Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova reacts after defeating Spain's Garbine Muguruza during the second women's singles match of the 2021 WTA Tournament Finals in Zapopan, Mexico, on Wednesday — AFP GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Nov 11 (AFP): Karolina Pliskova continued her dominance of Garbine Muguruza Wednesday, opening her WTA Finals campaign with a battling 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) victory over the Spaniard.
Czech third seed Pliskova, at 29 the oldest player in this year's edition of the elite season-ending event, has now won nine of 11 career meetings with Muguruza, the latest putting her atop her round-robin's group standings alongside Estonian Anett Kontaveit, who beat second-seeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-4.
After dropping the first set, Pliskova produced a superb serving effort to take the second, putting 16 of 18 first serves in play and dropping just two points on serve.
In a tense third set, Muguruza saved two match points while serving at 4-5 -- the first with a service winner.
But she was unable to capitalize on two break points that followed as they went to the tiebreaker.
Muguruza saved another match point to knot the decider at 6-6, but Pliskova won the next two to polish it off after two hours and 26 minutes when Muguruza belted a forehand wide.
The tournament was moved to Mexico from its usual home in Shenzhen, China, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The switch in venue means the tournament's eight-strong singles field must adjust to the thin air of Guadalajara, which is around 5,100 feet (1,550 meters) above sea level.
Red-hot Kontaveit kicked off group stage action with her straight-sets win over French Open champion Krejcikova.
Estonia's Kontaveit, the last player to secure her spot in the event, notched her 11th straight match victory, continuing a superb season that has seen her capture four WTA titles and rise to eighth in the world.
Kontaveit, who didn't face a break point, secured the match when Krejcikova fired a backhand into the net on match point.
Krejcikova, the only reigning Grand Slam champion in the field, remained optimistic after a "difficult" match, noting that the round-robin format was more forgiving than a traditional tournament -- and she has doubles to contest as well.
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