In the last match on day two, Karolina Pliskova took on fellow Czech Lucie Safarova for a place in the third round. The battle of the Czechs saw the fifth seed gain an upper hand in an evenly contested match taking the first set with one break of serve. Safarova had the lead for the most parts in the second set but Pliskova stepped up her game to eventually wrap up a 6-3, 7-5 victory.
One poor game costs Safarova
Safarova did not have the best of starts hitting unforced errors and was forced to save a break point before holding for 1-1. She then immediately had a chance of her own to build herself a lead but Pliskova stood tall to the task using her big serves to get herself out of trouble.
The left-handed Czech found herself in a spot of bother in the eighth game after staying toe to toe with Pliskova for most parts of the set. A game strewn with double faults cost her as she gifted the break and a 5-3 lead to the fifth seed. Safarova though was not done yet, coming up with a great response to earn break back point as Pliskova served for the set. However, the fifth seed kept her composure to rescue the break point before sealing the set with an ace.
Pliskova overcomes the tough challenge
The lefty started the second set in the best possible way, breaking Pliskova’s serve with her big returns and movement to gain a 2-0 lead. The fifth seed though had opportunities to get the break back and on her third attempt, she eventually found a way past her resilient opponent to get back on serve for 1-2.
Pliskova’s usually reliable serve, however, dropped a notch in the second set and a double fault allowed Safarova to regain the lead for 3-1. The set was starting to unravel as a 4th straight break after a loose game from Safarova gave Pliskova the chance to reduce the deficit to 2-3. The fifth seed found her rhythm once again to draw level at 3-3. Having found her groove, Pliskova was once again hitting balls freely and a sublime winner earned her a break point in the seventh game. Safarova fended off the chance but Pliskova kept piling on the pressure. After a 16-minute marathon game which included saving a handful of break points, the Czech lefty pulled through for an important hold.
Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, Pliskova had to save a couple of set points with her huge serves to tie for 5-5. The fifth seed then had chances to go ahead for the first time in the set and this time Safarova could not hang on overcooking her forehand to trail 5-6. Pliskova then went on to complete the victory on her serve.