Dominant Pliskova beats Vandeweghe to win Stuttgart title

[April 30, 2018]  (Reuters) - Karolina Pliskova won her first title of the year on Sunday with a 7-6(2) 6-4 victory over American CoCo Vandeweghe in the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

The dominant Czech fifth seed fired 11 aces and wrapped up the match in an hour and 56 minutes to halt Vandeweghe's fine run in the claycourt tournament at Stuttgart.

The 26-year-old Vandeweghe beat world number one Simona Halep and U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens earlier in the tournament but could not find a way past Pliskova.

"It's the best atmosphere to play in Germany," Pliskova said after the match. "I want to thank my team. I think we had a great week and without them I would not have the trophy."

Former world number one Pliskova trailed 2-0 in the tiebreak at the end of a tight first set but reeled off seven points in a row for an early advantage in the contest.

After Vandeweghe called for the trainer following a tumble early in the second set, Pliskova raised her level and broke her bruised opponent's serve to go up 3-2.

Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova in action during the final against CoCo Vandeweghe of the U.S. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski

Pliskova saved a breakpoint in the next game to increase her lead. She then broke Vandeweghe again to make it 5-2 before the American attempted a late fightback with a break of her own.

Pliskova, however, maintained focus to serve out the match.

Victory in Stuttgart gave world number six Pliskova a 10th career title and her first since winning the trophy in Eastbourne last year.

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)

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