Day 10 of Australian Open 2019, and the remaining quarter finals. Opening match on Rod Laver Arena was:
Naomi Osaka (4) (JPN) v Elina Svitolina (6) (UKR)
Osaka served first.
Svitolina returned well at first, but the final serves were too big and Osaka held for 1-0, finishing with an overhead winner.
Relying less on her serve and more on her running, movement, and variety of ground shots, Svitolina held easily for 1-1, even contributing an ace.
Two unforced errors were redressed by Osaka with an ace and forehand winner to lead 2-1. After exchanging unforced errors, Svitolina hit a forehand winner and Osaka a backhand winner. 30-30. Fine serve forcing a Japanese mistake and Svitolina held for 2-2.
Overhead winner and forehand winner by Osaka, plus a game ending ace and 3-2. No problems yet for either player. Forehand winner from Osaka followed by a better forehand producing an error. Two break points arose, and both disappeared through Osaka mistakes.
A third break chance, and a Svitolina wide forehand gave the game to Osaka who now led 4-2.
Three Osaka errors, one a forced backhand, and Svitolina had three break back points. One saved with an ace, but the second confirmed the break and Svitolina was back on serve 3-4.
Brilliant court coverage by Svitolina, reaching a drop shot to put away a forehand winner. A bad forehand miss by Svitolina and 15-30. A smart backhand winner from Osaka produced two break points, and another forced an error for the game. 5-3 and serving for the set.
Two Ukrainian errors - one forced - and 30-0. Three Japanese shockers in reply and a break point. A fourth Osaka failure and the fourth service break in succession. 4-5 for Svitolina.
Forehand winner and volley from Osaka, plus error from Svitolina and three set points. All vanished with Osaka unforced errors. Another one created with a smashing backhand return winner. This one was converted once Svitolina’s backhand failed to clear the net.
6-4 Osaka.
In the opening game of set two, with Osaka serving, the fourth seed hit a backhand winner and Svitolina a volley winner. 30-30. An ace for the game. 1-0. Two double faults, the first of the match for Svitolina, followed by an Osaka backhand winner. Three break points. A great serve saved one, but Osaka claimed the luck with a net cord and broke for 2-0.
Game point for Osaka after a disappointing Svitolina backhand. A similarly poor forehand also found the net and Osaka consolidated her break to lead 3-0.
Svitolina called for some treatment, and called a medical timeout.
After the timeout, Svitolina double double faulted and donated two break points to Osaka. A backhand Ukrainian winner and two Japanese errors saw a game point fall into Svitolina’s lap, but Osaka snatched it back with two forehand winners and created another break point. This one was worth it because Svitolina messed up a backhand and so Osaka had a double break and 4-0.
Surviving a break point, Osaka won her sixth straight game to lead 5-0.
Svitolina put a score on the board with a comfortable service hold, but it merely allowed Osaka to serve for the match at 5-1.
An ace brought up match point, and a forehand winner, one of 31 overall winners for the day, closed out the contest.
Naomi Osaka won 6-4 6-1 and booked a spot in the semi finals. Naomi also temporarily became the world number one player, surpassing both Petra Kvitová and Simona Halep who slipped to #2 and #3 for now in the live rankings.
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