By Chris Oddo | Thursday, August 28, 2014

 

22-year-old Karolina Pliskova notched the upset of Day 4, taking down Ana Ivanovic in straight sets to reach the third round.

Photo Source: AP

22-year-old Czech Karolina Pliskova notched the biggest win of her career on day 4 at the US Open, taking down 8th-seeded Ana Ivanovic, 7-5, 6-4 to advance to the third round at a major for the first time in her career.

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“I didn’t have that much strategy,” said Pliskova. “I just played my game—I was focusing on me. I went to enjoy myself and I did it.”

In her first career meeting with Ivanovic, the WTA’s No. 2 ace producer saved three of four break points and hammered 25 winners against only 19 unforced errors.

Ivanovic, the tour’s leading win producer (48) at this point of the season, was able to break for 4-all in the second set, but her rally was immediately thwarted when Pliskova broke back in the next game. Ivanovic saved two break points in the game, but elected to challenge a close call on the baseline on the third instead of playing out the point. Hawk-Eye showed the Pliskova’s ball clipped the baseline.

Though the 26-year-old Serb has produced consistently excellent results at the big events leading up to Slams, Ivanovic has not been able to make her success translate. “I had great leadups to every Grand Slam,” she said. “I played a lot of matches and won lot of matches. And big matches, as well. At the Grand Slams I just haven't performed that well. It's something that I'm definitely going to work on and see where I can improve, because that's definitely, you know, big aim for me for next season.”

Pliskova served the match out in the next game to book a place in the third round where she’ll face Australia’s Casey Dellacqua.

Notes, Numbers>>>

Pliskova improves to 2-9 lifetime against the top 10 (2-5 in 2014).

The Czech hit seven aces, increasing her total to 296 for the season.

Ivanovic has failed to reach the second week of the last three majors after reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals in January.