WTA Osaka: Naomi Osaka shines at home to lift the trophy
World no. 4 Naomi Osaka won the fourth WTA title in the hometown of Osaka, defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-3 in 69 minutes. After losing the previous two finals at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Naomi found the way to lift the trophy in Osaka, celebrating the first crown after the Australian Open, improving her chances of reaching the WTA Finals in Shenzhen. Osaka served at only 48% but there was nothing wrong with her initial shot, taking all 20 points after landing the first serve in and dropping just six points behind the initial stroke overall to mount all the pressure on the other side of the net.
The Russian was far from those numbers in her service games, losing 45% of the points and playing against 11 break chances, suffering three breaks to propel Naomi over the top and finish runner-up. Osaka held at 15 in the first game with a service winner, moving in front with a powerful forehand in the next game to grab a break and settle into a perfect rhythm. Another service winner gave the Japanese a 3-0 advantage, repeating that two games later for another hold at love and closing the set with a break at 15 in game eight after half an hour.
Thundering from both wings, Naomi moved 2-1 in front in the second set with an unreturned serve, landing a forehand winner a few minutes later to grab a break and increase the lead to a 3-1. Four winners sent Osaka 4-1 in front and she created three break chances that could have sent her further in front. Pavlyuchenkova won five points in a row to escape and reduce the deficit, powerless on the return again in game seven after four winners from the home favorite who wasted three match points on the return in game eight, serving for the title at 5-3. Three winners in that ninth game propelled Osaka over the top, lifting the trophy after an incredible performance, one of the best in 2019 that hasn't been that good for her after Melbourne.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/32UI1jo
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