By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, May 19, 2019
Karolina Pliskova did not drop serve sweeping Johanna Konta, 6-3, 6-4, to win the biggest clay-court title of her career in Rome and rise to the world No. 2 ranking.
Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Karolina Pliskova banged her blue Babolat racquet off the soles of her shoes to shake free clumps of clay.
An imposing Pliskova transformed this Rome final into clean-up time.
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Playing sharp combinations, Pliskova powered past Johanna Konta, 6-3, 6-4, in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final to capture the biggest clay-court title of her career.
It is Pliskova’s 13th career championship, including her third clay-court crown.
Pliskova pounded 21 winners against just 14 unforced errors and saved the lone break point she faced serving out the opening set.
The 27-year-old power player is the first Czech woman to raise the Rome title since Regina Marsikova in 1978.
“It was a great week for me and my team," Pliskova told the crowd afterward. "There were a couple of tough matches so I was happy to fight through them. I was a little bit nervous today, but it was the final, so that’s to be expected. It’s my first final in Rome, but hopefully not the last.”
Rome will have Roland Garros ramifications. Pliskova’s powerful performance vaults her to the world No. 2 ranking—and second seed in Paris—ahead of reigning Roland Garros champion Simona Halep and Madrid champion Kiki Bertens.
The former world No. 1 will surpass compatriot Petra Kvitova as the top-ranked Czech woman—and she’s done it all on dirt, which hasn’t always been conducive to her flat strikes and baseline aggression.
Contesting her second clay final of the season, Konta came up short but can look back on a productive week in the Eternal City that will propel the former world No. 4 to No. 26 and a seeding for Roland Garros.
The Foro Italico was once a sink hole in Pliskova’s season.
The lanky Czech failed to survive the second round in three of four prior appearances. This time, Pliskova protected her serve with vigor, drilled deep returns down the middle and maintained control throughout.
Working with coach Conchita Martinez, a four-time Rome champion, has brought a bit more nuance to Pliskova’s game adding depth to her fierce power.
“She tries to teach me little bit different things,” Pliskova said of Martinez. “Not to teach, I know pretty much what to do. Of course, to use a little bit more the forehand on clay where you have more time to run around from the backhand. Maybe to put little bit more spin, which I don't like much, but she like.
“So I'm trying just to use sometimes different shots. I know the dropshot is working a lot. The kick serve. You need to maybe think little bit more on clay. There is more options. I feel like you don't have to always go fast shots like what I'm playing on the hard court. Sometimes I'm trying to think little bit more.”
Konta is at her best hugging the baseline and hammering shots on the rise—skills she showed dispatching Grand Slam champions Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams in succession on the same day en route to the final—but Pliskova nullified that tactic asserting her first serve and first strike at the outset.
The former world No. 1 came out cracking her serve winning 12 of the first 15 points powering to a 3-0 lead.
Driving several of her flat forehand returns deep down the middle, Pliskova denied Konta access to angles earning set point in the eighth game. The British No. 1 answered with a strong serve down the T to deny it holding for 3-5 after 31 minutes.
The only real stress test Pliskova faced in the opener came when she served for it. Shoveling a nervy second serve into net, Pliskova faced break point.
In the ensuing rally, Konta ran around her backhand and was in prime position to attack an inside-out forehand but banged the shot off the tape and watched it scatter wide. Pliskova dodged the danger serving out the 34-minute opener.
The 42nd-ranked Konta saved a break point to open the second set then cruised through a couple of comfortable holds before the set swung in the seventh game.
The former Wimbledon semifinalist staved off three break points but netted a backhand to face a fourth.
During the ensuing 20-shot rally, Pliskova worked her way forward and flashed a forehand swing volley winner into the corner breaking with a clenched fist for 4-3.
Serving for her biggest career clay-court title, Pliskova was quick off the mark racing up to a drop shot and angling off a backhand reply for her third championship point.
A netted forehand closed a powerful performance in one hour, 25 minutes as Pliskova conquered Konta for the sixth time in seven meetings solidifying her status as a Roland Garros contender and celebrating with a series of high-fives with her husband and coach Conchita.