Karolina too good for Caroline

Singapore, October 21 

Big-serving Karolina Pliskova used her most potent weapon to damaging effect as she overwhelmed defending champion Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-4 in their opening round robin match of the WTA Finals here today.

In the earlier White Group encounter at the eight-woman event, Elina Svitolina tore up the form book with a brilliant display of serving and retrieving to register a 6-3 6-3 victory over Petra Kvitova.

Wozniacki had beaten Pliskova in the semifinals a year ago and held a 6-3 lead in head-to-head encounters between the pair but the former world No. 1 refused to let her Danish opponent settle in a ruthless display of big hitting. “I felt pretty good from the baseline today, so it wasn’t only down to my serve,” Pliskova said. “The game was solid from my side and she looked nervous at the start...  I am happy with my performance today.” 

Erratic Kvitova 

In the early match, 24-year-old Ukrainian Svitolina came into the opener on the back of seven straight defeats by left-handed Kvitova, but she capitalised on her opponent’s erratic play to record a stunning triumph. Svitolina, making her second appearance at the season-ender, appeared focused and determined to make amends for a lacklustre display a year ago when she made an early exit. — Reuters