By Tennis Now | Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Qualifier Alison Riske sent shockwaves through the Tokyo field surprising sixth-seeded GarbiƱe Muguruza, 6-1, 6-2, to power into the Toray Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals.
It was the flat-hitting American's fourth straight-sets win of the week, including a pair of qualifying victories.
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Riske, who swept Eugenie Bouchard in her first-round match, scored her third Top 20 victory of the season.
Muguruza put a backhand into net as Riske gained the double break and a 4-1 lead.
Two games later, Riske ripped a diagonal forehand winner for triple set point.
The two-time Grand Slam champion netted another backhand down the line as Riske sealed a one-set lead on a five-game tear.
Continuing to drive flat strikes into the corners, Riske raced to a 4-1 second-set lead.
Fortune favored Riske late in the second set. A full-stretch forehand return collided with the tape and crawled over giving her the break and a 5-1 lead.
"It's definitely exciting," Riske said. "I was just really happy with how I played. I felt like I was really solid today and I'm just excited to be here another day.
"I think I was able to keep my composure throughout the match. I felt like I started the match with a really high level and I was able to maintain it for the whole match. I'm really happy overall."
Riske will play Karolina Pliskova for a semifinal spot.
Pliskova won four straight games to fight past Daria Gavrilova, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The 2016 US Open finalist squandered a 4-1 first-set lead as Gavrilova surged through six straight games for a 6-4, 1-0 lead.
"The first set was in my hands but I made some stupid mistakes," Pliskova said. "I tried to stay positive and even though I broke my racquet I tried to keep fighting because you always have a chance."
Pliskova broke in the fifth game of the second set then crushed a crosscourt forehand to confirm the break for 4-2.
The Czech won the final four games of the match wrapping up a tough two hour, 21-minute victory.
US Open champion Naomi Osaka made a triumphant Tokyo return.
The 20-year-old Japanese swept Dominika Cibulkova, 6-2, 6-1.
"I didn't really feel any pressure," Osaka said. "It was really difficult because she's such a great player but I just thought it was more fun."
The third-seeded Osaka will play either eighth-seeded Barbora Strycova or Anett Kontaveit for a place in the final four.
No. 2-seeded Caroline Garcia ousted Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, and will play either Johanna Konta or Donna Vekic in the quarterfinals.