SINGAPORE — Top-seeded Simona Halep defeated U.S. Open champion Flavia Pennetta 6-0, 6-3 to win the opening match of the WTA Finals on Sunday.
Halep, last year's finalist in Singapore, raced to a 6-0 1-0 lead before Pennetta won a game.
The Romanian saved both break points she faced in the second set and broke Pennetta's serve four times.
Pennetta, who only qualified for the WTA Finals last week, had beaten Halep the last time they played in the U.S. Open semifinals.
Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska play their opening round-robin match later Sunday.