Dubai: Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic trained her sights on a fourth career title after she accounted for Spain’s Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 at the Dubai Duty Free Women’s Open on Friday.

On a day when a sandstorm made playing conditions tricky, it was Pliskova who remained the more focused to grind out victory and enter her first Premier 5 final.

Played between two of the biggest servers in the game, both players found it tough to handle the swirling conditions on centre court. Muguruza’s two double faults at the start of the match rather set the tone of things to follow.

Pliskova was the first to break in the seventh game to nose ahead 4-3, after which the Czech held and went on to take the opening set 6-4 in an hour and four minutes.

The second was also closely contested, with neither showing any signs of giving in. However, with shot-making becoming easier due to a let-up in the wind, it was Muguruza who succeeded with a break in the 12th game to win the set 7-5 in 54 minutes.

In the third, both players had their chances, with the Czech poised to pounce before Muguruza saved three game points to draw level at 4-4.

Pliskova was once again taking things into her own hands as she broke in the 11th game to lead 6-5. She then saved three set points to serve out set and match 7-5 in an epic two hours and 53 minutes.

This has been a breakthrough year for Pliskova so far, after having reached the final in Sydney and the semi-finals in Antwerp. Such strong performances have helped her to make a debut in the top-20 in the WTA rankings.

Before arriving here, the 22-year-old had never advanced even to a quarter-final of a Premier 5 level tournament.

Pliskova has sent down 143 aces in her 21 matches so far this season.

Friday’s win was also sweet revenge for Pliskova as the Czech had lost in three sets to Muguruza at the 2013 French Open, when the two met for the first time.

Last year Pliskova had to go through the qualifying rounds in Dubai and was ranked outside the top 50 on the WTA Tour. But her consistency through the past 12 months has paid rich dividends as the Czech has reached a career-high No. 18.

“Honestly I never expected to reach the final here,” Pliskova told the crowd. “It’s always tough to play her [Muguruza] and I was expecting a long match.”

Pliskova will play the winner of the second semi-final between top seed Simona Halep and 2013 champion Caroline Wozniacki, which was scheduled to be played later on Friday night.