Monday 13 October 2014 12:32, UK
Karolina Pliskova recovered from match point down to claim the third WTA Tour title of her career by beating the unseeded Camila Giorgi in the final of the Generali Ladies in Linz.
The world No 30 from the Czech Republic edged a tight affair in Austria, winning 6-7 (7-4) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and 25 minutes.
Seeded No 7, Pliskova appeared to be heading to victory after racing into a 5-1 lead in the final set only to lose five straight games.
I don't know what happened after 5-1. Camila is a great player and she played some great shots to get back into the match.
And matters got worse as she stood on the brink of defeat when her world No 42 opponent held a match point in game 12 only for the Italian to hit a backhand into the net.
From there, Pliskova regained her composure to take the contest into a tie-break which she won 7-4 – after claiming five of the last six points.
Her maiden title had come in Seoul four weeks ago, while the disappointed Giorgi remains without a career singles triumph on the world tour.
Pliskova admitted: "I don't know what happened after 5-1. Camila is a great player and she played some great shots to get back into the match.
"It could have been a little easier, but I'm still happy I won the title. After I was 5-1 up (in the final set) and she came back and had match point, I was already thinking I would lose."
