By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, September 22, 2018

Strong survival skills propelled Karolina Pliskova to the Tokyo final.

Sharp serving pushed Pliskova over the finish line.

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Pliskova served 84 percent, pumped six aces and did not face a break point dispatching Naomi Osaka, 6-4, 6-4, to capture her 11th career title in Tokyo.

On championship point, Pliskova banged an ace out wide as Osaka, waving her racquet, conceded. 



Contesting her 21st career final, Pliskova claimed her second title of the season following her run to the Stuttgart title last spring.

The former world No. 1 scored three consecutive three-set victories, including rallying from a break down twice in the final set and fighting off two match points in a 6-1, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4) quarterfinal conquest of American qualifier Alison Riske.

Playing with relaxed aggression today, Pliskova committed 13 unforced errors—half as many as Osaka—in raising her record to 41-17 on the season.

"Every match for sure was tough," Pliskova said. "I was just happy I didn't go three sets because every other match I went three sets. Naomi was playing so good all tournament, I think she was a little bit tired today."

Riding a career-best 10-match winning streak into the final, Osaka was aiming to become the first Japanese woman to win Tokyo since Kimiko Date defeated Lindsay Davenport to collect the 1995 Tokyo championship.

The US Open champion won nine straight points on serve to open the match. But midway through the opening set, Osaka began pressing and forcing the issue.

The home favorite hit flatter in the final than she did in her semifinal win over Camila Giorgi and flirted with the net more frequently, too.

A double fault followed by a netted backhand put Osaka in a break-point bind. Hitting a backhand wide, Osaka gifted the break and a 3-2 lead to the tall Czech. Pliskova quickly backed up the break.

Serving for the set, Pliskova converted her second set point when Osaka netted a backhand, her 15th unforced error, to end the 33-minute opener. 

Throughout her run to her maiden major at the US Open, Osaka competed with calm clarity. Feeling the pressure of performing in front of home fans, Osaka showed some signs of frustration smacking her Yonex frame against the bottom of her shoe while holding to open the second set.

The pair collaborated on three consecutive love holds. After holding for 4-3, Osaka called for coach Sascha Bajin and confided "I feel like I'm going through mid-life crisis."

Unfazed, Pliskova pounded an ace leveling at 4-all in the second set. 

The 20-year-old Osaka played her sloppiest game of the final. Double-faulting, Osaka dropped her racquet to the court in disappointment. A mediocre drop shot sat up in the court, a streaking Pliskova fired a forehand crosscourt breaking at love for 5-4. 

Pliskova zapped an ace and followed with a forehand winner for triple championship point.

Slashing an ace out wide, Pliskova closed a 63-minute conquest in style.