Naomi Osaka Keeps The Momentum Going In Brisbane - UBITENNIS

Naomi Osaka Keeps The Momentum Going In Brisbane

It was another tough day at the office for the world No.4.

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read

Two-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka is hoping for better fortunes at the upcoming Australian Open after fighting her way into the semi-finals of the Brisbane International.

The world No.4 rallied to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, win over Kiki Bertens in what was the first clash between two top 10 players on the women’s tour this year. Osaka, who is the third seed in Brisbane, fired 12 aces and won 85% of her first service points against the Dutch player. After splitting the match a set piece and saving four break points at the start of the decider, Osaka held her nerve by breaking once on route to victory.

“I think I started off really well today as opposed to yesterday,” wtatennis.com quoted Osaka as saying after. “I feel like we were both feeling each other out, though, and [Bertens] sort of adjusted better to me in the second set.”
“In the third set, I just decided to stop complaining and try to fight for every point.”

It is the third consecutive match where the Japanese player has been pushed to three sets. Earlier in the week she also produced hard fought wins over Maria Sakkari and Sofia Kenin. She is now on a 14-match streak and hasn’t lost since the US Open (at the WTA Finals she won one match before withdrawing).

“I know I’m playing like the best players in the world here and every round for me is really hard, so I’m just thinking about the things I can control during the match,” she explained.
“My automatic reaction is just to like tell myself I’m doing bad and I need to do better, but most of the time I think I need to realize that the better players that I play, they will also figure things out.”

The win means Osaka will rise to third in the world rankings on Monday when they are updated. Overtaking rival Simona Halep. She will be hoping to continue her winning run at the Australian Open, where she is defending her title from 12 months ago.

“I tried to defend in my U.S. Open title and that didn’t work out so well, so I hope it’s better for me this time around,” Osaka said.

Osaka will play either Alison Riske or Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals.

In the other section of the draw, fifth seed Petra Kvitova dropped only six games during her 6-4, 6-2, win over Jenifer Brady. The player who knocked world No.1 Ash Barty out of the tournament. Kvitova remained unbroken throughout the 80 minute encounter as she won an impressive 93% of her first service points, but only 55% of her second.

The next test for Kvitova will be a meeting with Madison Keys, who defeated Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-1. The two are tied at 3-3 in their head-to-head.

“Petra is Petra. Great serve, great forehand,” Keys said.
“It seems like every year she comes out and she’s gotten something else in her game a little bit better and it just makes her even tougher to play.”

Kvitova last won the Brisbane tournament back in 2011.

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