Australian Open 2019 women’s wrap: Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina through to the quarter-finals

World No. 4 Naomi Osaka, now through to the Australian Open quarter-finals, says she’s unrecognisable on the streets of Melbourne, but in Japan it’s a wig and sunglasses at night.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates after defeating United States' Madison Keys during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Japan’s Naomi Osaka has come from a set down to win through to the quarter-finals.

The No.4 seed defeated No.13 Anastasija Sevastova 4-6 6-3 6-4.

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It is the second time in a row Osaka has completed a comeback after coming from a set and a break down against Hsieh Su-Wei on Saturday.

Despite being the reigning US Open champion and one of the world’s best players, Osaka has admitted she hasn’t really felt the love from the Melbourne public.

When asked whether she gets recognised when walking around the city, Osaka said: “No.

“I’m not like that. I don’t think they care.

“Am I going to the wrong place? I don’t know.”

The 21-year-old isn’t sure why no one recognises her.

Naomi Osaka on her way to beating Anastasija Sevastova in three sets.

“I don’t know I just walk around and everyone is just like normal. And I’m normal too,” she said.

Back in Japan it has been more of a covert operation with her sister giving her a wig and instructing her to wear it with sunglasses.

“She was, like, You know what you should do? You should bring this wig and if you want to walk around, just throw it on and put on some sunglasses,” the young star said.

“I didn’t really walk outside (smiling). I just went in the car and stuff. Like, I wasn’t really walking around. When I did, I went at night and had a wig on (smiling).

“I personally think she was making it a bigger deal than it had to be.

“I get that I’m tan and I would stand out a little bit in Japan. I think the only way people would really care is if I’m wearing some sort of athletic, like, if I was walking around with my tennis racquet.”

Osaka will play No. 6 seed Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

“She (Sevastova) was playing really well,” Osaka said. “I didn’t know what to do at a certain point but I just stuck in there.

“I was thinking I’ve been in this position before and last time it was a little bit worse.

“I was watching all these kids winning, like last night Tsitsipas beat Federer and I was like, woah, so I decided I wanted to do well too.”

Japan's Naomi Osaka makes a forehand return.

Naomi Osaka celebrates winning a big point.

Osaka’s next opponent Elina Svitolina was also was involved in a seesawing contest before emerging on top over American Madison Keys.

The Ukrainian overcame blisters and rebounded from a second-set hiccup to take out the fourth-round match 6-2 1-6 6-1.

The knock on Svitolina has been her temperament.

Has the 24-year-old got the mental strength to win a major?

One match-defining game on Margaret Court Arena went some way to answering the question.

At 1-1 in the deciding set, Svitolina gritted her teeth, ignored the burning sun and held serve in a game that lasted nearly as long as the entire second set.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates her win against Madison Keys.

The almost 17- minute game featured 11 deuces, a 19-shot rally and Svitolina’s fastest serve of the tournament — a 178kmh ace.

“I was just trying to stay strong mentally and throw everything at her, and in the end, it worked,” Svitolina said.

“ … I knew that I had to be strong mentally and physically in that point, because the sun was very strong in that side, and I knew that I’m going to have a chance on the next game on her serve. So I think this was the key, no, just to be there 100 per cent.”

“ … I try to be there all the time with my game, try to bring the best. And I know that I can challenge good players and I can win.”

Perhaps the Australian Open will be the Ukrainian No.6 seed’s breakthrough major with Osaka standing between Svitolina and her maiden Grand Slam semi-final.

Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova hits a return against Spain's Garbine Muguruza.

Meanwhile, the scoreline surprised even Karolina Pliskova, who isn’t daunted by Melbourne’s searing temperatures in coming days, when she took down 18th-seed Garbine Muguruza 6-3 6-1.

The Czech star had endured two three-setters on her way to the round of 16 and said she “expected a little bit harder score” against Muguruza.

“I don’t know if (it was) easier, but it was not exactly how I expected to be, because it was pretty fast,” she said.

“Maybe I expected a little bit harder score. That’s sometimes how it is. You have some tough matches and if you go through then you can have easy ones against better players, you know.

“I don’t have any reason for this, but I think the score is a little bit too hard. It didn’t feel this way.”

Melbourne is set to hit 38 degrees on Thursday with on-court temperatures to soar far higher.

But Pliskova is remaining cool at the prospect.

“I’m fine. I think I survived everything possible here,” she said.

“Some night matches, early matches, afternoon matches. Everything. I went through everything already from Brisbane. It was very hot always. So I’m ready for anything here.”

Muguruza — who finished her previous match at 3am - said she had felt “a little bit heavy” in the defeat.

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Originally published as Australian Open 2019 women’s wrap: Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina through to the quarter-finals