Tennis: Pliskova outclasses Linette to ease into U.S. Open second round

New York: World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova eased into the U.S. Open second round with a no-nonsense 6-2, 6-1 victory over Poland's Magda Linette as rain began to fall at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday.
The Czech, who will next face Paraguay's Veronica Cepede Royg or American qualifier Nicole Gibbs, outclassed her 72nd-ranked opponent after the roof on Arthur Ashe was closed just before the second set.
Pliskova, who reached the final here last year, broke twice in the opening set to take a commanding lead with a fine backhand passing shot as Linette struggled on serve.
After fighting off six break points in the fifth game of the second set, Pliskova rolled on to prevail on her first match point with a second-serve ace.