2018 WTA Preview: No. 4, Karolina Pliskova

By Nina Pantic Dec 26, 2017
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2018 WTA Preview: No. 4, Karolina Pliskova

ByNina Pantic

Published Dec 26, 2017

As a preview of 2018, Baseline is taking a look at all the Top 10 finishers, first with the ATP and now the WTA.

See No. 5 here.

4

Karolina Pliskova rose to No. 1 for the first time in her career, though somewhat anti-climatically. She also won titles in Brisbane, Doha and Eastbourne, but failed to get closer to Grand Slam glory. Her rise to No. 1 happened after an unexpected second-round exit at Wimbledon.

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Moment of the Year

Despite having no expectations for herself on clay in Paris, Pliskova made her way to the semifinals—her best showing at Roland Garros. Though she didn't make another final (having only done so at the US Open in 2016), it's a great sign of things to come.

Hot Shot of the Year

The 25-year-old Czech has the talent to hit winners from anywhere on the court from either wing. Her deep, penetrating strokes are hard to neutralize but her biggest weapon is her serve. She finished first in the ace rankings with 452 aces across 69 matches.

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Outlook for 2018

With the WTA tour still lacking a clear leader, it's Pliskova's greatest chance (aside from 2017) to finally win a Grand Slam. She has shown the ability to win big titles, and stay calm in the toughest moments, so there's no reason she can't put together seven wins. It could even happen as soon as January as the Melbourne hard courts suit her fast, flat game.

2018 WTA Preview: No. 4, Karolina Pliskova

2018 WTA Preview: No. 4, Karolina Pliskova

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Friday, December 29: Novak Djokovic begins his comeback at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi against either Roberto Bautista Agut or Andrey Rublev.

Not before 10:00 a.m. ET LIVE on Tennis Channel Plus. GET PLUS NOW at tnns.ch/TCPlus

Saturday, December 30: Roger Federer looks to continue his remarkable resurgence at the Hopman Cup in Perth in singles and mixed doubles competition.

4:30 a.m ET LIVE on Tennis Channel Plus. GET PLUS NOW at tnns.ch/TCPlus

Saturday, December 30: Serena Williams returns at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, in her first match since the birth of her first child, against the 2017 French Open champion, Jelena Ostapenko.

8:00 a.m ET LIVE on Tennis Channel. Additional airings at 2:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. ET.