Johanna Konta beats Sam Stosur in opener at WTA Elite Trophy

Konta was last week voted the WTA's most improved player for 2016

British number one Johanna Konta made a winning start at the WTA Elite Trophy, beating Australia's Sam Stosur 6-4 6-2 in Zhuhai, China.

The tournament features the leading 12 players who did not qualify for last week's WTA Finals in Singapore.

The players are divided into four pools of three, with the group winners qualifying for the knockout stage.

Konta, the top seed, will face world number 23 Caroline Garcia of France in her other pool game.

The Briton looked strong against 2011 US Open champion Stosur, breaking serve four times and dropping just one service game.

The 25-year-old is guaranteed to finish the year in the top 10, making her the first British woman to do so since Jo Durie in 1983.

"I dreamt of being number one in the world, being the best player out there," Konta told the WTA.

"I think you've got to put dreams aside, a little bit separate, just because you've got to focus on the work and you've got to focus on things that you can control.

"That's the effort and attitude that I approach my job, what I do."