Karolina Pliskova stormed to her second WTA title of the year, beating Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-4 in the final of the Qatar Open in Doha.
Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic. Photo: Photosport
The 24-year-old Czech, seeded No.2, took just under an hour and 20 minutes to end the former world No.1's hopes of a first success of 2017 on Saturday, breaking the Dane's serve in the opening game and rarely looking back.
"I'm having a great start to the year, which is always important" said Pliskova before receiving her trophy in Doha.
"Last year was a breakthrough. (Reaching) the US Open final was my biggest result. It gave me a lot of confidence."
Wozniacki conceded Pliskova deserved her victory.
"I've been proud of how I've been playing this week," she said. "I'm disappointed with the loss, but Karolina has been playing well.
"She deserved this one, but I'm going to try to get my revenge next time."
New Zealand tennis player Rubin Statham in action in a Davis Cup tennis tie in Christchurch. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
In men's tennis, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga chalked up his 400th career victory by beating Czech Tomas Berdych to reach the final the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.
He will face Belgium's David Goffin in the final.
At the Buenos Aires Open, Kei Nishikori of Japan will meet the Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov in the final.
In China, New Zealand's Davis Cup player Rubin Statham has reached the final of the $US15,000 Futures in Anning.
Statham defeated Chinese Davis Cup team member Yan Bai 4-6 7-6(2) 7-5 in three hours 31 minutes in the semifinals and will now play Italian third seed Marco Bortolotti in the final as the Kiwi aims for his 11th Futures singles title.
- AAP
