Naomi Osaka reaches first Grand Slam quarter-final
ByReuters
Updated 03/09/2018 at 22:53 GMT
Japan's Naomi Osaka reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final by beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 2-6 6-4 in a pressure-packed clash of two hard-serving 20-year-old prospects.
Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates match point during the women's singles fourth round match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus on Day Eight of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 3, 2018 in the Flushing neighbor
Image credit: Getty Images
Osaka, who won the Indian Wells Masters tournament in March, fired nine aces and produced 32 unforced errors, 10 fewer than her Belarussian opponent, in a gusty defensive performance.
Sabalenka, who saved three break points in the final set, flung her racket in dismay after committing a double-fault on match point, handing victory to her 19th-ranked opponent.
An emotional Osaka wiped tears from her eyes in an on-court interview, thanking the crowd and saying she would not have forgiven herself had she lost.
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Naomi Osaka was emotional after beating Aryna Sabalenka
Image credit: PA Sport
"I was just thinking I have to fight for every point; even if I break a leg I should try to get to every ball," she said.
"I felt like I had a lot of chances to break her in the third set, then she would serve these really amazing serves. Like a part of me knew it was coming, but at the same time I was always very unprepared," Osaka said.
I'm just real glad I was able to win in the end.
Osaka next faces Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.
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