Tennis-Pliskova wins second set, sends final to third set

(updates after second set) NEW YORK, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Czech 10th seed Karolina Pliskova won the second set of the U.S. Open women's final 6-4 against second-seeded German Angelique Kerber to send the title match to a deciding third set on Saturday. Kerber, who won the first set 6-3, was put on the defensive as the big-hitting Pliskova, appearing in her first grand slam final, began striking the ball more confidently and consistently. Pliskova, whose first four break points in the match were turned away by Kerber, finally broke the German's serve in the seventh game of the second set. The Czech ripped a backhand cross court winner that brushed the line for break point and then executed a reflex lob winner at the net to claim a 4-3 lead. Pliskova served the set out from 5-4 with an ace followed by a long forehand from Kerber. The lanky Czech, who made 17 unforced errors to only three for Kerber in the opening set, flipped the script in the second set, blasting 17 winners to seven for Kerber. Kerber had seized the advantage right at the start by breaking Pliskova, who showed some nerves in her first grand slam final, in the opening game at 30 with a sizzling forehand winner. The tall Czech settled down and held a pair of break points in the fourth game but Germany's Australian Open winner held serve helped by a pair of groundstroke errors by Pliskova. A double fault by Pliskova gave Kerber set point with the Czech serving at 3-5, and the German closed out the set with another forehand winner. (Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Andrew Both)