Naomi Osaka reaches US OPEN semi-finals, wearing mask with George Floyd's name on it
— First round: Breonna Taylor.
— Second round: Elijah McClain.
— Third round: Ahmaud Arbery.
— Fourth round: Trayvon Martin.
— Quarterfinal: George Floyd.
Fourth seed Naomi Osaka claimed a US Open semi-final spot,overpowering world number 93 Shelby Rogers in straight sets.Former world number one Osaka had lost to Rogers in straight sets in their past three meetings, but the last of these came in 2017 and she looked in imperious form from the outset on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 2019 Australian Open champion dropped just two points in her first three service games and her relentlessly high level eventually became too much for Rogers.
The American saved one break point in the sixth game but drove a backhand long to lose a second.
A double fault from Osaka opened the door for Rogers in the next game and the lower-ranked player took the opportunity to break back with a superb forehand return.
It was only the fourth time Osaka has been broken in this year's tournament and she looked undisturbed as she whipped a forehand cross-court to immediately repay the favour.
Another booming forehand from the world number nine forced Rogers' backhand wide to wrap up the first set in 38 minutes.
Rogers was undeterred and continued to fight early in the second set but a lapse in concentration gave Osaka break point and the former champion took the lead as the American's backhand sailed wide.
The two-time Grand Slam winner continued to make seemingly unreachable shots, sprinting forwards to pick up Rogers' drop-shot and claim her second hold to love of the set.
A third hold to love sealed Osaka's place in the final four, as Rogers brought her first US Open quarter-final to an end with a forehand into the net.
"I just felt like she had the upper hand because I've never beaten her and those memories are stuck in my head," Osaka added.
"I consider this a little bit of a revenge."
Post a Comment