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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, March 23, 2018

It was billed as a clash of power vs. precision.

Elina Svitolina played meticulous combinations picking Naomi Osaka apart, 6-4, 6-2, to reach the Miami Open third round.

Watch: Miami Open Live Blog

Svitolina snapped Osaka's eight-match winning streak handing the Indian Wells champion her first loss since the 23-year-old Ukrainian swept Osaka, 6-2, 6-4, en route to the Dubai title last month.




Because Miami Open seedings were done prior to Osaka rising 22 spots in the rankings to her current world No. 22, a second-round clash popped with second-week intensity for Svitolina.

"It was actually quite exciting," Svitolina said. "I like to go into the tournaments with little bit of stress. Then you're straight into the matches. Of course, not these kind of players. It was a little bit too much because, you know, just winning Indian Wells, she was pretty confident. Serena, obviously, we all know who she is, what she has behind her shoulders.

"Yeah, it was challenging. I'm very happy the way I handled this match today and the way I was playing. So, yeah, I'm very, very happy about it."

Afterward, Osaka said felt sick to her stomach during warm-up.

"She played really good. I tried to play the best that I can." Osaka said. "Other than that, I can't really say much. I didn't really feel that well today, so I'm just happy it was at least a little bit competitive.

"I wasn't tired. I think I'm probably a little bit sick or something...Like I need to throw up a lot."

The fourth-seeded Svitolina raised her 2018 record to 16-3, which is fourth on the WTA leader list for most wins behind Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki.

It was Svitolina's first Miami win since she edged Wozniacki in a third-set tiebreak in 2016.

Striking cleanly at the start, Svitolina stamped a love hold in her opening service game and broke for 2-1 when Osaka flew a forehand wide.

The 20-year-old Osaka represents Japan, but lives and trains in Florida. Empowered by her first career title in Indian Wells followed by her crushing conquest of 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in her Miami opener, Osaka looked a little lethargic at the start but was still cranking her groundstrokes.

Pouncing from a crouch, Osaka banged a backhand return winner down the line breaking back in the fourth game.

Finding her range on the down the line drive, Osaka slammed a forehand down the line and followed spinning her two-hander down the opposite sideline holding at 30 for 3-2.

Svitolina's ability to counter sharply from the edges of the court helped her work through a deuce hold and carve out her second break for 4-3.




In the 10th game, Osaka earned break point but stuck a low backhand into net. Svitolina dotted the sideline with a forehand to snatch her third straight set over Osaka this season.

"Work really hard to keep your depth," Svitolina's coach, Andrew Bettles told her. "Challenge her side-to-side, make her move. First ball, take it on when you take the opportunity really fight."

The fitter and fresher player, Svitolina played error-free tennis breaking to start the second set and quickly confirming the break.

Svitolina was just too steady for a depleted Osaka.

"I think she played well. Like, she always plays well," Osaka said. "I think every time I play her, her serve gets better. She's ranked as high as she is for a reason. I don't think I could have done better today to do anything special, so I'm pretty happy about how I did. Yeah, I think she's really great. She can probably go far."

Going down in the third game, Osaka turned and pressed her palm against the back wall as if seeking a reprieve. Svitolina sustained the depth and corner-to-corner direction of her drives scoring her second straight break for a 3-0 lead.




The Osaka serve is a major weapon, but Svitolina largely defused it winning 63 percent of points played on Osaka's second serve.

"Today was pretty good. I was on the ball almost all the time," Svitolina said. "Of course, she served some good serves, aces, because it's her game. She does it very good. That's why I had to accept sometimes and just move on. In the end, I know I was on the ball most of the time, was seeing the ball pretty good today."

Svitolina slid an ace down the middle for a love hold and 5-1 lead. Osaka saved match points forcing the Ukrainian to serve for the match in the eighth game.

A high forehand volley gave Svitolina a third match point. 

Svitolina closed with a stinging serve and will face Daria Gavrilova next.

The 26th-seeded Gavrilova topped Andrea Petkovic, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

 

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