US Open 2018: Naomi Osaka beats Lesia Tsurenko to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final
Last updated on .From the section Tennis
| 2018 US Open |
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| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 27 August-9 September Coverage: Live radio coverage on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website |
Japan's Naomi Osaka reached her first Grand Slam semi-final with a dominant victory over Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko at the US Open in New York.
The 20-year-old will play American 14th seed Madison Keys, last year's beaten finalist, after she defeated Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4 6-3.
Osaka won 6-1 6-1 against her unseeded opponent in 58 minutes.
"I was freaking out inside," said Osaka. "My entire body was shaking, so I'm glad I was able to play well."
The 20th seed becomes the first Japanese woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since Kimiko Date at Wimbledon in 1996.
Keys, beaten by Sloane Stephens in the final 12 months ago, is the highest seed left in the women's draw.
"I felt good," she said. "Being out in front of an energetic crowd is always fun."
Six-time champion Serena Williams faces Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova in the other semi-final on Thursday.
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'I'm less emotionally drained'
Despite injuries holding her back on the WTA Tour this season, 23-year-old Keys has stepped up in the major tournaments by reaching at least the quarter-finals in three of the four Slams - Angelique Kerber is the only other woman to achieve the feat this year.
And she had too much quality for 30-year-old Suarez Navarro, who was superb in beating Maria Sharapova on Monday.
A single break was enough in each set, one in the final game of the first and another for a 4-2 lead in the second, for victory.
There was a slight wobble as she produced a double fault on match point but, with the home crowd behind her on a noisy Arthur Ashe Stadium, Keys saved a break point before sealing victory when Suarez Navarro pushed a forehand into the tramlines.
"I feel like last year a lot of my matches were kind of emotional roller coasters, and this year I feel like I have been much more solid mentally," she said.
"In tougher times I'm keeping my cool a little bit better and not having to have the big emotional swing to kind of try to get back into matches.
"I'm a lot less emotionally drained this year."
Osaka dominates as Tsurenko struggles
Both Osaka and Tsurenko were competing in their first Slam quarter-final but the Ukrainian failed to settle and looked physically drained.
Osaka, regarded as one of the best young players in the game, broke Tsurenko's first service game and powered to the first set in 26 minutes before racing into a 4-0 lead in the second.
Tsurenko then held serve and brought up three break points in the following game but failed to convert and double-faulted twice in the final game to hand Osaka victory.
Osaka did not celebrate the winning point following criticism of her reaction to her fourth-round win.
"The other time I cried a little bit and a lot of people made fun of me," she said.
American tennis legend Billie Jean King took to Twitter to defend the Japanese player.
"Naomi Osaka - I'm terribly sorry you were teased for crying following your US Open victory. Never, ever be afraid to be your authentic self. #champion," tweeted King.
Tsurenko said that poor health meant she was not in peak condition for the match.
"I just woke up with a viral illness or whatever it is," the 29-year-old said. "I don't know what happened, but my throat is not well. I'm not breathing well."
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What is wrong with you people ... really ?
She’s achieved a Slam Semi ..so far...which is much more than some of the vile comments posted.on here by so many have ever achieved in life !
How can you comment on something u hate watching, yet watch it anyway ..or did you?
Hypocrites !
Good luck to her
You really must not be comfortable in your man hood. All you so is try to belittle women you must really feel threatened by them.... .
Lesia Tsurenko get a look in. The Osaka serve is solid and her return is accurate. She lacks power but makes up for it with finesse.
Great to see two Japanese players in the men/women semi-finals Kei Nishikori put up a great performance against Cilic.
Osaka has been threatening to win a slam all year, I haven't really seen her play here, but her Indian Wells performance was mighty. She also seems to be handling the conditions better than the other players, so she has a great chance of picking up her first slam title.
Keys 4-6 6-4 6-3
Osaka 6-3 6-3
Serena 6-1 6-0
Suarez Navarro 6-2 6-2
Mertens 6-2 6-1
just not at the right time. Don't give up on Konta yet. She just needs a decent draw for once.
I was extremely disappointed by Jelena Ostapenko's error strewn blast at Wimbledon earlier this year, and you can see why playing safe and consistent wins ranking points.
I just hope that there will be another Graf, Henin, Hingis, or Navratilova, who wins by style and class, not just overpowering the opponent.
you’re going to be seething when you find out the football is only in play for half an hour of the ninety minutes, that’s another hour of your own time you’ve wasted, channel your rage with a walk in the park and some breathing exercises to take down your blood presssure
If talent & current ability are the measure, Osaka is a shoo-in.
One last point: Where are all the fans? Winbledon is perpectually packed out but this US open regularly shows 3/4 empty stadiums.
Is that just the heat, or don’t they care anymore?
Is there no air-con???
Serena has a record slam victories to achieve to level with the all time record holder of 24 wins.
Nevertheless I will be very happy for Naomi of course .