Barty vs Pliskova: head-to-head, stats, all you need to know before the Wimbledon ladies final
Ashleigh Barty and Karolina Pliskova face off in the Wimbledon ladies singles final today. Head-to-head, greatest matches, stats: here is our guide
Ashleigh Barty & Karolina Pliskova during the 2020 Qatar Open
Copyright: ZM / Panoramic
BARTY VS PLISKOVA: HEAD-TO-HEAD
Ashleigh Barty, the current world No 1, and Karolina Pliskova, the former world No. 1, faced off in the Wimbledon ladies singles final on Saturday.
The pair have met seven times on the tour, with Barty leading their rivalry 6-2. After splitting their first four meetings, the Australian has won their last four encounters.
Pliskova had won their only previous meeting in a Grand Slam (round of 16 at the 2018 US Open) and the pair have split their two meetings on grass (both in Nottingham). But it was Barty who came through to win the Wimbledon final, 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3.
WHICH ARE THE BEST MATCHES OF THE BARTY VS PLISKOVA RIVALRY?
While Barty may lead their head-to-head 6-2, their matches have been pretty close. Three of those five wins by Barty have gone down to the wire – with the Aussie winning two in a third set tiebreaker, and another 7-5 in the decider.
Their quarter-final at Nottingham in 2016 was won by Pliskova in two tiebreakers.
BARTY AND PLISKOVA – HOW MANY TITLES HAVE THEY WON?
Barty has won 12 WTA singles titles, including the 2019 Roland-Garros title. According to the WTA tour website, her other titles are as under :
- 2021 – Yarra Valley Classic, Miami, Stuttgart, Wimbledon
- 2020 – Adelaide
- 2019 – Miami, Roland Garros, Birmingham, WTA Finals
- 2018 – Nottingham, Zhuhai
- 2017 – Kuala Lumpur
On the other hand, Pliskova, who is four years Barty’s senior, has accumulated 16 WTA singles titles, but remains in search for her first Grand Slam singles title. Pliskova reached her only prior major final at the US Open in 2016, when she went down to Angelique Kerber in three sets. The Czechwoman is aiming to win her first title since Brisbane in early 2020.
- 2020 – Brisbane
- 2019 – Brisbane, Rome, Eastbourne, Zhengzhou
- 2018 – Stuttgart Tokyo [PPO]
- 2017 – Brisbane, Doha, Eastbourne
- 2016 – Nottingham, Cincinnati
- 2015 – Prague
- 2014 – Seoul, Linz
- 2013 – Kuala Lumpur
BARTY AND PLISKOVA – WHERE WILL THEY BE RANKED ON MONDAY?
Barty will remain ranked No 1 in the world irrespective of Saturday’s final result. Next week will be Barty’s 77th consecutive week (84th overall) at the No 1 spot.
By reaching the final, Pliskova is assured of moving back into the top 10, no matter what happens in the final. She is projected to move to No 7 if she finishes as runner-up and to No 4 if she wins the title.
BARTY AND PLISKOVA – WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE FINAL?
Barty was the first of the two to book her spot in the final and after her win over former champion Angelique Kerber, she spoke about reaching her first Wimbledon singles final and what it meant to her.
“It was incredible. It was just almost a moment of relief, a moment of pure excitement. It was something that I’d never, never knew if I would feel. I think being able to have an opportunity to play in a final here at Wimbledon is incredible.”
“No, I mean, I couldn’t really put an age on it (Note – when she first thought about wining Wimbledon). I think once you start playing more tennis when you’re younger, start understanding what is in the world of tennis, I think you dare to dream. When you’re a kid, the possibilities in your mind are endless. I think as you kind of get older, get more experienced, obviously with that you know there’s a lot more that comes with it. It’s almost not just a pipe dream; it’s kind of a reality. It could be a reality. I think it’s just about going out there and remembering how you felt as a kid, that there was the enjoyment, there was the freedom just to go out there and kind of try and do what you can.”
Speaking after her three-set win over Aryna Sabalenka, Pliskova said she was looking forward to the challenge of playing the world No. 1.
“So far my second final, second time I’m playing against a player No. 1 (smiling). But, no, I think it can’t be any better than that. You want to play the best player in the final. Of course, I don’t want anybody else but her there.We had some good matches. Of course, I lost couple times. But I think she has extremely difficult game to play. It’s going to be difficult on grass because of her slice and just her game overall. It’s a final. Anything can happen. Also for her, I mean, I know she has a Grand Slam, but also for her is the first Wimbledon final. I think we both have good chances. It’s going to be hopefully good match to watch as well because with her it’s always interesting.”
