US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova is through to the Brisbane International semifinals for the first time after a come-from-behind victory over eighth-seeded Italian Roberta Vinci on Thursday afternoon.
The Czech third seed fought back to post a 3-6 6-2 6-2 result against the crafty 33-year-old and will take on rising star Elina Svitolina, who shocked world No.1 Angelique Kerber later on Thursday.
Svitolina won 6-4 3-6 6-3 over Kerber, her second win in a row against the German who is the reigning Australian and US Open champion, where she had beaten Pliskova.
But instead of a US Open final rematch for Pliskova with Kerber it’s Svitolina she will face, a player she owns a 4-0 record against.
The big-serving Czech player said she will focus on her own game in attempt to reach the final.
“I think I’m going to just feel better my game than I was feeling today against Roberta, because she’s difficult player for me,” Pliskova said.
“I think it’s going to be a good match. I just want to improve at least a little bit from today to tomorrow, and, yeah, I have to play well.”
Pliskova hopes her play sets her up well for the Australian Open later this month, where she’s never advanced past the third round.
“(It’s) definitely a good start to the year,” she said. “(It’s) still not 100 per cent good tennis, but I’m winning. So far it’s OK. I still have a chance to improve in the next match.
“Even if I don’t improve, I just have four matches now, which I think it’s enough. In front of Melbourne, yeah, I just take it a little bit more as a practice. Every match is good. I just want to play better and better.”