The champions of Sunday, Karolina Pliskova and Serena Williams made a firm start of the 2020 season. Pliskova defended her crown in Brisbane, and before that she saved a match point in the semifinals against Naomi Osaka. Speaking about Williams, she ended her three-year-old WTA title drought by lifting up the trophy in Auckland.
The Czech player Pliskova mocked Williams over her victory in Auckland. At ASB Classic Serena was the top seed as none of the top-ten players participated. This consequently reduced the competition-level of the tournament as no players who could match Serena’s game in Auckland. It was obvious for the American to win the tournament as she was the clear favorite there.
“I think she had a couple of chances already last two years. She was always quite close. I think this time, especially there was, I think, no really opponent which would have the game to beat her,” Pliskova said.
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“She’s going to be always tough” – Pliskova
Later she alluded to World Number nine Serena’s form this season and stated that she is ready to attack at her highest level. No matter how old she is, or what her ranking is, Serena is unbeatable on the tour. She is always a challenge for tennis professionals across all age groups.
Entering her fourth decade of professional tennis, by now, Serena has played against almost five generations of tennis. No one across any generation have found a strategy to overpower the legend.
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“And I think for sure she did some work in the off-season, too, so she’s quite strong and she looks quite pumped, she was playing doubles too, so I think she’s going to be always tough no matter which ranking she is, no matter I think which age she is. So she’s going to be always tough,” Pliskova added.
Karolina Pliskova makes fun of Serena Williams’ Australian Open 2019 loss to her
At the Australian Open 2019 quarterfinals, Serena was leading 5-1 in the final set and encountered a match point. However, she landed up twisting her ankle and suffered a loss to Pliskova. At that moment Pliskova had already imagined herself in the locker-room but she was standing as a champion on the court.
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This year in Brisbane, she also ridiculed Serena’s loss to her in Melbourne last year. “Of course our match I think everybody will remember forever, especially me, maybe also she (laughing.) And, yeah, always looking forward to playing her, so no matter if she’s going to be in my part of the draw, it’s going to be a challenge,” Pliskova concluded.