Karolina Pliskova defeats top seed Aryna Sabalenka for Montreal final

Top seed Sabalenka is out of the event in Montreal in the semifinal with a loss against Karolina Pliskova 3-6 4-6. The match between two heavy hitters proved to be exactly as one would expect it to be. Both attacked balls as early as they possibly could in rallies.

Early on, Pliskova proved better as she was able to win the overwhelming majority of 2nd serve points when Sabalenka served. The Belarussian was forced to play many of them after missing her first serves. That allowed Pliskova to carve out break points which she converted and won the opening set with 6-3.

Pliskova served amazingly in the first set hitting over 80 % of her first serves which contributed to her only facing one break point, saving it. The 2nd set was an interesting one. Pliskova did not keep her first serve percentage as high which allowed Sabalenka chances.

She would use one of them to take a 4-3 serving for 5-3. However, she failed to do so and Pliskova pulled it back. After that, she won two more to close it out with 6-4. Sabalenka played better in the 2nd set but once again won only 38 % of her 2nd service points which proved costly.

Another great result for Pliskova who seemed to find what has been missing this season in Wimbledon. She now awaits the winner of Giorgi - Pegula to see who she will face in the National Bank Open Montreal final.