New York (AFP)
The Japanese Naomi Osaka, 10th player in the world, held her place against the Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska (25th in the world) and qualified 6-3, 6-1 for the quarter-finals of the tournament in Cincinnati, relocated to Flushing Meadows.
Unlike her laborious entry into the competition the day before against the Czech Karolina Muchova who had pushed her to the 3rd set, Osaka was otherwise enterprising and expeditious since she won in 1h 10 min.
She was able to rely on a powerful first ball (8 aces) and delighted her young opponent's service four times, while erasing five breakn points, each time with authority.
Osaka, winner of the US Open in 2018, will face Estonian Anett Kontaveit on Wednesday to aim for a first semi-final in this tournament in Cincinnati, exceptionally relocated to New York due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
© 2020 AFP