Czech Republic star Karolina Pliskova came back from a set down to beat Lesia Tsurenko in the 2019 Brisbane Open at the Pat Rafter Arena to claim her 13th career singles title on the WTA Tour and her second title in the Queensland-based city.
The number seven ranked player won the WTA Brisbane title, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in a clash where both ladies struggled at times to hold their own serve, with a total of 10 break points won combined.
In a closely fought first set, both ladies played aggressively both from the baseline and with occasional trips to the net in a sometimes punishing encounter that had the Queenslanders cheering numerous times.
Tsurenko led 5-4 and served for the lead, and won the first set, as Pliskova hit a backhand return wide. The world number 27 was just one set away from her fifth carear title on tour.
Things got even better for the Kiev resident, as she broke her opponent’s serve early in the second to lead 4-2.
However, Pliskova fought back valiantly and broke at 4-5 down at love to tie the second set at five all. She held her own serve to go up 6-5 and broke Tsurenko’s serve up 40-15 to win the second set and tie the match up at one set apiece, as the Ukrainian hit a forehand long.
The former world number one from Louny quickly established an advantage in the deciding set, as she held her first two service games and broke Tsurenko early to go 3-0 up. Both players held their serve thereafter, and the match eventually reached with Pliskova leading 5-2 and Tsurenko having to serve to stay alive in the final.
The final point of the match came as Tsurenko was 15-40 down, and the 29-year hit a forehand into the net to give Pliskova the title in Brisbane.
It was a good warm up for both players as they now head to Melbourne as preparations for the Australian Open continues.
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