Yahoo Sports WTA roundup: Pliskova conquers Konta in Rome
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic heads into the French Open with some momentum after defeating Great Britain's Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome on Sunday.
Pliskova, seeded fourth, broke Konta on her first service game and jumped ahead 3-0 to start the match. Konta rallied but was unable to break back in losing the first set.
Konta started strong in the second set, but Pliskova eventually broke her at 3-3 and held serve the rest of the way to claim the 13th title of her career and her third on clay.
With the victory, Pliskova will move up to No. 2 in the world rankings and earn a No. 2 seed at the upcoming French Open.
"I just hope I can take the tennis I was playing here to Paris and we'll see," said Pliskova of her momentum heading into Roland Garros.
"I think there will be a chance for me if I play this way but there's going to be some tough opponents who are playing good tennis on clay."
Pliskova improved to 6-1 lifetime against Konta, who had beaten the likes of Sloane Stephens, Venus Williams and Kiki Bertens to reach the final.
Reaching the final could also give Konta momentum heading into the French Open, where she hasn't won a match in four tries.
Internationaux de Strasbourg
No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus cruised through her first-round matchup, beating China's Zhu Lin 6-0, 6-1 in Strasbourg, France.
Two other Chinese players, third-seeded Wang Qiang and seventh-seeded Zheng Saisai, also advanced to the next round. Qiang beat American Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3; Saisai topped France's Harmony Tan 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5).
In other action, France's Fiona Ferro beat Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand 6-3, 6-1 and Sweden's Rebecca Peterson beat Magda Linette of Poland 6-7 (0), 6-1, 6-3 to advance.
Nuremberg Cup
Top seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan was cruising through her first-round matchup against Dalila Jakupovic, when the Slovenian retired while trailing 6-2, 3-0 in Nuremberg, Germany.
In other action, Madison Brengle of the U.S. upset No. 7 seed Evgeniya Rodina of Russia 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo also advanced, moving on when Vera Lapko of Belarus retired while trailing 7-6 (9), 3-1.
--Field Level Media
