Svetlana Kuznetsova Battles Past Karolina Pliskova To Reach Semifinals at Cincinnati Open 2019

The World Number three tennis player, Karolina Pliskova set up a quarterfinal encounter with the Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova at Cincinnati Open 2019. World Number 153, Kuznetsova won 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 and reached her first-ever semifinal in Cincinnati. 

The Russian, Kuznetsova will now face the World Number two tennis player, Ashleigh Barty in the semifinals of Western & Southern Open 2019. Barty eliminated Maria Sakkari in the first quarterfinal match today. Before her appearance in Cincinnati, Kuznetsova won eight matches this year and she is yet to win a major match in the tennis year 2019. This week in Ohio, she has won four matches. 

The 34-year-old, Kuznetsova was swaying in the opening set as the Czech, Pliskova broke the former French Open champion in her opening service game. Pliskova maintained her lead in the entire set. It was the only break of the set and later none of them faced break points. With Kuznetsova failing to retrieve her early break Pliskova sealed the set 6-3.

Set One Highlights:

The second set turned out to be a tight one, with both of them grappling to book their spot in the semifinals. Karolina Pliskova broke Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second set and that aided her to serve for the match.

However, with the Russian displaying some sensational tennis the set leveled the match at 5-5, as Kuznetsova turned around the tables by breaking the Czech Number one. After saving two break points Pliskova drove the set into the tiebreaker and Kuznetsova outperformed the Czech star as the Russian dropped just two points. 

Second Set Highlights: 

Leading by a break since the very beginning of the deciding set, Svetlana Kuznetsova dominated the third set and was determined to reach her first-ever semifinals in Cincinnati. Pliskova had bright chances to stabilize the quarterfinal encounter at 4-3 by breaking the Russian’s serve, but unwilling to delay her victory Kuznetsova closed out the match on Pliskova’s serve.

Third Set Highlights: