Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina advanced to the third round of the 2019 US Open by recording straight-set victories over qualifier Mariam Bolkvadze and Venus Williams, respectively.
The 2016 US Open finalist Pliskova wasn’t troubled by world No.202 Bolkvadze, the highest ranked Georgian woman on tour, who has more than doubled her career prize money by reaching the second round at Flushing Meadows. In the 66-minute encounter under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the big-serving Czech hit nine aces and won 90% of her first-serve points!
The dominant 6-1 6-4 second-round win is keeping alive the third-seeded Pliskova’s hopes of reclaiming the No.1 ranking — she needs to reach at least the quarterfinals to have a chance at reaching the top spot.
The fifth-seeded Svitolina couldn’t capitalize on five match points in a 17-minute game, then served for the win at 5-4 in the second set and finally battled past Venus Williams on the sixth match point, 6-4 6-4.
“Coffee delivery for Ms. Williams…
………..Ms. Williams?”
☕️????@Venuseswilliams | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/M3gmy1rDra
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 28, 2019
Besides amazingly saving five match points, Venus thrilled the crowd by ordering a coffee in the middle of the match and immediately racing to a 3-0 lead in the second set. However, Svitolina came right back to take five games in a row for a 5-3 lead in the second set and advanced to the third round in her next service game.
