Pliskova pulls off 1st round in style

New York, Sept. 1: Karolina Pliskova led a day of dominance for seeded players as the underdogs failed to bite at the US Open on Monday.

Top seed Pliskova shrugged off the surreal setting of an empty arena at Arthur Ashe Stadium to breeze past Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-0 in 1 hour, 3 minutes.

Pliskova’s brisk victory set the tone for the remainder of the opening day in the women’s draw, where 15 of the 16 seeds in action progressed safely

World number three Pliskova, elevated to top seed in the absence of world number one Ashleigh Barty and second-ranked Simona Halep, faces France’s Caroline Garcia in the second round.

Pliskova, who made a disappointing early exit at last week’s ATP/WTA Western & Southern Open tune-up event in New York, said she was adjusting to playing before empty stands at the Open, where spectators are barred because of Covid-19 protocols.

“I felt better than in my previous match, last week. I think the center court is better place to play no matter — I mean, it’s still without people, but I just felt somehow a little better,” the Czech star said.

NO COCO-MANIA

With the draw going largely to form, Coco Gauff ’s hopes of launching another giant-killing run were halted in their tracks after a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 loss to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova. Gauff delighted fans at Wimbledon last year by advancing to the fourth round as a qualifier but was unable to take her chances as slid to defeat against her 31stseeded opponent.

Gauff said her development this year had been hampered by lack of tournament match practice following a season which was decimated by the Coronavirus shutdown.

“That’s what I need on tour. I’m playing against people older than me who have been in more situations, difficult situations, than I have,” Gauff said.

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