Pliskova ousts Osaka to take Pan Pacific title
Former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova utilised her big serve to full effect to ease to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over home favourite and US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo yesterday.
Before the final, Pliskova, 26, had spent 419 minutes on court, more than any other player and almost twice as long as Osaka, but the Japanese world No. 7 soon wilted.
Pliskova, the world No. 8, said she had adjusted her tactics based on her previous two meetings with Osaka.
She said: "I didn't want to try to overpower her... I was just trying to serve well, to mix the speed also a little bit, to play lots to her backhand."
Osaka, 20, admitted she was tired, saying: "I haven't really had much time to rest, so I feel tired right now."
Hours later, she announced her withdrawal from this week's Wuhan Open.
With the win, Pliskova kept up her chase for a place in next month's WTA Finals in Singapore with Kiki Bertens, who occupies the eighth and final spot after beating Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the Korea Open final yesterday. - REUTERS
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