Pliskova advances, Safarova eliminated at Prague Open

PRAGUE (AP) Top-seeded Karolina Pliskova rallied from a set down to advance to the quarterfinals of the Prague Open on Wednesday with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1) victory over Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.

Pliskova will next face either fifth-seeded Alize Cornet of France or Czech wild-card entry Denisa Allertova.

Second-seeded Lucie Safarova, ranked 13th, was eliminated in the first round after losing to 65th-ranked Tereza Smitkova 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

Also, Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium advanced with a 7-5, 6-7 (3), 7-5 victory over Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia, Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic defeated Polona Herzog of Slovenia 6-1, 6-4, and qualifier Danka Kovinic of Montenegro beat Zhang Shuai of China 6-1, 6-4.