Naomi Osaka will make her first last eight appearance at Melbourne after she managed a hard-fought win over Anastasija Sevastova at the Australian Open on Monday.
Osaka, the fourth seed, got past Sevastova 4-6 6-3 6-4 despite an indifferent performance in the fourth round on Rod Laver Arena. The US Open champion was below her best for long periods, but lifted at the right moments to advance.
“I didn't give up, she was playing really well and I wasn't really sure what to do at a certain point but I just tried to stick in there,” she said after downing Sevastova.
“I was thinking I've been in this position before -- actually it was a little bit worse last time.”
Osaka will face sixth seed Elina Svitolina, who beat Madison Keys, in her second Grand Slam quarters.
Sevastova – the 13th seed who was eyeing a fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal – looked bright early and broke for a 2-1 lead, a blow that would be decisive for the set. Osaka, pushed to three sets by Hsieh Su-wei in the third round, seemed flat and tight, making 17 unforced errors in the opener.
Looking for a lift, Osaka started to improve and was rewarded with a break in the sixth game of the second set, a forehand winner giving the Japanese star a 4-2 lead.
Osaka saved a break point in the ninth game after an incredible 23-shot rally on her way to winning the second set. She took a break lead in the third set, but gave that up after a lengthy sixth game.
However, Osaka broke again for 4-3 and convincingly saw out her win, a forehand winner down the line sealing victory.
Comments
SHARE