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Linz - Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic saved a match point before defeating Camila Giorgi of Italy 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the final of the Generali Ladies on Sunday.
Pliskova led 5-1 in the final set but failed to serve out the match twice. She dropped 6-5 behind but Giorgi sent a backhand into the net on match point. Pliskova converted her first chance in the tiebreaker as a volley by the Italian landed behind the baseline.
"It's an amazing feeling to come back from a match point," said the 30th-ranked Pliskova, who received medical treatment for a left thigh injury at the start of the final set.
Pliskova, who was seeded seventh, earned her second WTA title in as many months. She reached back-to-back finals in Hong Kong and Seoul in September, and won the latter for her second career title. She has now improved to 3-3 in career finals.
The 42nd-ranked Giorgi played her second final of the season and is yet to win her maiden trophy.
"I don't know what happened after 5-1," Pliskova said. "Camila is a great player and she played some great shots to get back into the match."
Pliskova was the only seeded player left in the tournament after the first round. The top-seeded Eugenie Bouchard and No. 2 Ana Ivanovic pulled out injured, and top-25 players Dominika Cibulkova, Andrea Petkovic and Sabine Lisicki all lost their opening match.
Pliskova broke Giorgi at 2-2 in the opening set and held off four break points in the next game, but failed to serve out the set at 5-4.
After losing the tiebreaker, Pliskova quickly went 4-0 up and smoothly took the second set before struggling to close out the win in the third.
