World number 4 Karolina Pliskova defeated Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the second round match of Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday.
The Czech tennis star had to overcome her mid-match letdown to claim her first win at the tournament.
Coming into the tournament, Pliskova was dealing with a viral illness which had kept her out of the Doha Open as well.
Slovakia's Cibulkova had the better of Pliskova coming into the tournament as she held a 3-1 lead over her including three wins in a row between 2014 and 2016.
The former World number 1 Pliskova was able to bring her best game under pressure. The tennis star rained down 13 aces and won 83 per cent of points behind her big first serve.
The first set completely belonged to Pliskova as she put Cibulkova under tremendous pressure. But the Slovakian star came back all guns blazing to clinch the second set.
After the second set, the duo had to wait for 30 minutes as rain played spoilsport. In the third set, Pliskova did not allow any setbacks to creep in and she was able to take an easy win in the third set.
Pliskova will face American Alison Riske in the third round.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
