<p>Defending champion Karolina Pliskova saved a match point before prevailing in an epic slugfest with Naomi Osaka, while Madison Keys pulled off an escape of her own in the other semi-final in the Brisbane International on Saturday.</p>.<p>Pliskova and Osaka served 29 aces between them and were often locked in fierce baseline rallies before the second-seeded Czech won 6-7(10) 7-6(3) 6-2 in two hours and 48 minutes.</p>.<p>Osaka had survived three consecutive three-setters en route to the semi-finals and Pliskova's title defence appeared over with the Japanese serving for the match at 7-6(10), 6-5.</p>.<p>The Czech then roared back into the match, earning her first break of Osaka's serve to force a tiebreak and fired eight of her 15 aces in the final set, while saving all six breakpoints.</p>.<p>Pliskova will play Keys in Sunday's final hoping to add to her 2017 and 2019 crowns.</p>.<p>Eighth-seeded Keys came from a set and a break down against 2011 champion Petra Kvitova to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the duel between two of the WTA's biggest hitters in the first semi-final.</p>.<p>Kvitova fired eight winners to claim the opening set before the American fought back and won six straight games to take the second set.</p>.<p>Keys held her nerve in the decider which saw five breaks in the last six games and completed her turnaround winning 12 of the final 15 games.</p>.<p>"I'm very happy. I'm very tired," the American said after her fourth victory in seven meetings with Kvitova.</p>.<p>"It's always great to start the year playing great tennis. The third set was back and forth (but) I think I played a pretty high level." </p>
<p>Defending champion Karolina Pliskova saved a match point before prevailing in an epic slugfest with Naomi Osaka, while Madison Keys pulled off an escape of her own in the other semi-final in the Brisbane International on Saturday.</p>.<p>Pliskova and Osaka served 29 aces between them and were often locked in fierce baseline rallies before the second-seeded Czech won 6-7(10) 7-6(3) 6-2 in two hours and 48 minutes.</p>.<p>Osaka had survived three consecutive three-setters en route to the semi-finals and Pliskova's title defence appeared over with the Japanese serving for the match at 7-6(10), 6-5.</p>.<p>The Czech then roared back into the match, earning her first break of Osaka's serve to force a tiebreak and fired eight of her 15 aces in the final set, while saving all six breakpoints.</p>.<p>Pliskova will play Keys in Sunday's final hoping to add to her 2017 and 2019 crowns.</p>.<p>Eighth-seeded Keys came from a set and a break down against 2011 champion Petra Kvitova to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the duel between two of the WTA's biggest hitters in the first semi-final.</p>.<p>Kvitova fired eight winners to claim the opening set before the American fought back and won six straight games to take the second set.</p>.<p>Keys held her nerve in the decider which saw five breaks in the last six games and completed her turnaround winning 12 of the final 15 games.</p>.<p>"I'm very happy. I'm very tired," the American said after her fourth victory in seven meetings with Kvitova.</p>.<p>"It's always great to start the year playing great tennis. The third set was back and forth (but) I think I played a pretty high level." </p>