Naomi Osaka defeats Kvitova in an emphatic WTA finals opener.

Naomi Osaka saw off Petra Kvitova in a three -set victory at the WTA Finals on Sunday.
Opening the $14 million round -robin tournament, the first in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, the Japanese gave her all to win 7 – 6 ( 7 / 1 ) , 4 -6 , 6 – 4 in two hours and 39 minutes.

It was the current No.3 sensation’s first victory at the WTA Finals after a winless run in her debut appearance last year which stretched her current winning form to 11 matches having claimed titles in Osaka and Beijing.

In a rematch of this year’s Australian Open final, present tennis world No.6 Kvitova came out with intent until she stumbled in the eighth game of the opening set with three double faults to splurge the game.

Osaka was held off by two break points in the ninth game before dominating the tie break to take the first kick.

It seemed to disturb the world number 6 confidence but Kvitova impressively dug back in the second set and took advantage of a mistake made by Osaka who appeared frustrated several times slamming her racquet.

A re-energized Osaka came back stronger in the deciding set but could not convert two match points in the eighth game until finally closing it out in the 10th making her presence known to her fellow group rivals in Red Group.

Naomi maintained her unbeaten record against the Czech, having won their previous clash in a three -set classic in Melbourne.