Red-hot Kontaveit first into semis of WTA Finals following rout of Pliskova
Anett Kontaveit is already through to the last four at the WTA’s year-end championship after beating Karolina Pliskova on Friday. Kontaveit is 2-0 this week, having also defeated Barbora Krejcikova
Anett Kontaveit
WTA Finals Guadalajara | Draw | Schedule
- What happened: Anett Kontaveit improved to 2-0 at the WTA Finals with a straight-set win over Karolina Pliskova.
- Why it matters: Kontaveit is now qualified for the semi-finals in Guadalajara, while Pliskova is still in contention at 1-1.
- You will also learn: Pliskova had never lost to Kontaveit, but the Estonian has never been in this kind of form.
Anett Kontaveit has been simply unstoppable this fall, and so far it looks like nothing is going to change at the WTA Finals.
Kontaveit improved to an incredible 28-2 in her last 30 matches by crushing Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-0 on Friday afternoon in Guadalajara. The eighth and final seed is the first woman through to the semi-finals of the year-end championship because she also won in straight sets on Wednesday — 6-3, 6-4 over Barbora Krejcikova. The on-fire Estonian needed only 57 minutes to sprint past Pliskova.
Kontaveit off to the races after early test
Pliskova at least managed to be competitive in the first set and she even had a chance to seize an early lead. The Czech earned three break points at 1-1 but could not convert, and she did not get a look at another break point the entire rest of the match. After managing to hold for 2-1, Kontaveit eventually pocketed the first break of the day when it mattered most — with her opponent serving to stay in the set at 4-5.
From there it was all over for Pliskova. Kontaveit’s impressive level only improved throughout the second set, during which she dropped only four points on her serve and did not get pushed to deuce in any of the six games.
The world No 8 had previously been 0-3 lifetime against Pliskova, including 1-6 in total sets.
“I think I wasn’t thinking about the fact that I was 3-0 down in previous matches (against her),” Kontaveit commented. “I think 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. That’s how I approach the match.
“I think it’s just really trusting my shots a little bit more, just going for it, but going for it with margins. I think that’s been very important, not to go for too much, but still stay aggressive and be in charge whenever possible. When it’s not possible, just stay in the rallies, be as consistent as possible.”
Teotihuacan Group Standings
Kontaveit is into the semi-finals regardless of her result against Muguruza on Sunday. All of the other three competitors are still mathematically alive, following Garbine Muguruza’s win over Barbora Krejcikova in the evening match on Friday.
- Kontaveit, 2-0 (4 sets won, 0 lost)
- Muguruza, 1-1 (3 set won, 3 sets lost)
- Pliskova, 1-1 (2 sets won, 3 sets lost)
- Krejcikova, 0-2 (1 sets won, 4 sets lost)
