US Open: World number one Karolina Pliskova recovers from slow start to stay on track to keep top spot

Nicole Gibbs, the world No 127, had to qualify to make the main draw here, but the 24-year-old American troubled Pliskova

Karolina Pliskova needs to at least reach the final to keep her No.1 ranking (Getty)

There is a long queue of players waiting to take her place at the top of the world rankings but Karolina Pliskova has no intention of giving up her place without a fight.

The 25-year-old Czech will have to reach the final here at the US Open for the second year in a row to stay at No 1 and may even need to win the title. She took one step towards achieving that target when she recovered from a slow start to beat Nicole Gibbs, of the United States, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.

Pliskova, who went to the top of the rankings after Wimbledon, was outplayed for much of the first set. The match in Arthur Ashe Stadium was still in the balance at 3-3 in the decider. Gibbs, the world No 127, had to qualify to make the main draw here, but the 24-year-old American troubled Pliskova with her aggressive ball-striking from the baseline.

At 3-3 in the deciding set, however, the world No 1 broke to love and went on to serve out for victory after an hour and 46 minutes.

“I think in the second set I improved a little bit,” Pliskova said afterwards. “I started to serve much better. I hit some aces and started to get some free points with my serve, which was much needed. She was playing really aggressively from the baseline. I didn’t have many chances to play my game so I’m just happy that I closed it out with my serve.”

Pliskova has hit more aces than any other player on the women’s tour this year. “In some matches you need the serve more than normal,” she said. “That was the case today. I didn’t feel that my game from the baseline was that good today, so I’m just happy that I had my serve.

This is Pliskova’s first Grand Slam tournament since she went top of the world rankings. She thinks the fact that she is No 1 benefits opponents more than it helps her.


 Pliskova has no intention of giving up her No.1 ranking 
 (Getty)

“I think it’s easier for them to play me than for me to play them because I feel the pressure,” she said. “I know I have kind of a good draw but everyone is playing their best tennis against me. I felt that today. I’m definitely happy that I got past the second round because I lost in the second at Wimbledon. I’m just happy that I have another match in my pocket and I’ll just try to improve in the next one.”

Elina Svitolina, who is one of those players who could yet topple Pliskova from the top by the end of the tournament, continued her progress with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina, the world No 89. The 22-year-old from Ukraine is through to the third round here for the third year in a row.

“I just try to take one match at a time,” Svitolina said afterwards. “Of course I know that I'm a high seed and there are expectations, but everyone is going on court and trying to do everything they can to beat you. It's very important for me just to be there with my game and fight for the next round.”

Jelena Ostapenko, the French Open champion, is through to the third round here for the first time after beating Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-4. Jennifer Brady, who is making her debut in the main draw, reached the last 32 by beating Barbora Strycova, the No 23 seed, 6-1, 6-1