WTA Finals 2018: Probable finalists for the big trophy

#4 Karolina Pliskova

Karolina Pliskova

Former World Number 1 Karolina Pliskova surpassed several challenges posed by her White Group compatriots before advancing to the semi-finals of the culminating WTA Finals event. The 26-year-old World Number 8 player from the Czech Republic outplayed the 28-year-old defending champion, Caroline Wozniacki, in her opening match in straight sets. Wozniacki went down fighting in a brief 2-6, 4-6 encounter.

Pliskova could not side step the hurdle thrown by Ukrainian semi-finalist Elina Svitolina in her second match in the round robin stage which she lost in three sets. Svitolina, who won three out of three matches in the tournament so far, handed Pliskova a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 loss.

However, Pliskova stepped up her game soon and, in the following match against the two-time Wimbledon champion and fellow Czech player, Petra Kvitova, she produced an impeccable performance to seal a straight-set victory in a 3-6, 4-6 scoreline to enter the semi-finals of the WTA Finals. By doing so, she has ensured herself of being a top contender for the big trophy on Sunday.