By Alberto Amalfi | Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Top-seeded Naomi Osaka surged into her third quarterfinal in her last four events, while Angelique Kerber snapped a four-match losing streak in Osaka.
Photo credit: Toray Pan Pacific Open
Naomi Osaka overcame an unsteady start with a forceful finish thrilling hometown fans surging into the Osaka quarterfinals.
The top-seeded Osaka won 10 of her last 11 service points defeating Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova 7-5, 6-3 to reach the last eight at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
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The two-time Grand Slam champion dropped her opening two service games falling into a 0-3 hole. Osaka answered with three service breaks, including a love break to snatch the opening set.
The 21-year-old Japanese reeled off 12 of the final 13 points to charge into her third quarterfinal in her last four events following runs to the last eight in Toronto and Cincinnati.
Continuing her quest for her first title since she won the Australian Open in January, Osaka will play Yulia Putintseva or Russian qualifier Varvara Flink for a place in the final four.
In July, Putintseva swept Osaka, 7-6(4), 6-2, in the opening round of Wimbledon.
No. 4-seeded Angelique Kerber snapped a four-match losing streak scoring her first win since Wimbledon with a 6-2, 6-4 decision over American qualifier Nicole Gibbs.
"The goal now is to finish the year as well as I can, to put all the energy which I have into this run in Asia and to play well in the next few weeks," Kerber told the media in Osaka.
The 31-year-old Kerber will play another American, Madison Keys, next.
The fifth-seeded Keys conquered Zarina Diyas 5-7, 6-0, 6-4.