EASTBOURNE —Karolina Pliskova gave herself the perfect pre-Wimbledon tonic by lifting the Aegon International title on the grass at Eastbourne, defeating Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-4 in impressive style in Saturday’s final.
The Czech world No. 3 demonstrated once again just why, with her big serves and crushing groundstrokes, she could be the one to beat at Wimbledon over the next fortnight as she annexed her third title of the season.
Denmark’s Wozniacki, the world No. 6 who had hoped to regain the title she last won in 2009, held on in game fashion but succumbed to a break of serve in each set and, despite a second set push, could not dent Pliskova’s formidable delivery.
“This feels better,” said the 25-year-old Pliskova on court afterward, comparing her feeling to the defeat in the same final last year.
Reminded that Jana Novotna had been the last Czech woman to win at Eastbourne before going to triumph at Wimbledon in the same year, she added: “My service is definitely my biggest weapon and if it’s working it causes the other player a lot of problems.
“I’m going to go step-by-step and hopefully I can go far at Wimbledon.”
Pliskova took command with a break for 3-2 in the first set and dropped only five points on serve as she took the stanza in 34 minutes.
In the middle of the second set, Pliskova finally faced an examination on serve, having to save four break points in one game and two in the next, but saved them all with a combination of fine serving and Wozniacki’s profligacy.
Pliskova sent down 10 aces as she wrapped up victory in one hour 22 minutes and it is hard to imagine she will not improve on her best previous Wimbledon performances, second round dates in each of the last four years.
For Wozniacki, another live contender in an open Wimbledon, it was a disappointing fourth defeat in four finals this season but she was still able to smile: “I would have loved to have won today but maybe fifth time is the charm as they say.
“I thought I played really well, but Karolina played better than me, definitely with the serves. I had trouble getting them back.”
Serena’s absence leaves vacuum in women’s game
Brad Gilbert reckons 40 women have a shot at the Wimbledon title which, depending on which side of the fence you stand, means either the WTA Tour is blessed with extraordinary depth or chronically short of capable understudies for Serena Williams.
Its supporters will say the unpredictability adds to the spectacle, while detractors will point to the fact that, unlike in the men’s game which is still in the midst of a golden era, there are few players capable of carrying the sport forward.
With Serena on maternity leave since winning a 23rd major title at this year’s Australian Open, the door has been open for a bunch of new names to barge through.
Jelena Ostapenko did it at the French Open in stunning style to take the title, prompting none other than Chris Evert to proclaim the birth of a new star.
Only time will prove whether the 20-year-old Latvian can establish herself as a consistent grand slam challenger.
In the past years that has been something beyond pretty everyone apart from Serena, Maria Sharapova, who will be missing from Wimbledon as she makes a stuttering return from a doping ban, and former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka who is in the early days of a comeback from having a baby.
Current world number one Angelique Kerber enjoyed an incredible 2016, winning two majors, but has struggled badly this year. The same can be said of Spain’s Garbine Muguruza who has faded since winning the 2016 French Open.
Twice champion Petra Kvitova returns to Wimbledon having recovered from injuries sustained in a stabbing last December and the fact that she is being tipped as favourite by many speaks volumes for the vacuum that currently exists. — Agencies
