurenko holds. Pliskova 4 7 4 Tsurenko 6 5 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Big off forehand winner from Pliskova. 15-0. Good rally from both players but Pliskova's backhand pass down the line is too good. 30-0. Pliskova playing well with another forehand winner. 40-0. She is human and pushes a backhand long. 40-15. Sliding serve draws the error and Pliskova holds. Pliskova 4 7 4 Tsurenko 6 5 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forehand approach missed by Tsurenko. 0-15. Good backhand winner down the line. 15-15. Deep groundstrokes from Pliskova force the error. 15-30. Better play from Tsurenko and it's 30-30. Good first serve for 40-30. Good first serve again and Tsurenko has held. Pliskova 4 7 3 Tsurenko 6 5 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Plenty of errors from Tsurenko. Its 30-0. Pliskova playing through the middle and draws a further error. 40-0. Double fault for 40-15. Good rally but a big backhand winner seals the game for Pliskova. She is now well on top Pliskova 4 7 3 Tsurenko 6 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Plenty of strapping applied to Tsurenko's ankle. She is back on court. It's advantage Pliskova. Forehand from Tsurenko hits the tape and Pliskova has the break/ Pliskova 4 7 2 Tsurenko 6 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great rally again. Tsurenko wins it with a volley.15-0. Backhand pushed long and 15-15. Good sliding serve and forehand winner. 30-15. Forehand long and Pliskova now winning most of the rallies. 30-30. Pliskova hits a backhand long. 40-30. Tsurenko errs with her forehand. Deuce. Tsurenko has missed a backhand and gone down on her left ankle. She looks to have rolled it on landing and has called for the trainer. Pliskova 4 7 1 Tsurenko 6 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Wide serve to the forehand sets up a forehand volley winner for Pliskova. 15-0. Good first serve and its 30-0. Pliskova finally errs and sends a backhand long.30-15. Better from Tsurenko with a forehand winner. 30-30. Big serve from Pliskova but she has missed a straight forward forehand volley. Great serve saves the break point. Great point from both players before a great smash from Pliskova. Good defence from Tsurenko but Pliskova's forehand is too strong. She holds. Pliskova 4 7 1 Tsurenko 6 5 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Pliskova hits the forehand down the line for a winner.0-15. Unforced forehand error from Tsurenko. 0-30. Pliskova not missing a ball at the moment. Its 0-40 and 3 set points for Pliskova. An ace from Tsurenko saves one. Another error from Tsurenko and Pliskova has forced a decider. It's one set all Pliskova 4 7 Tsurenko 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Tsurenko misses the forehand approach. 15-0. Backhand long from Tsurenko and this match has changed. 30-0. Another backhand long. 40-0. Last 8 points for Pliskova and she leads 6-5. Pliskova 4 6 Tsurenko 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Tsurenko catches the tape with her forehand.0-15. Forehand long and 0-30. Danger signs for Tsurenko. Too good again from Pliskova and it's 0-40. Great backhand smash from Pliskova and she is right back in it. Pliskova 4 5 Tsurenko 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Pliskova sends a backhand long. 0-15. Serve down the T forces the error. 15-15. Great backhand winner down the line from Pliskova. 30-15. Pliskova's forehand dominates the next point. 40-15. Tsurenko gets to the drop shot and gets the backhand pass. 40-30. Forehand from Pliskova catches the tape. Deuce. Tsurenko sends a forehand long. Ad to Pliskova. First serve to the backhand is unplayable and Tsurenko will need to serve this match out. Pliskova 4 4 Tsurenko 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Rennae Stubbs trying to fire up Pliskova. Off backhand winner from Tsurenko for 15-0. She nets a forehand though and it is 15-15. Wonderful backhand winner again from Tsurenko. 30-15. Tsurenko goes after the forehand but sends it just wide. 30-30. Double fault. It's 30-40. Good rally from both players before Pliskova nets a backhand. Deuce. Pliskova missed with the backhand down the line. Ad to Tsurenko. Poor miss on the second serve from Pliskova and Tsurenko is only 1 game away Pliskova 4 3 Tsurenko 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Big game coming up for Tsurenko. Real test of nerves as she closes in on the title Pliskova 4 3 Tsurenko 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Defensive lob from Tsurenko and Pliskova has missed the smash. 0-15. Great off backhand from Pliskova forces the error. 15-15. Nice depth there from Pliskova. 30-15. Backhand return just long and it's 40-15. Better game for Pliskova with a forehand winner to close out the game. Pliskova 4 3 Tsurenko 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Pliskova gets to the net but Tsurenko's forehand pass drops in. 15-0. Loose forehand from Pliskova. 30-0. She has gone for a racquet change. Forehand return knocked long and its 40-0. Second serve ace for Tsurenko and she holds easily Pliskova 4 2 Tsurenko 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Tsurenko just seems to have all the answers in this one but some big games to come Pliskova 4 2 Tsurenko 6 3