Anastasija Sevastova is now the Latvian number one female tennis player, overtaking Jelena Ostapenko. This has happened because of her outstanding performance in the Premier Mandatory category China Open in Beijing.
Anastasija played Naomi Osaka (8) in one of the Beijing semi finals, and despite Naomi being in hot form - bidding to become the first woman in 2018 to reach three consecutive finals - she had lost to Anastasija in the only meeting between the pair this year (Doha, February)
Osaka has developed her power game to such an extent, that most opponents cannot find sufficient antidotes to its venom.
Sevastova, however, employed a variety of slice, spin and depth to create a serious contest in the opening set of the semi final.
Osaka knew early that she was in for a test, as she had to save three break points in game three, her strong serve coming to the rescue. Game six saw deuce visited six times, and it was Sevastova who needed to save break points - two of them. Three of her six aces in set one were delivered in this game.
The next game offered the first and only service break for the set, as Osaka errors were constantly contributed off both wings.
Sevastova progressed to 6-4, an ace sealing the deal.
A frustrated Osaka was broken in the fifth game of set two, errors once more flowing from her misbehaving racquet. Sevastova let two chances to grab a double break, and lead 5-2, slip away. Osaka built on this escape by actually hitting some big shots into the court, the backhand back in vogue.
Sevastova double faulted on game point and 4-3, and subsequently dropped serve. 4-4.
The Japanese backhand decided to backfire again, and the beneficiary was Latvian. Anastasija led 5-4, and served for the match.
No more twists in the match, as a winning down the line backhand highlighted the last game, Anastasija Sevastova defeating Naomi Osaka 6-4 6-4.
The first final at this elite level for Sevastova.
- Caroline Wozniacki (2) defeated wildcard Qiang Wang 6-1 6-3, and will play Anastasija Sevastova in the final
ATP Beijing semis
- Juan Martin del Potro (1) received a walkover from Fabio Fognini (4)
- Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Kyle Edmund (5) 7-6(6) 6-4, and will play Juan Martin del Potro in the final
ATP Tokyo semis
- Qualifier Daniil Medvedev defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-3 6-3
- Kei Nishikori (3) defeated Richard Gasquet (8) 7-6(2) 6-1, and will play Daniil Medvedev in the final
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