Japanese 19-year-old rising star Naomi Osaka upset second seed and world number 5 Venus Williams 7-5 6-2 at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. Osaka avenged her recent defeat against Williams, who beat her younger Japanese rival at Wimbledon last July.
Osaka scored her second win of her career against a top 10 player after beating Angelique Kerber at this year’s US Open.
Williams got an early break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead as Osaka made a double fault. The 37-year-old legend looked to be in control of her serve, but Osaka brought up two break points, as Williams was seving out for the first set. Osaka converted her second break point to draw level to 5-5 with her return. After holding her serve Osaka converted her first break point to close out the first set by 7-5.
Osaka got an early break to take the break in the second game of the second set to open up a 2-0 lead. She rallied from 15-40 down to get a double break at deuce for 4-0. The young Japanese player made two double faults but held her serve at deuce to race out to 5-0. Williams won her first game of the second set to avoid the bagel with two aces before getting one break back, as Osaka was serving for the match. Osaka earned two match points, as Williams made a double fault and sealed the win on her first break opportunity.
Osaka set up a quarter finals against Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova, who saw off Jacqueline Cako 7-6 (7-3) 6-1.
“I feel like even if I hit one semi short ball, she would come in and crush it, so I had to play really well”, said Osaka.
Samantha Stosur came back from one set down to beat Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6 6-4 6-0. Radwanska earned the first break of the match. Stosur tried to fight back but Radwanska managed to hold her serve
Radwanska got another break in the third break of the second set but Stosur broke straight back in the next game with her forehand and held her serve to take the edge. Radwanska earned two break point chances at 4-4 but Stosur earned another break to seal the second set 6-4. The Australian player reeled off eight consecutive games from 4-4 in the second set to take a bagel win in the decider, as Radwanska won just nine points. Stosur earned two match points, as Radwanska made a double fault. The Pole saved the first match point, but Stosur sealed the win on her second opportunity to secure her spot in the quarter final.
Daria Gavrilova overcame the loss of the second set to beat Shelby Rogers 6-2 2-6 6-2. Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova edged Jacqueline Cako 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.
