Top seed Karolina Pliskova stormed into the quarterfinals of the 2017 US Open with an emphatic 6-1, 6-0 win over Jennifer Brady on Monday. The world no. 1 put forth an extreme masterclass, dominating the 91st-ranked Brady right from the get-go and finishing the match in just 46 minutes. Pliskova hit a whopping 23 winners and committed just nine unforced errors in that straight-sets victory.
Next up for Pliskova is a last-eight clash with hometown favorite Coco Vandeweghe. Pliskova’s 2-2 in her career against Vandeweghe so expect a tight and nervy affair between the two stars this coming Wednesday. For Pliskova to pull ahead against Vandeweghe, she needs to continue her excellent play on the service end. She won an incredible 92 percent of her first serve points in the win against Brady. Pliskova also hammered three aces in that fourth-round encounter.
Coco Vandeweghe moved into the quarterfinals of the 2017 US Open with a 6-4, 7-6 (2) win over Lucie Safarova on Monday. It was a gritty performance by Vandeweghe who needed one hour and 39 minutes to record the straight-sets win. With the victory, Vandeweghe advanced past the fourth round of the US Open for the first time in her career. Vandeweghe’s enjoying quite a resurgence in 2017, which includes a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open, her second career quarterfinal at the Wimbledon Championships, and a run to the final at last month’s Bank of the West Classic in Stanford.
Waiting in the next round for Vandeweghe is the big-serving Karolina Pliskova. This will be the first meeting between Vandeweghe and Pliskova in the US Open. For Vandeweghe to record the all-important victory this coming Wednesday, she will need to get her first serves going. Vandeweghe’s seventh in first serve points won in this year’s US Open with an impressive 74 percent clip. That will be crucial against Pliskova who won 68 percent of her receiving points in her fourth-round win against Brady.
