Karolina Pliskova cruised past 18-year-old Russian rising star Daria Kasatkina 6-3 6-2 in the first quarter final of the BNP Paribas in Indian Wells to reach her first semifinal at WTA Premier Mandatory level. The Czech player will face either Victoria Azarenka or Magdalena Rybarikova.
Karolina Pliskova cruised through to the semifinals after dominating a one-sided match in which she fired 9 aces (including five in her first three service games) and won 92 percent of her first serve points.
The first set went on serve until the sixth game when Pliskova got the only break on her second chance with her forehand. Pliskova broke serve in the first game of the second set. Kasatkina was always under pressure on her service games and saved two break points in the third game with an ace and a backhand winner. Pliskova raced to 5-1. Kasatkina saved three match points in the seventh game but Pliskova close out the match in the next game.
Kasatkina will move up from World Number 48 to Number 37 after her first quarter final at Premier Mandatory level. The Russian player made her breakthrough last February when she reached the semifinal in St. Petersburg.
