Makarova and Pliskova to meet in Pattaya final
Fourth-seeded Ekaterina Makarova of Russia will take on Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in today's final of the US$250,000 Ptt Pattaya Open at the Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel court.
The world No 28 needed one hour and 46 minutes to eliminate doubles specialist Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic 6-3 0-6 6-4 in the second semi-final on Saturday, while earlier Pliskova also took three sets to move past Julia Georges of Germany 6-3 4-6 6-3.
The two will confront each other for the first time. They will also battle for their second career title as Makarova first won her trophy in Eastbourne in 2010 while Pliskova lifted up her maiden in Kuala Lumpur last year.
“She was playing so aggressive, so flat. I think she really likes this surface because it’s fast. It’s so fast and so low, similar to grass. It’s difficult to return because she served pretty good today. I really wanted to fight make her move, making her move as fast as I can,” said Makarova who will take on Pliskova for the first time on Sunday.
“The final will be similar. She’s serving really well and moving well. I need to do the same like today, making her move as much as I can. I have to focus on my serves and my return.”
In the doubles semi-final, fourth-seeded Peng Shuai and Zhang Shuai of China beat Noppawan Lertcheewakarn and Vera Zvonareva of Russia 6-2 6-3.
