BMW Malaysian Open 2013 Finals

Pliskova Emerges as the Singles Champion of the BMW Malaysian Open 2013, while Aoyama and Chang win the doubles.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 3^rd March 2013 – Karolina Pliskova won her first WTA singles title when she clinched the BMW Malaysian Open 2013 title at The Royal Selangor Golf Club (RSGC) this evening, courtesy of a three-set thriller over Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States, while Shuko Aoyama of Japan and Taipei’s Kai-Chen Chang emerged as the champions of the doubles.

In the fourth edition of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour event in Kuala Lumpur, the 20-year-old from the Czech Republic put on a determined and disciplined performance to see off her American opponent 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 with a display that belied her age.

In the final analysis Pliskova used sheer grit and skill and to overcome her 27-year-old and more experienced opponent. The unseeded Czech appeared tense in the opening set as wild card entry Mattek-Sands took it rather comfortably but then bounced back nicely to win the second as she fought her back into the match, much to the delight of the appreciative crowd. Pliskova then went on to win the crown as she found her rhythm and dictated play to turn the formbook on its head.

Delighted with her victory, Pliskova told the media afterwards that after her serve kicked in during the second set she became more settled and it freed her up to move about more confidently.

“In the first set Bethanie played really well, but after I found my first serve I too grew in confidence and that set me up for the win,” said the player who now has a maiden WTA singles title to her credit and added that she enjoyed singles more than doubles.

In defeat Mattek-Sands said Pliskova played “good tennis today.”

“I started reasonably well but in the second set she served really good and as much as I tried, I couldn’t break her. “All the same, I am happy with the overall performance of my game over the week and look forward to the next tournament, where I will try to go one step better,” said Mattek-Sands.

In the doubles there was a riveting match as the two combinations fought point for point, until second seeds Aoyama and Chang edged it in the super tie-break, coming through 6-7, 7-6, 14-12 against the top seeds Janette Husarova of Slovakia and Shuai Zhang of China. For Chang it was a case of retaining the title after she won it last year with Chia-Jung Chuang, also of Taipei.

Speaking after the tournament, Chang said they were “very happy to have won it as their opponents were very good”. She also thanked BMW – the sponsors, the WTA, the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia and the fans for what she described as a “great tournament”.

Staged for the first time on the hard courts of RSGC, the event was filled with fans that   came out to root for their favorite tennis players.  Enthusiasts, local and foreign, came out to the new venue to enjoy a tennis tournament that will go down as being one of the most exciting to date, for players, spectators and officials alike.

Speaking at the conclusion of the tournament, CEO of BMW Group Malaysia, Dr. Gerhard Pils said they were pleased to see the championships finish with ”deserving winners, Karolina, Shuko and Kai-Chen.

“It was an exciting tournament this year as we witnessed some great performances of showmanship from the players. The challenges on the courts were truly magnificent and that made it an exhilarating event to witness.”

Dr. Pils added that BMW Group Malaysia’s commitment to the tournament was unwavering and that they would continue to enhance its support and interest in the growth of tennis in Malaysia.

“That is fundamental to our involvement with the BMW Malaysian Open,” said Dr, Pils, who added the 2013 championships proved an excellent showpiece for the country’s international image,”

The BMW National Circuit, a local championship supported by Lawn Tennis Association (LTAM) hand picked and nurtured three (3) Malaysian young talents to represent the country in the BMW Malaysian Open, this year. Aslina Chua, S.Theiviya and Yus Syazlin Nabila of Malaysia were given the opportunity to play against the world’s best women’s tennis players.

YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Abdul Razak Latiff, President of the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM) said they too were gratified to see how well the BMW Malaysian Open was run.

“As you would expect, this is the highlight of our calendar and we are absolutely happy with the way it went off. As an association, it is our utmost intention to develop future sportsmen and women in this country and this is one way to bring it to the doorstep of Malaysia and the world as a whole. The BMW Malaysian Open gives our upcoming elite players the feel of what it takes to be professional tennis players.  We are very pleased to know that fans and international players were very supportive of our local wild cards – Aslina, Theiviya and Yus Syazlina, support like this will encourage our local talents to go further in the sports arena,” said the President of LTAM.

Carbon Worldwide, the organiser has been responsible for the staging of the tournament since its inception in 2010.

Tournament Director, Keld Kristiansen, Carbon Worldwide, said the spirit of sportsmanship conducted throughout the weeklong tournament underscored the rising reputation of this WTA Tour event. “There were numerous positives to come out of this year’s BMW Malaysian Open 2013 and perhaps the singular most important one was that everyone who came to RSGC left satisfied that this is genuinely an event that Malaysians can hold their heads up high for staging. It was a successful tournament that holds Malaysia in good stead in the tennis world and as a sports tourism destination. We strive year-on-year to exceed expectations of our fans and together with the sponsors we will work towards staging an even better BMW Malaysian Open, next year.”