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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 22 September 2018

Osaka beats Strycova to reach

semifinals at Pan Pacific Open

By JIM ARMSTRONG ness in the first set. Giorgi double-faulted on the first
AP Sports Writer was leading 5-3 when the one to put Osaka ahead
TOKYO (AP) — Naomi match ended. 5-3.
Osaka raised her game The 20-year-old Osaka In the second set, double-
when she needed to, and converted all three of her faults again cost Strycova,
it landed her a spot in the break points and won 80 who was broken at 2-2.
semifinals of the Pan Pacific percent of points on her Osaka has been in the
Naomi Osaka of Japan returns a shot against Barbora Strycova Open. first serve. She hit 26 winners spotlight both on and off
of the Czech Republic during the quarterfinal match of the Pan The U.S. Open champion, and had an equal number the court since she arrived
Pacific Open women’s tennis tournament in Tokyo Friday, Sept.
21, 2018. who upset Serena Wil- of unforced errors. back in Japan following her
Associated PressA liams in the final in New “I feel like I adjusted,” victory in New York. Friday’s
York this month, won her Osaka said. “I knew that I match at Tachikawa Arena
ninth straight match Friday, wasn’t playing that great was sold old and Osaka’s
beating Barbora Strycova today, but I still adjusted progress up the rankings
6-3, 6-4. and I managed to win. I has been the focus of Jap-
“This was my third time never know why certain anese talk shows.
playing her, and each time things aren’t working, but I She has received con-
it was very close, so I knew feel like it’s my job to make gratulatory messages from
she was very good,” said sure that I do the best that I Japanese Prime Minister
the third-seeded Osaka, can in that situation.” Shinzo Abe and attended
the first Japanese player to Osaka broke the eighth- the ongoing sumo tourna-
win a Grand Slam singles seeded Strycova to take a ment in Tokyo. Also Friday,
title. 3-1 lead in the first set but fourth-seeded Karolina Plis-
Osaka will next face Cami- was soon broken back. kova defeated Alison Riske
la Giorgi, who advanced Leading 4-3, that’s when 6-1, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4). She will
after Victoria Azarenka Osaka took control. She next play Donna Vekic,
retired from their match immediately earned two who beat second-seeded
with a gastrointestinal ill- break points, and Strycova Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-4.q

Thiem, Wawrinka reach

St. Petersburg semifinals

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP)
— Top-seeded Dominic
Thiem and fit-again Stan
Wawrinka won their quar-
terfinal matches at the St.
Petersburg Open on Friday.
Austrian player Thiem
came through a tough
encounter against Daniil
Medvedev of Russia, firing
10 aces on his way to a 6-2,
3-6, 7-6 (2) victory.
His reward is a semifinal
with Roberto Bautista Agut
of Spain, who won 7-6 (0),
6-3 against Marco Cecchi-
nato. Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland returns the ball to Damir Dzumhur
Experienced Swiss Wawrin- of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the St. Petersburg Open ATP
ka, aiming for his first title tennis tournament quarter final match in St.Petersburg, Russia,
since sustaining a severe Friday, Sept. 21, 2018.
knee injury last year, next Associated Press
plays Martin Klizan of Slova- fending champion 6-3, 6-2 matches at WTA-level
kia after beating last year’s in a rain-delayed match at events.
St. Petersburg champion the Korea Open. The postponement from
Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-4. Ostapenko, the 2017 Thursday meant Alexan-
Alexandrova beats top- French Open champion, drova had to play her
seeded had reached the quarterfi- quarterfinal match later
Ostapenko at Korea Open nals or better at six tourna- Friday against sixth-seeded
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ments this year, including Hsieh Su-wei.
— Ekaterina Alexandrova the Wimbledon semifinals. Hsieh has won seven
broke top-seeded Jelena Alexandrova came into straight matches since
Ostapenko’s serve five the match with a 1-7 ca- winning last week’s Japan
times Friday to beat the de- reer record in round-of-16 Women’s Open.q