Naomi Osaka explains why she really wants to make deep run at Tokyo Olympics

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka insists she is really happy to represent her country at the Tokyo Olympics. 

Osaka, ranked at No. 2 in the world, stormed into the Tokyo Olympics round-of-16 following a 6-3 6-2 win over Swiss Viktorija Golubic. 

“All in all, I’m just really happy to be here. I haven’t been in Tokyo for a couple of years," Osaka said, per Tennis365. 

Osaka, who is playing her first tournament since the French Open, is aiming to win gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. 

Osaka hasn't played much this year but she managed to win the Australian Open at the beginning of the year. 

“I put this pressure on myself to do well because I know that I don’t play that many tournaments and I feel like I watched these players playing the tournaments while I was on my break so I just really, really want to do well,” she said.

“I feel like as long as I work hard, relatively keep my head down, then good things will happen. For me, it’s dream to be here, to play the Olympics. This is my first one, so I’m just trying to cherish this experience.”

Osaka routinely handled Golubic 

The first break points were seen in the eighth game, when Osaka realized her third break point to take a 5-3 lead.

In the following game, Osaka saved a break point before converting her first set point to win the opener. 

After winning the first set, Osaka started the second set with back-to-back breaks and a 4-0 lead. 

Golubic ended Osaka's seven-game run in the fifth game ot the second set to reduce the deficit to 4-1. 

However, Osaka kept her focus as she routinely served out for the match in the eighth game. 

Osaka will be fighting Czech Marketa Vondrousova for a place in the Tokyo quarterfinal. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3kZoL0p