McIntyre Tennis

Pliskova Sisters Advance to Doubles Semifinals in Beijing

By Mike McIntyre

Photo thanks to Jimmie48 Tennis Photography 

Karolina and Kristyna Pliskova advanced to the semifinals of the doubles draw in Beijing at the China Open with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over the No. 4 seeds Gaby Dabrowski and Julie Xu. 

I caught-up with Karolina in the summer when she was in Toronto for the Rogers Cup and asked her about a recent singles match where her sister Kristyna (ranked much lower on the WTA) emerged victorious 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(7) to take a 5-4 advantage in their career head to head. 

Having twins myself I couldn't resist exploring the dynamic between the two and how they handled these encounters when they happened as well as how their parents approach these matches. Here's the Q&A that ensued:

 

Q: Got a twin question for you Karolina, partially because I have twins myself, but also you and your sister recently faced each other and she came away with the victory in this most recent match. How competitive are things between you, do you have a laugh about it afterwards? How do you handle those matches and what’s it like after the fact?

Karolina Pliskova: I guess you don’t really laugh especially when you lose 7-6 in the third. So it was not really like something we would enjoy, like even the match or the moments after. But I was fine. I think it was better that I lost because I think she would be more, I mean, down (if she lost) because the match was close and it was quite long and for her it meant so much. Of course I was disappointed because on the other side everybody expected that I’m going to win like 6-1, 6-2 you know? But first of all, I never faced her for the last six years so it was kind of difficult. And then I still think she’s at a different level but unfortunately maybe she’s not able to play maybe a couple of matches in-a-row or against some players but it was possible to lose. I don’t even think I played that bad in the match and it was for sure not enjoyable and I hope it’s not going to happen forever anymore!

Q: Can your family handle watching those matches?

Karolina Pliskova: My Mom she doesn’t watch nothing – like not even if I play Serena, she doesn’t watch. And for sure not this match. My father he’s watching a lot of matches but not this match. I think it’s – why would you watch because it’s not fun.

Preview of the U.S. Open Women's Draw

By Mike McIntyre

There has perhaps never been more at stake in women's tennis at the final Grand Slam of the season as there is this year, as eight different players could leave the U.S. Open with the World No. 1 ranking. While some have a much stronger shot at accomplishing the feat than others, it reflects a WTA Tour that is still in-flux with the absence of Serena Williams and reveals a group of players who have yet to decide who among them might settle into the role for an extended period of time. Here is a look at the four quarters of the main draw and who we think stands the best chance of hoisting the trophy, and perhaps also emerging as the next No. 1 player in the world.

First Quarter

Current World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova assumed the role thanks to a Johanna Konta victory over Simona Halep at Wimbledon after she herself had already been knocked-out of the draw. Pliskova seemed comfortable talking about her new position at the top of the rankings while she was in Toronto at the Rogers Cup but was pushed to a third set there by 19 year old Naomi Osaka in the third round before falling to veteran Caroline Wozniacki in the quarter-finals. Pliskova would get revenge against Wozniacki in the quarter-finals in Cincinnati before falling to eventual champion Garbine Muguruza in the semi-finals there. I foresee this progression continuing for Pliskova with a return to the finals in Flushing Meadows as a distinct possibility. She's in a great section of the draw filled with recent underacheivers like Kristina Mladenovic and over overachievers like Barbora Strycova in her path towards the final sixteen. Potential quarter-final foes include the struggling Aga Radwanska, a relatively dormant Svetlana Kuznetsova and a couple of dangerous floaters like Lucie Safarova and the young CiCi Bellis. By the quarter-finals I see Pliskova's game coming into a groove and believe she will fight hard to keep her No. 1 status. 

Photo by Mike McIntyre

Keep an eye on: Bellis, Safarova and Vandeweghe

Pass on: Kuznetsova, Mladenovic and Radwanska

Second Quarter

The two big seeds in this section of the draw couldn't be heading in more different directions. Fourth seeded Elina Svitolina may be a surprisingly unknown quantity to many quasi-tennis pundits - she was seriously undervalued by the media in Toronto - but she is a major obstacle to any serious U.S. Open contender. The 22 year old has won a whopping five titles in 2017 and is proving she is ready to claim her first Grand Slam. It may not happen in New York, but it will indeed happen at some point in the near future the way she has been playing.

Photo by Bob McIntyre

Also in this section is sixth seeded and defending champion Angelique Kerber who has had a abysmal season for someone who came into 2017 holding two Slam titles to her name. Kerber is limping into the Open and has not given any signs in match play that she is ready to raise her game to the levels it was at a year ago. Playing rising star Naomi Osaka of Japan in the opening round might very well afford Kerber a quick exit like she experienced at the French Open back in the spring. Osaka has pushed the likes of Konta, Halep and recently in Toronto, Pliskova, to three sets and seems poised to have a breakthrough. She's a hard hitter and if she's healthy I think this could swing her way.

Photo by Mike McIntyre

Keep an eye on: Gavrilova, Keys, Osaka

Pass on: Bouchard, Ostapenko

Third Quarter

Caroline Wozniacki has had a resurgence this season and has climbed her way back into the top-ten in the rankings with appearances in six finals. Unfortunately for her she has lost every one of those finals and in straight sets to boot. Having made the finals twice at the U.S. Open (2009 and 2014) means that Wozniacki knows how to handle the pressure at the final major of the year. I can see a quarter-final appearance here this year but I don't think she has the fire of some of her younger top-ten peers.

Photo by Mike McIntyre

Venus Williams at the age of - well, does it even matter anymore - is also in this section of the draw and the American superstar has already surprised us by making the finals of two Slams in 2017. Her summer appearances don't inspire confidence but you can't count out someone who has made the finals here four times previously including two tournament victories. Her last showing in the finals was fifteen years ago however so I'm not banking on Venus to make it past the fourth round or quarter-finals at best.

Photo by Mike McIntyre

My pick here - and it's not groundbreaking by any stretch - is Garbine Muguruza. She can play more freely now after picking up her second Grand Slam at Wimbledon as she proved with her recent win in Cincy. She has a nice draw, matches-up well vs Wozniacki and Venus, and isn't afraid to take her chances and go for it. I also like Caroline Garcia of France as a potential dark horse here who is the 18th seed in this part of the draw. People might also be mentioning Petra Kvitova and who wouldn't want to see her succeed, but I don't like her play on hardcourts this summer.

Keep an eye on: Garcia, Makarova

Pass on: Kvitova, Rybarikova

Fourth Quarter

Let's just get right to it and admit that the Simona Halep vs  Maria Sharapova match is one of the greatest first round matches of all-time at a Slam. We get the No. 2 seed against the former World No. 1 and U.S. Open champion of 2006. Halep must have been in disbelief when she found out who she drew in her opening match and yet I feel that overcoming this obstacle is almost a necessity for Halep if she wants to hoist a Grand Slam trophy one day. Mentally she needs something to prove to herself that she is a true champion and what better than by defeating one of the greatest players (love her or hate her) of recent history. Her 0-6 record against Sharapova is daunting, yet Halep has played very consistent tennis this year and has made it deep in almost every tournament she has played. Recent no-shows in the later stages of Toronto and Cincy have me concerned if I'm a Halep fan, as there is clearly something that is holding her back from playing anywhere near her best tennis when it seems to count. As if her 6-1, 6-1 thrashing by Svitolina in the semi-finals of Toronto wasn't bad enough, she followed that up by getting blitzed 6-1, 6-0 in the finals of Cincinnati by Muguruza. Halep is only five points behind Pliskova for the No. 1 ranking and that can either motivate or hinder her performance against Sharapova depending on how she reacts Monday night.

Photo by Mike McIntyre

The good news for Halep is that a) Sharapova has not proven to be healthy enough to compete in recent months and b) the rest of her draw is pretty favorable. Her second through fourth round matches don't make me blink an eye if she wins her opener, and Johanna Konta could meet her in the quarter-finals but the Brit has not really performed on the hardcourts since her Wimbledon semi-final run.

Photo by Jimmie48 Photography

Do keep a close eye on Sloane Stephens who has been straight-up fire this summer. In only her third tournament back after an eleven month layoff, the American made the semi-finals in Toronto beating Kvitova and Kerber along the way. She then followed that up with another semi-final appearance in Cincinnati to prove that Toronto was no fluke. That saw her ranking skyrocket from 934 in the world to its current spot at No. 84. Only a matter of time before she is back in the top 20 and with her recent confidence she is not someone you would want to face. A second round match against New Haven finalist Dominika Cibulkova is an early test, but she has had plenty of those lately and handled them with relative ease. 

Photo by Mike McIntyre

Keep an eye on: Goerges, Stephens

Pass on: Everyone else not named Halep or Sharapova

Karolina Pliskova Suffers First Loss as World No. 1

By Mike McIntyre

Karolina Pliskova's first loss as the World No. 1 had to happen sometime and against someone. That turned out to be Friday in Toronto against 6th seed Caroline Wozniacki. During a match that was delayed by rain several times, Wozniacki managed to use the repeated stops to her advantage en route to a 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4 victory on Centre Court at the Rogers Cup.

Things weren't clicking as easily as Pliskova would have liked vs Wozniacki.

The match started out well for Pliskova who raced to a 5-1 lead. Then after yet another weather delay, Wozniacki came back and reeled-off six straight games to snatch the opening set from her stunned opponent.

"I think the biggest mistake was the first set," revealed Pliskova after the match. "So because of that, I think I lost."

Pliskova being escorted off the court for a rain delay.

The match lasted 2 hours and 53 minutes without taking into consideration the rain stoppages. It seemed to have the crowd mostly behind the more experienced Wozniacki, who herself once occupied the position for a total of 67 weeks.

After the rain Wozniacki picked-up her game.

Casual tennis fans may take some time to warm-up to Pliskova who comes across as quite focused and business-like on the court. With the press after the match it was encouraging to see her crack a few smiles that revealed someone who isn't taking her new role as too much of a burden. "I think I felt pretty good," she said when asked about her first week as No. 1.  

Still able to crack a smile.

One move this week that revealed a player who is not shying away from a little extra attention was Pliskova's decision to play doubles with Canada's top player Genie Bouchard. The idea was Pliskova's as her twin sister was not available for her to partner with. The move allowed Pliskova a little extra time on the court after her post-Wimbledon break.

World No. 1 with Canada's No. 1

One thing if for sure - there will be more of a target painted on Pliskova's back now as her peers attempt to ensure that her stay at the top is short-lived. Other players like Simona Halep and Elina Svitolina have mentioned this week that they too aim to occupy the top position at some point in the future. For now it is on to Cincinnati and a chance for fans in that city to see what the new World No. 1 can do.

Rogers Cup Field Taking Shape In Toronto

By Mike McIntyre

The Rogers Cup begins on August 5th in Toronto and the majority of qualifying and main draw participants have recently been announced for the 125th edition of the WTA event.  Most of the marquee names in women's tennis will be present with 30 of the top 35 women in the rankings signed-up to play. Newly anointed World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova will be there along with the other members of the top five: Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, Johanna Konta and Garbine Muguruza.

While Serena Williams is out for the duration of 2017 while expecting her first child this Fall, her sister and recent Wimbledon finalist Venus will be there as will recent returnees to the WTA Tour such as Petra Kvitova, Sloane Stephens, Maria Sharapova (with a wildcard) and Sabine Lisicki (in qualifying).

Aside from Sharapova being announced, another wildcard has already been awarded by Tennis Canada to (no surprise) Canadian Genie Bouchard (69th). With three more still up for grabs, no doubt Frankie Abanda (121st) and 17 year old  Bianca Andreescu (156th) are most deserving. That would leave one spot left to be decided. Time will tell if it is also given out to a Canadian player such as veteran Aleksandra Wozniack, doubles specialist Gaby Dabrowski or a younger player like 18 year old Katherine Sebov. 

Missing from the main draw are Timea Bacsinszky, Kiki Bertens, Shuai Zheng, Laura Siegemund and Anett Kontaveit.

The qualifying field is so strong that it could be a main draw event in many other cities. Twelve qualifiers will advance into the main draw in Toronto. The qualifying action happens on Saturday August 5th and Sunday August 6th and is once again free to the public this year. It is truly one of the hidden gems in professional tennis and even more so at an event of this calibre. Wimbledon semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova leads the pack as the current 33rd ranked player in the world. Veterans such as Andrea Petkovic and Ekaterina  Makarova are there as well as younger talent like Ons Jabeur, Saisai Zheng and Jennifer Brady. Also present in qualifying is 2013 Toronto finalist Sorana Cirstea. Six wildcard spots are still yet to be handed-out for the qualifying draw and these normally find their way to lower ranked players from the home country who will understandably have a difficult time making it through.

Players of note who appear to be staying away from qualifying in Toronto include Carina Witthoeft, Jelena Jankovic, Francesca Shiavone, Petra Martic and 2015 champion Belinda Bencic who is still off mending from a wrist injury.