Pliskova survives scare to reach 3rd round at Eastbourne
Nadal regains top spot as Halep still leads rankings
EASTBOURNE, England, June 25, (Agencies): Defending champion Karolina Pliskova survived a scare to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and reach the third round of the Eastbourne International on Monday.
Pliskova had never lost a set to Pavlyuchenkova in five previous meetings but the Czech player struggled in the second set before prevailing 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
The second-seeded Pliskova hit nine aces in the first set and seemed on her way to another comfortable victory.
However, Pavlyuchenkova broke immediately in the second set and, although the Russian was broken back, she broke Pliskova’s serve again and two successive errors from her opponent saw her level on sets.
But there was to be no upset as Pliskova broke in the third game of the third set and, after saving a break point in the next game, she never looked back.
Pliskova broke again in the final game, sealing the match when Pavlyuchenkova hit the ball long.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Rafael Nadal regained the top spot in the men’s ATP rankings from old rival Roger Federer on Monday after the latter’s surprise final loss on the grass in Halle.
Nadal had slipped down to number two despite his 11th French Open success after Federer, 36, took the Stuttgart Cup to bag the number one ranking for the sixth time in his career and bask in a record 310th week at the summit.
But his Halle loss to Borna Coric cost him not only a 99th career title but his pole position as Nadal moved back above him by 50 points as the countdown to Wimbledon nears its end.
Coric’s win lifted him 13 places meanwhile to a career-high 21st.
Queen’s Club champion Marin Cilic moved up a spot to fifth after his win over Novak Djokovic, who moves back into the top 20. ATP rankings as of June 25: 1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8770 pts (+1), 2. Roger Federer (SUI) 8720 (-1), 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 5,755, 4. Juan Martín Del Potro (ARG) 5,080, 5. Marin Cilic (CRO) 5,060 (+1), 6. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 4,780 (-1), 7. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,835, 8. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 3,635, 9. David Goffin (BEL) 3,110, 10. John Isner (USA) 3,070, 11. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,435, 12. Pablo Carreno (ESP) 2,145, 13. Sam Querrey (USA) 2,130, 14. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,120 (+2), 15. Jack Sock (USA) 2,110 (-1), 16. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,030 (-1), 17. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 1,965 (+5), 18. Kyle Edmund (GBR) 1,950 (-1), 19. Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 1,855 (+2), 20. Lucas Pouille (FRA) 1,835 (-2).
With Wimbledon looming, Simona Halep, who was not in action last week, retained her comfortable lead the WTA rankings ahead of Carolina Wozniacki, who also did not play.
There was no change in the top 10 as No.3 Garbine Muguruza and No.7 Karolina Pliskova made first round exits in Birmingham, while No. 5 Elina Svitolina only reached the last eight.
Petra Kvitova gained no points for winning the event because she was the defending champion.
Lower down the list Elise Mertens jumps two places to No. 15 despite also making a first-round exit in the Birmingham singles.
1. Simona Halep (ROM) 7,970 pts, 2. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 6,745, 3. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 6,550, 4. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5,463, 5. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,250, 6. Caroline Garcia (FRA) 4,960, 7. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 4,685, 8. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 4,610, 9. Venus Williams (USA) 3,971, 10. Madison Keys (USA) 3,536, 11. Angelique Kerber (GER) 3,460, 12. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 3,392, 13. Julia Gorges (GER) 3,210, 14. Darya Kasatkina (RUS) 3,125, 15. Elise Mertens (BEL) 2,635 (+2), 16. CoCo Vandeweghe (USA) 2,603 (-1), 17. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 2,390 (-1), 18. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 2,350, 19. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 2,310, 20. Kiki Bertens (NED) 2,090 (+1)