Dubai Tennis: Fed Cup defeat haunts Mladenovic as she prepares to face Karolina Pliskova

Mladenovic was in complete control as she won 6-3 6-3 over rising Czech star Katerina Siniakova

Kristina Mladenovic made a flying start in the singles event of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday with a thumping win over rising Czech star Katerina Siniakova.
Mladenovic, who won her first singles title in St Petersburg this month, was in complete control as she won 6-3 6-3 to set up a second round clash with the red-hot Karolina Pliskova.
"Yeah, it's a big challenge. First of all, we know each other very well. I mean, we are great friends. We always had tough matches, especially the last one," Mladenovic said, referring to her 3-6 6-4 14-16 defeat to Pliskova in an epic three setter in the Fed Cup final in France last year.
"When I think about that match, I still have the feeling like 'I don't want to see you that soon again, like that was a long one that I had, like, in my mind for quite a long time because it was at the end of the season, and it was a tough one, a tough loss for our team," Mladenovic added..
"But, I mean, she's definitely on fire, like full of confidence, I have to say. She's been improving like for the last two or three years. She is now a serious, tough player and she has proved it with lots of titles already."
Mladenovic broke Siniakova, Pliskova's compatriot, four times on Monday. But it will be an uphill battle on Tuesday against Pliskova, owner of arguably the deadliest serve in the women's game today.
"It's tough, really tough to play her. You know, you have to be very, very consistent, try to read her serve, especially. That's her biggest weapon," Mladenovic admitted.
"So, you know, I'm expecting a very difficult match. She just won in Doha, so she will feel great obviously. And here, the conditions are also great for her.
"I think I will need to play a bit better than today."
Mladenovic, who won the doubles title here in 2015, says Dubai holds a special place in her heart.
"I love it here, because it's a home tournament for me. I moved to Dubai a couple of years ago, and it's special to come here," the world number 31 said.
"I have great memories. I had lots of success. You know, even if it was just doubles, I won here once in the final. It's always something great in the career to have titles.
"I also love the surface. It's unique. It's tricky to define it exactly - like it can be very fast, depending against who you are playing. If you're playing against a player that plays lot of topspin, maybe bounce is very high and it's not that fast.
"Otherwise if we play like we did with Siniakova today when you press and go forward with the big ground strokes, it can go very fast.
"So there were not many rallies today, and of course it helps the big server."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com