Tennis news - Karolina Pliskova launches fightback to claim Brisbane crown

The former world number one was two points from defeat to Lesia Tsurenko before winning seven successive games en route to a 4-6 7-5 6-2 victory.

Ukranian Tsurenko required a mid-game medical timeout after rolling her ankle in the second game of the deciding set and was soon overpowered by the fifth seed.

Pliskova, who previously lifted the title in 2017, joins Serena Willians and Victoria Azarenka as a two-time champion.

The win also assures her place as Czech number one, regaining the status from Petra Kvitova.

Elsewhere, Julia Goerges became the first player in 15 years to defend the Auckland Open title by coming from a set down to end the fairytale run of Canadian qualifier Bianca Andreescu.

German Goerges survived a nail-biting encounter against the 18-year-old Andreescu as she triumphed 2-6 7-5 6-1.

Andreescu, who reached the final with headline wins over top seed Caroline Wozniacki and former world number one Venus Williams, appeared on course to cap a memorable week when she wrapped up the first set in just half an hour.

However, a costly dropped service game in the 11th game of the second set shifted the momentum in Goerges’ favour and she went on to become the first player to retain the crown since Greece’s Eleni Daniilidou in 2004.