Aug 31, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic celebrates after match point against Nicole Gibbs of the United States on day four of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK (Reuters) - World number one Karolina Pliskova survived a scare to advance to the third round of the U.S Open with a 2-6 6-3 6-4 comeback win against local favourite Nicole Gibbs on Thursday.
The Czech, who reached the final at Flushing Meadows last year, was on the back foot against Gibbs before finding her range on serve.
Roared on by the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, Gibbs was nothing like the player who lost 6-0 6-0 in their previous encounter in Sydney in 2015.
Aug 31, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic hits to Nicole Gibbs of the USA in Ashe Stadium on day four at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
She bulldozed her way through the opening set as Pliskova struggled with her first serve.
The Czech faced a break point at 2-1 in the second set but Gibbs netted a backhand for what proved to be the turning point of the match.
"In the second set I started to serve better and get easy points with my first serve, which was much needed," said Pliskova.
Aug 31, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic hits to Nicole Gibbs of the USA in Ashe Stadium on day four at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
"I'm happy I managed to get through."
She next faces Chinese 27th seed Zhang Shuai or Japan's Risa Ozaki.
Aug 31, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic serves to Nicole Gibbs of the United States on day four of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Tennis - US Open - New York, U.S. - August 31, 2017 - Nicole Gibbs of the U.S. in action against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their second round match. REUTERS/Shannon StapletonTennis - US Open - New York, U.S. - August 31, 2017 - Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic shakes hands with Nicole Gibbs of the United States after her win during their second round match. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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