Karolina Pliskova made the ideal start to the BNP Paribas WTA Finals with a convincing victory over Venus Williams in Singapore.
Pliskova needed just 72 minutes to beat Williams 6-2 6-2 in the opening match in the White Group, with Garbine Muguruza later beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 6-4.
Pliskova is into 100/30 with Sky Bet to win the event with Muguruza the current market leader at 11/4 - Venus is on offer now at 18/1.
"I think my serve was good today, it could be better but I hit some aces," Pliskova said in a courtside interview.
"Maybe the score looks a little easier than it was. I think it was very tough - from the baseline we were both playing pretty fast and pretty good shots so it was an amazing match I think.
"There are no easy matches here in Singapore so you have to be ready from the first point - that's what I was trying to do today and it worked."
Wimbledon champion Muguruza was equally happy to get her title bid off to a winning start with victory over French Open winner Ostapenko, the youngest player in the eight-woman field.
"She was playing very well at the end of the match, she was using her last opportunity and I managed to keep composed and turn it around," Muguruza said.
"I think I was fighting very well and my shots were there in the important moments. Jelena is so young and confident that I knew it was going to be difficult.
"This is my first time here in Singapore and I know it's very important every match."
Ostapenko is 14/1 for outright glory with Sky Bet.
