Ostapenko in inspired farewell

World number three Karolina Pliskova remains confident she can rebound from a disappointing straight sets loss to Jelena Ostapenko in the WTA Finals on Thursday, as the Czech prepares for her semi-final debut in Singapore. The 25-year-old was outclassed in the dead rubber encounter 6-3, 6-1 in 66 minutes at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Pliskova, who is in the running to finish world number one, had already locked up pole position from the White Group after losing just eight games across her opening two matches.
Lacking intensity, an uninspired Pliskova's reliable big serve was uncharacteristically erratic and she was broken five times in the match.