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SPORTS Monday 24 SepteMber 2018

Osaka's winning streak comes to an end in loss to Pliskova

By JIM ARMSTRONG, AP streak alive while putting an a much sterner challenge racket to the ground be- ond time Osaka came up
Sports Writer end to Osaka's 10-match against Pliskova. fore collecting her compo- short in the tournament.
TOKYO (AP) — Naomi Osa- winning streak. The frustration boiled over sure, but it was too late. Two years ago, Osaka lost
ka's dominant run came to Pliskova needed three dra- when Osaka double fault- Pliskova broke Osaka for a in the final to Caroline Woz-
end on Sunday in a 6-4, 6-4 matic sets in each of her ed in the ninth game of second time to go up 5-4 niacki, this year's top-seed-
loss to fourth-seeded Karo- matches to reach her sec- the second set to set up and then hammered her ed player who was elimi-
lina Pliskova in the final of ond final of the season. Pliskova's second break. sixth ace to secure her 11th nated by Camila Giorgi in
the Pan Pacific Open. "I was just happy it didn't The 20-year-old tossed her career title. It was the sec- the second round.q

Karolina Pliskova, of Czech Republic pose with her champion
trophy for photographers during the award ceremony of the Pan
Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo Sunday, Sept.
23, 2018. Pliskova won over Naomi Osaka of Japan in the final,
6-4, 6-4.
Associated Press

Playing in her first tour- go to a third set," Pliskova
nament since upsetting said. "Naomi was playing
Serena Williams to win so good all tournament but
the U.S. Open on Sept. 8, I think she was a little bit
third-seeded Osaka hadn't tired today."
dropped a set previous Osaka started well with
to Sunday's final but was a pair of aces to win the
frustrated from the outset opening game but Pliskova
by the big-serving Czech won her first break point of
player. the match and took a 3-2
Pliskova came into Sun- lead.
day's final having won her The 20-year-old local fa-
last four dating to the Bris- vorite was barely tested in
bane International in Janu- her first three matches of
ary 2017 — and kept that the tournament but faced