Pliskova ends Konta run to win Italian Open

Tuesday, 21 May 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ROME (Reuters): Karolina Pliskova ended Johanna Konta’s hopes of landing a first clay court title with a 6-3 6-4 victory in the Italian Open final on Sunday.

The Czech world number seven did not drop a single service game as she secured the third clay title of her career and her first in Rome in one hour 25 minutes.

British number one Konta claimed some big scalps on her way to the final, beating Grand Slam winners Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams as well as Madrid Open champion Kiki Bertens.

However, she struggled to trouble the Czech on serve as Pliskova recorded her seventh win in eight meetings with Konta.

The result means Pliskova will be the number two seed at the French Open later this month as she moved to second place in the world rankings yesterday.

“I was a little bit nervous today, it’s a final so you have to be. Jo played great tennis so she made it quite tough for me,” the Czech said.Asked about her prospects at Roland Garros, she said: “I just hope I can take the tennis I was playing here to Paris and we’ll see.

“I think there will be a chance for me if I play this way but there’s going to be some tough opponents who are playing good tennis on clay.”