Osaka fights back from the brink

Australian Open favourite Naomi Osaka has fought back from the brink of defeat to keep her championship hopes alive in Melbourne on Sunday.

Japan's Naomi Osaka hits a return against Spain's Garbine Muguruza during their women's singles match on day seven of the Australian Open

Australian Open favourite Naomi Osaka has fought back from the brink of defeat to keep her championship hopes alive in Melbourne on Sunday.

The Japanese star saved two match points in her fourth round match against Garbine Muguruza to progress 4-6 6-4 7-5 in 1hr 55min.

Osaka, a winner in Melbourne in 2019, was in significant trouble when trailing 3-5 in the deciding set.

The victory was more due to the three-time major winner Osaka’s ability to raise the level of her play under extreme pressure than Muguruza folding within sight of the finish line.

From facing match points, Osaka did not make another unforced error for the match after being errant at stages throughout the three set duel.

She also struck seven winners to the one of Muguruza, a finalist in Melbourne last year, in the latter stages.

“In the stressful points, I just felt like I had to go within myself,” Osaka said.

The world No 3 said she was “a little bit intimidated by (Muguruza) because I knew she was playing well,”.

A Wimbledon and French Open champion, the Spaniard reached a final in Melbourne last week when edged by Ash Barty and had carried that form into the Australian Open.

Osaka will play Su-Wei Hsieh, who is mentored by Melburnian Paul McNamee, in a quarterfinal.

Hsieh, aged 35, is the oldest woman to make the quarter-final at a grand slam for the first time.

Open continues despite Covid postive

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said that the event will continue as normal despite the positive COVID-19 test of a player in Melbourne last week.

Greece ATP Cup player Michail Pervolarakis revealed he had tested positive to coronavirus after arriving in South Africa for a Challenger event a couple of days ago.

He left Melbourne on Tuesday and travelled through the Middle East on the way to South Africa, where another player has subsequently tested positive on the weekend.

“He travelled to the Middle East and then in South Africa and after spending a day in South Africa, tested positive,” Tiley told Channel 9.

“We were notified by him of that and we now leave it up to the health authorities.

“We provided them with all the information yesterday and while there is a link in the fact that he left here, five days ago, it will be up to the advice of the health authorities like we’ve done every day.

“We just provide the information to them, they provide advice and make decisions.”

The AO boss said those playing in the Australian Open and the WTA Tour Phillip Island Trophy tournament also being held at Melbourne Park.

“Anyone on site that has any symptoms related to COVID is required to immediately isolate and test,” he said.

“We haven’t had any of that. We will go through the normal procedures and take the advice from health (authorities).

“If they want us to have more people tested, we will do that. At this point, there’s been no indication about.”