Red-hot Osaka beats her 'idol' Serena in Miami

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Red-hot Osaka beats her idol Serena in Miami
Serena Williams congratulates Naomi Osaka after losing to her in straight sets at the Miami Open on Wednesday. (AFP)

Miami - Osaka backed up last week's Indian Wells title triumph with a brilliant display

By Reuters

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Published: Thu 22 Mar 2018, 9:21 PM

Last updated: Thu 22 Mar 2018, 11:25 PM

Naomi Osaka continued her stunning run of form with a 6-3 6-2 victory over 23-times grand slam champion Serena Williams in the first round of the Miami Open on Wednesday, the latest big win for the 20-year-old Japanese player.
Osaka backed up last week's Indian Wells title triumph with a brilliant display in the eagerly-anticipated showdown on a day when former number one Victoria Azarenka also triumphed, while American Amanda Anisimova withdrew with an ankle injury.
The match, their first career meeting, remained on serve in the first set until the world number 22 forced break point opportunities at 3-3 and took advantage when the American was unable to deal with a blistering backhand at her feet.
Osaka was able to break Williams again after a back-and-forth deuce battle to take the first set, with her big serve and relentless return game proving even stronger in the second as she broke to move 3-1 ahead and never looked back.
The end of the contest was anti-climatic when an ugly unforced error by Williams, who hit a wide open forehand long, sent Osaka into a second round showdown against world number four Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.
"I was extremely nervous coming on to the court. I don't know if anybody knows this but Serena is my favorite player," Osaka said in an on-court interview.
"So just playing against her is kind of like a dream for me. I'm very grateful I was able to play her and it is even better that I was able to win."
The 36-year-old Williams, playing her fourth match since the birth of her first child in September, is still working her way back into form and although she demonstrated her trademark power, she struggled to move smoothly around the court.
Osaka looked fresh despite having played seven matches in Indian Wells to capture her first career title on Sunday.
Some felt it was unfair that the Miami Open allowed the now unseeded Williams, an eight-times champion at the tournament, to play Osaka in the first round.
Osaka's win was her latest against one of the biggest names in the sport, coming hot on the heels of victories over former grand slam champion Maria Sharapova, fifth seed Karolina Pliskova and world number one Simona Halep in Indian Wells.
Three-times Miami champion Azarenka, in just her second tournament since taking an eight-month break to focus on a custody battle, showed good form in beating American Catherine Bellis 6-3 6-0. "I'm happy that I'm playing," the Belarusian said. "I don't want to be over-the-moon happy, because I'm still in the tournament, and I want to continue to reach any heights and new goals." - Reuters
Anisimova injured an ankle during her first-round win on Tuesday and the 16-year-old was unable to front up again a day later for her scheduled match against third seeded Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza.

RESULTS:

(x denotes seed)
Men: 1st rd: Liam Broady (GBR) bt Bjorn Fratangelo (USA) 7-6 (7/5), 6-3; Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA) 6-3, 7-6 (7/2); Matthew Ebden (AUS) bt Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5; Robin Haase (NED) bt Yuichi Sugita (JPN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) bt Taylor Fritz (USA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4; Nicolas Jarry (CHI) bt Cameron Norrie (GBR) 7-6 (7/3), 6-2; Maximilian Marterer (GER) bt Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 6-4, 6-4; John Millman (AUS) bt Peter Gojowczyk (GER) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; Michael Mmoh (USA) bt Christopher Eubanks (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4; Benoit Paire (FRA) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2; Vasek Pospisil (CAN) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5); Joao Sousa (POR) bt Ryan Harrison (USA) 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4); Jiri Vesely (CZE) bt Lukas Lacko (SVK) 7-6 (7/2), 6-3; Mikael Ymer (SWE) bt Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1; Jared Donaldson (USA) bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 6-3, 6-4; Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Guido Pella (ARG) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2)
Women: 1st rd: Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Polona Hercog (SLO) 6-2, 6-0; Garbine Muguruza (ESP x3) bt Amanda Anisimova (USA) retired; Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) bt Madison Brengle (USA) 6-1, 6-4; Natalia Vikhlyantseva (RUS) bt Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 7-5, 6-1; Danielle Collins (USA) bt Irina-Camelia Begu (ROM) 6-1, 6-1; Naomi Osaka (JPN) bt Serena Williams (USA) 6-3, 6-2; Varvara Lepchenko (USA) bt Viktorija Golubic (SUI) 6-4, 5-7, 7-5; Oceane Dodin (FRA) bt Veronica Cepede Royg (PAR) 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3; Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Catherine Bellis (USA) 6-3, 6-0; Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE) bt Katie Boulter (GBR) 6-4, 7-5; Alize Cornet (FRA) bt Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 6-2, 7-5; Alison Riske (USA) bt Magda Linette (POL) 1-6, 6-0, 6-2; Wang Yafan (CHN) bt Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/0); Monica Niculescu (ROM) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-2, 6-4; Zarina Diyas (KAZ) bt Jennifer Brady (USA) 7-5, 7-6 (10/8); Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) bt Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4; Carina Witthoeft (GER) bt Tatjana Maria (GER) 6-3, 6-4; Donna Vekic (CRO) bt Camila Giorgi (ITA) 6-0, 7-5; Petra Martic (CRO) bt Lauren Davis (USA) 6-1, 7-5; Sofia Kenin (USA) bt Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 6-4, 6-4; Monica Puig (PUR) bt Samantha Stosur (AUS) 6-3, 6-4.
 


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