This year’s final of the Pattaya Open will be fought out between the fourth seeded Ekaterina Makarova and the up and coming Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic after a hard fought day of semi finals in Thailand.
After the withdrawal of Sabine Lisicki, due to injury, and surprise defeats to Svetelana Kuznetsova and Sorana Cristea, the draw had been blown wide open and the Thai crowd were treated to two enthralling semi finals.
In the day’s first match, the only seeded player remaining in the draw prevailed after a hard fought three setter that could have gone either way. Former top twenty player Makarova, will look to win her second WTA title, and was pushed to her wits end by the experienced Andrea Hlavackhova. After sneaking through the first set, Makaova appeared to capitulate as she was blown away to the loss of six straight games.
Clearly riled, the Russian looked in danger of falling apart, and Hlavackhova could smell blood, but somehow she was able to regain her composure and see out the match to four.
She will now face the unheralded Karolina Pliskova, also of the Czech Republic, who battled past Julia Goerges in three tight sets. After usurping third seeded Sorana Cristea in the last round, Pliskova continued her surprise run as she looks to secure her second WTA title.
Pattaya Open Results
Ekaterina Makarova d. Andrea Hlavackhova 63 06 64
Karolina Pliskova d. Julia Goerges 63 46 63