Pliskova propelled by narrow escape as she cruises into the last eight
0 Karolina Pliskova thumped 23 winners to win 6-1, 6-0 Karolina Pliskova believes she is benefiting from her narrow escape after racing into the quarter-finals of the US Open.
After saving match point in her third-round meeting with Zhang Shuai, the world No 1 needed just 46 minutes to beat Jennifer Brady 6-1, 6-0.
Pliskova rated the performance as one of her best of the year, and the 25-year-old Czech said: “I think because of this match [against Zhang] I felt like this today, that I went through this one.
“Sometimes you just need to have some of those matches where you can just really get through it. You don’t even know why, but the game improves so much.
“I didn’t change anything. I didn’t even practise yesterday. So there is nothing really what I did different. But I just felt much better.
“Hopefully I’m going to enjoy the tennis like I was doing today. I was not really enjoying myself the first three matches. I’d like to start to enjoying it a little bit more.”
This was much more like the Pliskova who defeated both Williams sisters to reach her first grand slam final at Flushing Meadows 12 months ago.
Poor Brady, an American through to the last 16 here for the first time, found Arthur Ashe Stadium an unforgiving place.
Pliskova admitted she has been struggling with the pressure of having the number one next to her name but she got off to a good start here and played freely.
By the time the pair shook hands, Pliskova had thumped 23 winners, won 92 per cent of points on her first serve and made just nine unforced errors.
With Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza knocked out on Sunday night by Petra Kvitova, this now appears a golden chance for the Czech to win her maiden grand slam title. won 25 of his 26 contests in the paid ranks, wrote on Facebook: “Anthony Joshua is a great and dangerous rival. But his style fits perfectly on mine.”
Pulev’s only professional defeatcamethreeyearsago at the hands of Klitschko, who was stopped by Joshua in the 11th round of an electrifying bout at Wembley Stadium in April.
Rather than pursue a return bout in Las Vegas, Klitschko announced an end to his glittering career last month, paving the way for Pulev to fight the unbeaten Joshua at the end of next month.
The 36-year-old added: “Boxing styles dictate the meeting between them. In this battle, there won’t be much hugs, there will be strong boxing.
“My preparations are very intense for the short time I have. I’ll be completely ready when I get in the ring. So he doesn’t stand a chance against me.”