The WTA Finals 2017 are open! Karolina Pliskova won her opening match in the White Group against Venus Williams in two sets.
In the duel between the hard-hitters, Pliskova won 6-2,6-2 against the 37-year-old American. For the third place in the world rankings from the Czech Republic, things went according to their wishes right from the start. Pliskova quickly pulled away to 3-0, and after just over half an hour the 25-year-old had her first round in her pocket.
At Venus Williams, there was little to go by. The second serve of the WTA World Champion of 2008 remained unusually short and was thus a found nourishment for the strong returns of the highly-excited co-favorite. With the break in the fourth game of the second set, Pliskova was unassailable and did not let himself take the victory any more.
In the second match of the day, Wimbledon winner Garbine Muguruza will face French Open-Chamionesse Jelena Ostapenko (from 13:30 live on DAZN and in the LIVETICKER).
In the Red Group, world number one Simona Halep (Romania), the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (No. 4), Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark/No. 6) and the French Caroline Garcia (No. 8) will compete from Monday. The first two of each group qualify for the semi-finals.