Defending US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova took off where she started late last season, winning a title in the first week of 2017, rolling over France’s Alize Cornet 6-0, 6-3 in the Brisbane International final.
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“I didn’t miss almost the whole set in the first set,” Pliskova said. “I was feeling pretty good today.”

Last year Pliskova was a two-time title winner, raising trophies at Nottingham and Cincinnati, where she denied Angelique Kerber the No. 1 ranking in the final.

“The first set was very dominant,” Pliskova said. “But then I think I took speed off my serve a little bit somehow and was more relaxed. Second was closer, definitely, but still two breaks and 6-3, so I was feeling comfortable on my serve, even though there were few tougher games than in the first.”

Pliskova will climb from 6 back to a career-high No. 5 on the WTA Rankings.

Cornet last year won one title, 12 months ago in January at Hobart.

“I wish I’d done better tonight, but Karolina was way too good for me and I bet she’s going to win a Slam soon,” Cornet said after the final. “There’s a lot of positives I can take out of [reaching the final].”