Barty beats Pliskova to reach Stuttgart Open semifinals

The top-ranked Australian came back from a set down to win her match and make it to the last four stage of the tournament.

Australia's Ash Barty reacts after beating Karolina Pliskova on Friday-AP

Top-ranked Ashleigh Barty moved a step closer to her first clay title since the 2019 French Open, coming back from a break down in the deciding set to beat Karolina Pliskova 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Porsche Grand Prix.

Pliskova served for the match at 5-4 up in the decider, but Barty earned five break points and converted the last of them to level the scores. The Australian then held to love and broke Pliskova again to win when the Czech sent a forehand long.

“That was an incredible match,” Barty said. “Just a really, really good battle.”

Pliskova's late slip meant she still has not won three consecutive matches since she reached the final in Rome in September.

This will be Barty's first clay-court semifinals of 2021 after a quarterfinal exit in Charleston. She will play either Elina Svitolina or Petra Kvitova in the semifinals.