Pavlyuchenkova eases into Pan Pacific Open 2nd round

Pliskova qualifies for WTA Finals

OSAKA, Japan, Sept 16, (Agencies): Former finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova needed less than an hour to beat Dayana Yastremska 6-3, 6-1 on Monday in the first round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

Pavlyuchenkova, who lost the 2017 final to Caroline Wozniacki, went on a roll early in the second set to win 11 of the first 12 points and took a 4-0 lead before dropping serve. She broke at love in Yastremska’s next service game and quickly confirmed a spot in the second round against second-seeded Kiki Bertens.

In other first-round matches, Elise Mertens beat Whitney Osuigwe 6-3, 6-1; Nicole Gibbs upset fellow

At the Ghangzhou International in China, two seeded players were ousted on Monday, with 2017 finalist Aleksandra Krunic beating No. 7 Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4, 6-2 and Bernarda Pera advancing 6-4, 6-3 over eighth-seeded Ons Jabeur.

Meanwhile, world number two Karolina Pliskova has become the second singles player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen after top-ranked Ash Barty, the WTA Tour said on Monday.

The 27-year-old Czech won the inaugural Zhengzhou Open on Sunday, adding to trophies won in Brisbane, Rome and Eastbourne, and will make her fourth appearance in the Oct 27-Nov 3 Finals which offer $14 million in prize money.

“It’s always a goal of mine to qualify for the WTA Finals, and I’m proud to have done it for my fourth time. I look forward to competing against the best players of the season,” Pliskova told the WTA website.

The big-serving Czech reached the semifinals of the last two editions of the tournament held in Singapore, losing to eventual winner Caroline Wozniacki in 2017 and runner-up Sloane Stephens last year.

The top eight singles players will face off in a round-robin format with the winner taking home the Billie Jean King Trophy.

Pavlyuchenkova

“It’s crazy,” said the emotional Niemann, who broke into tears when asked how it felt to become the first Chilean with a victory on the US tour.

“I can’t wait to go back home and celebrate with my friends.

“From the first day, I played with a lot of confidence ... My game was feeling great and mentally it was awesome, so I was just feeling like I was going to win this tournament.”

He admitted he woke up thinking about the trophy and knew he had to turn his mind to the day ahead.

“I was just trying to think about anything else,” Niemann said. “My caddie made me laugh to try to forget about it.

“The last couple of holes (as the birdies piled up) I was feeling great. I was really enjoying it.”

He hoped the victory would earn him a call from Internationals captain Ernie Els for a possible captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup against the United States in Australia in December.