Pliskova crushes Svitolina to join Cornet in Brisbane final

ByReuters

Updated 06/01/2017 at 15:37 GMT

World number six Karolina Pliskova beat Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-4 on Friday and will play Alize Cornet in the Brisbane International final.

Karolina Pliskova celebrates beating Elina Svitolina

Image credit: AFP

Ukrainian Svitolina, who beat world number one Angelique Kerber in the previous round, struggled to cope with Pliskova's aggressive approach as the 24-year-old Czech, who saved three break points at 4-2, struck 13 winners to ease through the opening set.

Svitolina brilliantly held serve at 3-2 in the second set with two great backhand winners, only for Pliskova to break in her 22-year-old opponent's next service game and close out victory to reach her 17th WTA final.

Pliskova could go to fifth in the world rankings if she beats Cornet, who won her only meeting with the big-hitting Czech in 2013, in the final on Saturday,

WTA Brisbane