Both players headed into the match at the Singapore Indoor Stadium with an identical record in the White Group, having beaten Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza and also suffering defeat to Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.

It left the final spot resting on their tie, with Poland’s Radwanska heading in as the favourite having beaten her opponent in straight sets in their six previous meetings.

Pliskova, though, made the brighter start by breaking for a 3-2 lead in the opening set, but Radwanska was able to hit back and level the score at 4-4.

The reigning champion then clinched a hard fought opening set 7-5, after breaking Pliskova’s serve again as the Czech aimed to force a tie-break.

Radwanska appeared to have gained full control of the match when she broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set but a dramatic swing saw Pliskova win three straight games to grab the advantage.

The Czech star was unable to maintain the fightback as Radwanska then broke her on two consecutive service games to regain the upper hand and ultimately seal a 7-5, 6-3 triumph.

Radwanska will now face Germany’s Angelique Kerber, the world number one, in the semi-finals tomorrow. 

The second last four encounter is due to see Kuznetsova take on Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulková, but the Russian saw her unbeaten run surprisingly come to an end against Muguruza.

A third straight Kuznetsova victory had appeared on the cards when the Russian, winner of the Kremlin Cup earlier this month, took the opening set 6-3.

Muguruza, the French Open champion, produced a stirring fightback to win the remaining sets 6-0, 6-1 to end her season on a high.