Pliskova, Wozniacki in Qatar final after longest day

TIL Desk Sports/ Karolina Pliskova and Caroline Wozniacki will meet each other in the Qatar Open final after both won two matches on a long, soggy and gruelling Friday in Doha. On another day punctuated by heavy showers and thunderstorms, meaning long delays for the players, Czech Pliskova beat Zhang Shuai of China 6-2 6-0, then Dominika Cibulkova in an exciting semi-final 6-4 4-6 6-3.

Her playing day began at 12:30 local time (0930 GMT) ending just before 11pm. Similarly Dane Wozniacki first beat American qualifier Lauren Davies 7-5 6-1, then Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig 6-1, 6-2, finishing past midnight. Puig was also playing her second match of the day having earlier completed her victory against Daria Kasatkina of Russia, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

“It’s been really tough conditions with all the waiting and everything,” said Wozniacki. Pliskova, speaking before she knew who her final opponent would be, said “every final is tough”. The pair have met three times before, with Wozniacki winning on every occasion. However they have not met since 2014. Pliskova, 24, is ranked number three in the world, Wozniacki, who is two years older, is number 18.