WTA

Naomi Osaka clinches Western & Southern Open final berth with victory over Mertens

Naomi Osaka focused on her day job to beat Elise Mertens 6-2 7-6(5) in their re-arranged semi-final.

Published

4 years ago

28/08/2020

Naomi Osaka put all the extra attention to the back of her mind and focused on her day job to beat Elise Mertens 6-2 7-6(5) in their re-arranged semi-final.

The Japanese player, 22, has been in great form at the Western & Southern Open this week. So she was understandably keen to maintain that momentum.

“I think I’m in a good spot right now,” Osaka said in her press conference. “I practiced this morning and I thought that I was playing really well. Of course, it’s very different from practice to matches, because during matches you get nervous. There is way more on the line.”

“I would definitely say I’m playing very well right now, and I think I’m putting myself in a good position for the finals and hopefully for the US Open. Of course, I’m never sure what will happen, but, yeah, the “me” right now is really fit and is mentally sound enough to do damage.”

Osaka overcomes serving issues to gain important win

Osaka came out firing in the opening set of the semi-final. She broke Mertens in the second game and survived three break points to move into a 3-0 lead. Although the set then ended in peculiar fashion with three consecutive breaks, it had little effect on the outcome as the Japanese player claimed it 6-2.

The second set was a turbulent battle throughout. Osaka broke once but the Belgian broke her twice to lead 4-2. The two-time Grand Slam Champion then fought back to level the score at 4-4.

However, the Japanese player could hardly have come any closer to dropping serve again in game nine. Her serving rhythm deserted her and she had to save a remarkable eight break points to earn an epic hold.

That proved to be the crucial moment, as Osaka won three points in a row from 5-4 down in the tie-break to seize victory and with it a place in the final.

“Honestly, I could not find my serve for the life of me today,” the Japanese said in her press conference with a smile on her face. “So it didn’t really help me out that much, that game. But I would say that I felt there were moments where I got really desperate, and I feel like when I get desperate, I start making terrible decisions.”

“So I had to block that out, and I think that me being aware of that is a step in the right direction. I also feel that I’m really glad that I’m playing this tournament right now, because just having these match plays and being able to figure things out on the court is going to be really helpful.”

Japanese star relishes final clash with Azarenka

Osaka is excited to take on Victoria Azarenka in the final after the Belarussian overcame Johanna Konta in a tense three-set encounter.

She said, “It’s really cool to be able to play Vika now, because I played her in the French last year, but I know that probably her best surface is hard court and also my best surface is hard court, so I think it will definitely be a really fun match.”

Related Topics:Elise Mertens Latest News Naomi Osaka

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Emma Raducanu Confident Of Full Fitness Ahead Of Grass Swing

Published

5 days ago

11/06/2024

Adam Addicott

Emma Raducanu - Cincinnati 2022 (foto Twitter @cincytennis)

Emma Raducanu has no regrets about her decision to skip the French Open and now believes she is in a ‘really fit place’ ahead of Wimbledon.

The former US Open champion opted to end her clay season earlier than other players to focus on fitness and training with her coach. Raducanu stated earlier this year that her primary focus in 2024 is on her health after undergoing a series of wrist and ankle surgeries last year which sidelined her for months.

Raducanu will return to action this week at the Nottingham Open, which is the event where she made her WTA main draw debut back in 2021. Despite her lack of match play in recent weeks, the Brit is feeling good and relishing her return to the grass.

“Body-wise, physical-wise, I feel really healthy,” she said on Monday.
“I’ve done amazing work with my trainer over the last few months, since surgery. I’m in a really fit place. I’m healthy and just looking forward to starting playing.”

Shedding more light on her health, Raducanu says she has full confidence in her wrists and believes they are in top condition. Making her feel more at ease when playing matches on the Tour.

“I think my wrists are actually in a better position than they ever were. So there’s zero doubt or apprehension whether I’m hitting the ball or designing my schedule,” she explained.
“It’s more about being proactive and not wanting to put yourself in any unnecessary situations. I don’t need to rush and try to win the French Open, it wasn’t my goal this year.
“I had to prioritise where I wanted to target and it was just a good block for me to get some physical work done.”

Raducanu has played seven WTA events so far this season with her best run being to the quarter-finals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, where she was beaten by world No.1 Iga Swiatek. The 21-year-old is currently ranked 209th in the world.

At the Nottingham Open, she will play her first match on Tuesday against Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara.

Latest news

Russian World No.78 Elina Avanesyan To Switch Nationalities

Published

6 days ago

10/06/2024

Adam Addicott

Image via https://x.com/WTAMeridaOpen/

A week after losing her fourth round match at the French Open, a government minister has confirmed that Elina Avanesyan is in the process of changing the nationality of who she plays for.

The 21-year-old is switching her aligence from Russia to Armenia, according to Armenia’s deputy Minister of International Affairs and communication. Karen Giloyan has told the news agency Armenpress that Avanesyan will soon be representing his country. However, the tennis player has yet to comment on the matter. Avanesyan was born in Russia but has Armenian parents.

“Elina Avanesyan will compete under the Armenian flag, but there is nothing official yet. We are waiting for her to get the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia so that everything will be official,” Giloyan told Armenpress.

Such a development would be a massive coup for the Armenian tennis federation which currently doesn’t have a player ranked inside the top 500 on either the men’s or women’s Tour. The country has a population of less than 3M. Perhaps their best-known player is Sargis Sargsian who reached the top 40 back in 2004. Others on the Tour also have Armenian heritage but don’t represent the country such as Karen Khachanov.

Avanesyan is currently ranked 78th in the world, which is 18 places below her career high. This season, she has scored high-profile wins over Maria Sakkari at the Australian Open, Ons Jabeur in Charleston and Qinwen Zhang at the French Open.

She has yet to play in the final of a WTA tournament.

WTA

Iga Looks To Be In A league All to Herself At Paris

Iga Swiatek claimed her fourth Roland Garros title in Paris.

Published

1 week ago

09/06/2024

James Beck

(@Eurosport - Twitter)

Just call her Iga. No other identification is needed.

As the years go by, Iga’s notoriety is sure to grow.

She’s probably already earned a spot in tennis’ Hall of Fame.

Yes, Iga Swiatek is a name to remember. A hero in her native Poland, a superstar in the world of sports.

IGA WAS JUST TOO GOOD

Iga just added to her stardom Saturday with an impressive 6-2, 6-1 victory over little-known Italian Jasmine Paolini to win her third straight French Open title. This was Paolini’s chance to make a name for herself, but she didn’t have the game to make it happen.

Iga was just too good. She made it look too easy.

Paolini could hit some great ground strokes, but when she looked up a bigger shot was on its way back. Iga doesn’t look like a power hitter, but she is.

WINNING 10 CONSECUTIVE GAMES

The 23-year-old Polish Wonder finished the first set winning five straight games, then started the second set winning five more games in succession. The 28-year-old Paolini didn’t seem to have a clue on how to upend Swiatek.

It took just 78 minutes for Iga to win her fifth Grand Slam title.

She’s a lot like her French Open hero, Rafa Nadal.

She takes every match seriously.

SWIATEK OWNS THE RED CLAY

No wonder Iga owns a 35-2 record at Roland Garos. Or that she has won 21 straight matches. Or that she owns a 5-0 record in Grand Slam finals.

She only dominated opponents, except for Naomi Osaka in the second round. Swiatek escaped a match point in that one and didn’t look back.

Iga’s game should be just as superb on the green grass of upcoming Wimbledon.

—

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.