Naomi Osaka continues to improve on the Asian swing of the WTA tour. The Japanese star has already qualified for the WTA Finals in Shenzhen. Her performances in Japan at the Toray Pan Pacific Open and in the China Open this week will make her a hot favorite for the tournament. She will face Ashleigh Barty in the final of the China Open after defeating Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals.
Can’t sleep after matches
Osaka defeated the former world number one 6-4 6-2 to take the match in 84 minutes. The 21-year-old looked was aggressive throughout the match. After beating Wozniacki, the two-time Grand Slam champion revealed that she had slept for only two hours before the match. She said, “I went to sleep at 4:00 am, I woke up at 6:00 am, so solid two hours, I can’t really sleep after my matches. I just feel like my adrenaline is up more during the tougher matches so it makes it harder to sleep.” She had faced Bianca Andreescu in the quarterfinals in a tough match, ending the 19-year-old’s 17-match winning streak.
Improved form with her father as a new coach
After poor performances in Europe and the US Open, Osaka is happy with her form in Asia. “Of course Australia was great. Everyone knows Europe was terrible for me.” She took a break after the US Open and made a coaching change. Her father Leonard Francois is currently coaching her. The two have enjoyed success in Asia. She won the Pan Pacific Open in her home country in dominant fashion, lifting the title without dropping a set. She could win her third title this year in Beijing after her success at the Australian Open and Japan. The 21-year-old has reflected on her up and down year. She said she would work to finish the season with the best performances possible.
The Japanese star will face Ashleigh Barty in the final on Sunday. The Australian defeated Kiki Bertens in her semi-final match with a thrilling final set tiebreak. Osaka and the reigning world number one have met three previous times. Barty holds the lead in those matches with a 2-1 record. Osaka said she was looking forward to the final. The 21-year-old promised to be aggressive and match the Australian’s power on the court. Both players have qualified the WTA Finals which will take place from 27th October-3rd November.
Osaka in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2019
Ranked no.4, Naomi has a 38-11 win-loss record in 2019. Naomi is now having a run in Beijing where she toppled Jessica Pegula 6-3 7-65, Andrea Petkovic 6-2 6-0, Alison Riske 6-4 6-0, Bianca Vanessa Andreescu 5-7 6-3 6-4 and Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-2.
Osaka will face Barty in the final. The head to head is 2-1 for Barty.
The last time that they played each other, Barty won 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in Nottingham in June 2018.
Osaka clinched 2 titles in 2019 at the Australian Open and in Osaka.
Osaka won 4 titles in her career: 4 on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Naomi Osaka |
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