ZCZC
BSP-17
TENNIS-WTA-AUS
Osaka cruises as Konta sends Stephens packing
BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 1, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Reigning US Open champion
Naomi Osaka cruised past Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava to reach the
quarter-finals of the Brisbane International on Tuesday.
In a battle of two powerful ball strikers, the Japanese star was too
consistent for her rival, winning 6-3, 6-2 in just 68 minutes.
Osaka burst to prominence when she defeated Serena Williams to win the US
Open in September, becoming the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam
singles title.
She rose to number four in the world in October and finished the year
ranked fifth. She was a class above Aiava, who was able to put Osaka under
pressure at times, but was unable to do so often enough.
“I felt like I was playing a younger version of me,” the 21-year-old Osaka
said of her 18-year-old opponent.
“I felt like when I was playing her she sort of matched my power, which was
really surprising to me, because there’s not that many people that can do
that.”
Osaka added that she had felt the pressure of going into the match as
favourite.
“I was really nervous coming out here because I felt like this is one of
the matches I’m expected to win,” she said.
“But playing against someone like her who’s a bit unpredictable and very
strong, it was like one of those moments where I felt like I just have to
stay really calm, but I couldn’t. “So I’m just really happy that I could play
well.”
Earlier, Britain’s Johanna Konta sent third seeded American Sloane Stephens
packing with a straight sets win.
In a tough first round draw, Konta outlasted the 2017 US Open champion and
world number six 6-4, 6-3.
“She’s top 10 and she’s had an incredible couple of seasons,” Konta said.
“I definitely take a lot of good things from that and… a bit of a pat on
the back for me that I competed well against one of the best players in the
world and I came through.”
Konta will take on Alja Tomljanovic for a place in the quarter-finals after
the Australian came from a set down to beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 1-6, 6-
3, 6-0.
Belarus’s Aliaksandra Sasnovich will play top seed and defending champion
Elina Svitolina in the second round in a rematch of the 2018 final.
Sasnovich was too consistent for Russian qualifier Anastasia Potapova 6-4,
7-5.
Latvia’s eighth seed Anastasija Sevastova had an impressive 6-3, 6-3 win
over local favourite Daria Gavrilova, while fourth seeded Czech Petra Kvitova
survived a scare to down American Danielle Collins 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
BSS/AFP/RY/1907 hrs