This Wimbledon women’s singles final, as always, could be a blowout. Of course, in top-ranked Ashleigh Barty’s favor.
Karolina Pliskova would have to serve near perfectly, otherwise she might not have a chance of winning her first Grand Slam title.
A BLOWOUT ALSO COULD GO THE OTHER WAY
On second thought, the blowout just as easily could go the other way, if Pliskova is nailing her blistering serve the way she did in the semifinals. Over three sets and 16 service games, the tall Czech faced only one break point against power-hitting Aryna Sabalenka. That was in the first set when Pliskova was serving to stay alive in the set. But in both sets she won in a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory, she held service in the decisive 10th games.
If Pliskova’s serve is on, she might dominate even the athletic Barty.
PLISKOVA’S SERVE MAY HOLD KEY
It appears that Pliskova’s serve may be the single biggest weapon in the women’s final.
Barty was Barty in her 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over 2018 Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber.
Kerber put up a stiff fight after losing the first four games of the match.
But the 33-year-old lefty with the net-hugging ground strokes couldn’t keep pace with Barty.
Kerber got off to another slow start in the tiebreaker, dropping the first six points.
Pliskova definitely didn’t take advantage of her opportunities against Sabalenka in a first set in which she went 0-for-8 on break points.
SABALENKA THREW CAUTION TO THE WIND
Sabalenka was all offense, going for winners on almost every serve and every ground stroke. It was a true battle of big hitters as Pliskova also was in attack mode, but was a little more cautious than Sabalenka.
There were few rallies. Basically, it was one-strike offense. Probably not highly entertaining for the crowd. Sabalenka delivered 18 aces and nailed 38 winners, but the Belarusian appeared to go for winners a little too often.
The Barty-Pliskova pairing comes down to whether Barty’s athletic ability is more successful than Pliskova’s power. Barty should win most of the lengthy rallies with Pliskova trying to shorten the points.
See James Beck’s Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier columns at postandcourier.com (search on James Beck column). James Beck can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com
