Pliskova survives before advancing
Defending champion Karolina Pliskova survived a scare to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Monday and reach the third round of the Eastbourne International tournament.
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. Pliskova, who is seeded second, hit nine aces in the first set and seemed on her way to another comfortable victory. However, Pavlyuchenkova broke immediately in the second set. —