Pliskova's No. 1 spot hanging by a thread
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, September 4, 2017
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Karolina Pliskova battled to a three-set victory over Zhang Shuai. |
Karolina Pliskova is struggling under the pressure of trying to keep the world No. 1 ranking and repeat a trip to her first Grand Slam final at the US Open.
The 25-year-old Czech top seed, last year's runner-up on the New York hardcourts, saved a match point with a forehand winner in the 11th game of the second set on Saturday in rallying to defeat Chinese 27th seed Zhang Shuai 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 and reach the last 16.
"It's kind of tough for me this year to play here. Never was in this position to defend a final of a major. And I'm first seeded, so it's like totally different story," Pliskova said.
"I feel pressure. I know all the opponents are behind me (in ranking) so I should win every match, which is tough."
Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza, also into the fourth round, leads the ranking chase while Ukraine's fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina needs at least a semifinal run and Pliskova must return to the final to have a chance of keeping the top spot.
"I'm not really fighting just for this position but I just want to play well and I want to win," Pliskova said.
Muguruza is a two-time Grand Slam champion, having won last year's French Open and the Wimbledon crown in July. Neither Pliskova nor Svitolina have won a Grand Slam title.
And the top spot was basically vacated this year by Serena Williams, who won her 23rd Grand Slam title while pregnant in January's Australian Open. Her baby girl was born on Friday and she hopes to return to defend her title next year in Melbourne.
Pliskova, who complained of right arm tightness during the match, was searching for consistency in her form.
"I'm playing in quite big waves so far," she said. "Sometimes I think I play good shots, good rallies, and then there is hundreds of mistakes and not a good shot. I just try to fight even if my game is not 100 percent and it's not 100 percent actually this week. But I'm winning, so that's the main thing."
Still, she'd prefer not to face match point on Monday when she faces American Jennifer Brady for a quarterfinal berth.
Svitolina beat 62nd-ranked American Shelby Rogers 6-4, 7-5, to sustain her chances at swiping the top spot.
The five-time WTA 2017 champion gave an apologetic shrug on match point, a net cord winner just plopping across.
"I was just trying to earn my moment, to fight for every ball. The last ball I was very lucky. Hopefully I can go further."
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