Women’s Wrap: No. 4 seed Naomi Osaka survives major scare to advance to fourth round
Ukrainian sixth seed Elina Svitolina didn’t mince her words following her third round victory at the Australian Open, delivering one of the quotes of the tournament. Meanwhile, the US Open champ was forced to survive a massive scare.
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Reigning US Open champion Naomi Osaka has survived a giant scare against Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei to progress to the final 16 at the Australian Open.
The world No. 4 trailed a set and 4-1 before rallying to beat the crafty 28th seed 5-7 6-4 6-1 in the third round on Saturday.
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Osaka, who claimed her maiden grand slam at Flushing Meadows with a controversial win over Serena Williams, struggled early against the slice and off-pace shots of Hsieh.
The 21-year-old made 20 unforced errors in the first set and found herself down a break in the second and staring down the barrel of a first-week exit.
But Osaka clicked into gear, reeling off 11 of the last 12 games to make the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the second straight year.
“I just thought I didn’t want to give up. I really love grand slams. Anything that I can do to stay here a bit longer I try to do,” she said.
Osaka rose from world No. 68 to No. 5 in 2018, winning her maiden WTA title at Indian Wells before US Open success in September.
The Japanese superstar will meet either 13th-seeded Latvian Anastasija Sevastova or China’s Qiang Wang, the 21st seed, for a place in the quarter-finals.
‘YOU’RE EITHER GOING TO DIE OR WIN’
Ukrainian sixth seed Elina Svitolina told her herself ‘you’re either going to die or win’ as she fought back from the brink in a stunning three-set comeback to reach the fourth round.
With new flame Gael Monfils again cheering her on, the 24-year-old celebrated her three-set triumph by copying a celebration made famous by the French showman - think part surfer, part flapping bird.
But while it left Monfils in hysterics, it was certainly borne out of relief for Svitolina who fought for nearly three hours and battled a neck complaint throughout the gruelling clash.
Her Chinese rival Zhang Shuai looked in control when up a seat, but even more troubling for Svitolina were the regular medical timeouts she was forced to call.
But she wasn’t ready to have her Australian Open ended in the first week.
“I was struggling a little bit. We left everything on court,” she said.
“We practice every day for these kind of matches. I just told myself ‘you’re going to die or win’. It was a mental game.
“I had to stay strong. We were fighting until the last point.
“I always think that this situation, when I’m almost about to die, okay, there is an opponent across the net (who is) also struggling, also in the same situation (and has) also run the same amount of hours on the court.
“So I try to think that way and I’m not alone here in hell.”
When Zhang buried a backhand into the net to end the match, Svitolina celebrated in Monfils’ style – further cementing their blossoming relationship.
And then, in keeping with her reputation as one of the sport’s great people, she went over and comforted her vanquished foe. - JOE BARTON
Celebration @ElinaSvitolina pic.twitter.com/v2VddWcew2
— Elina Svitolina FP✨ (@SvitolinaNL) January 19, 2019
HALEP SETS UP SERENA SHOWDOWN
Friday night, Simona Halep had her first taste of the Sister Act.
Now it’s time for the sequel and, unlike the 1990s movies starring Whoopi Goldberg, the second instalment is better.
The reigning French Open champion and current world No.1, Halep scored a 6-2 6-3 triumph over American Venus Williams on Margaret Court Arena Friday night.
The result set up a fourth-round showdown with none other than Williams’ younger sister Serena, a seven-time champion at Melbourne Park and raging favourite to make that eight this year.
“For sure she’s the best player in the world because she won so many Grand Slams,” Halep said of Serena Williams.
“She’s been a lot (at) No.1. I cannot compare my results to her. But in this moment, I am confident that I am in this position.
“I don’t feel intimidated (by Williams) any more. I have huge respect for her because she’s a great champion, but she’s just an opponent next round.”
Venus Williams, 38, at times looked sluggish during the first set of Friday night’s match but found more foot movement and power in her shots during a fighting start to the second set.
However, unforced errors continued to prove costly, Halep eventually taking the match in just 77 minutes in what her opponent described as a “pretty flawless” performance and the Romanian herself labelled the best match of her campaign at Melbourne Park so far.
Halep and Serena Williams last met in the quarter-finals of the US Open in 2016, Williams winning that match in three sets.
Halep’s most recent – and only – win against the American ace came back in 2014 at the WTA Finals, having lost the other eight encounters between the pair.
“I (have) played many times against her,” Halep said.
“We’ve had tough matches together. So it’s going to be just a huge match for me. I will not put pressure on myself. There’s a good chance for me to play my best tennis and to feel good on court.
“I have to be smart, aggressive. I have to move her and give my best.
“It’s always great to play against Serena because every time I have to learn something from the match.”
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