Pliskova derails Osaka's home title hopes in Tokyo final
The Czech world number five was too good for the home hero and US Open champion in the Pan Pacific Open final.
Karolina Pliskova claimed her 11th WTA Tour title and second of 2018 with a straight-sets win over Naomi Osaka in the Tokyo Open final.
The Czech proved too strong for US Open champion Osaka, winning 6-4 6-4 in a little more than an hour on Sunday.
Pliskova broke once in each set in the decider, while Osaka – whose 10-match winning streak came to an end – was unable to set up a break-point opportunity.
Adding to her title in Stuttgart earlier this year, Pliskova has now won 11 on the WTA Tour, including all five of her finals since losing the 2016 US Open decider.
Pliskova broke in the fifth game of the first set against the Japanese star and in the ninth of the second.
Osaka won just 12 points against the Pliskova serve, the big-hitting Czech recording her second win in three meetings with the 20-year-old.