Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka’s class too much in quarter-finals

Naomi Osaka had said if she was playing a tennis video game, she’d pick Su-Wei Hsieh as her character.

Naomi Osaka was always in control during her quarterfinal clash Picture: AFP

Naomi Osaka had said if she was playing a tennis video game, she’d pick Su-Wei Hsieh as her character.

In doing so, the Japanese ace might have sold herself short.

It was no neck-and-neck battle between Mario and Luigi when Osaka and Hsieh met in their Australian Open quarter-final on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.

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Osaka was quick out of the blocks and avoided any banana peels Hsieh tried to put in her way as she stormed to a 6-2 6-2 triumph and a fifth grand slam semi-final berth.

“I feel like every time I play her (Hsieh), it’s really challenging because I never know exactly what she’s going to do with the ball,” Osaka said. “I think I just really focused on my game plan. It was kind of very clear what I thought I had to do.

“Just having something to structure myself and not get carried away with what she’s going to do was definitely really important.

“I told myself just to be really intense from the beginning.”

Hsieh looked like a player who was competing in her first grand slam quarter-final – which was the case – as the world No 71 was outclassed by a near-flawless Osaka in a match that lasted just 66 minutes.

The third-seed’s service game was on song, her unforced errors low and her power-hitting simply too much for Hsieh to handle.

Hsieh tried to work her opponent to all corners of the court, as is her regular style, but the 35-year-old rarely managed to land a winner.

A calm and calculated Osaka looked every bit the tournament favourite that she is in what was her fourth straight-sets win from five matches.

The exception was a fourth-round clash with Garbine Muguruza, in which Osaka fought back from a 4-6 first set defeat and saved two match points in the third set to triumph.

“I think my confidence was raised after I played Muguruza the other day just because she’s such a quality opponent and my back was against the wall,” Osaka said.

“Somehow I still had opportunities. In that way I wouldn’t really say it’s confidence, but more like I’m at ease with how my game is right now.”

The 2019 Australian Open champion, Osaka became the first player through to the final four in the women’s draw as she looks to back up a victory at the US Open last year.

“For me, I’m happy to be more consistent,” Osaka said.

“I think I’m being more consistent since New York, so that’s the ultimate goal for me.”

Osaka will meet the winner of Tuesday night’s match between Simona Halep and Serena Williams in the semi-finals.

Herald Sun