PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 26: Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic plays a backhand against Leolia Jeanjean of France during the Women's singles Second Round on Day Five of the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on May 26, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova locks horns with Petra Kvitova in what promises to be an exciting match in the round of 16 of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
The 30-year-old reached the semifinals in Strasbourg and in Montreal, where she was ousted by Kaja Juvan and Beatriz Haddad Maia. In the Berlin Open, Pliskova made it to the quarterfinals before losing to Coco Gauff. Pliskova also made it to the quarterfinals at the US Open with wins against Magda Linette, Marie Bouzkova, Belinda Bencic, and Victoria Azarenka.
In the first match, Pliskova made light work of Bulgarian Isabella Shinikova in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 to set up a clash with Petra Martic in the second round.
The Croatian tennis pro managed to reach the quarterfinals at the Indian Wells Masters and the Poland Open. However, her big moment came in the Ladies Open Lausanne where she won the tournament having dropped just one set throughout the competition. At the US Open, Martic managed to defeat Paula Badosa in the second round before losing to Victoria Azarenka in the following round.
The 31-year-old began her campaign in Tokyo with a comprehensive win against qualifier Rina Saigo. Martic defeated Saigo in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.
Petra Martic and Karolina Pliskova have faced each other on 5 occasions. The Croatian has a 3-2 lead. Their most recent meeting was in the semifinals of the 2021 Italian Open, where Martic won 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.
Prediction: Karolina Pliskova to win in three sets.
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