NEW YORK: Four-times major champion Naomi Osaka powered into the US Open fourth round on Saturday with a 6-0 4-6 6-3 win over 15th seed Daria Kasatkina to continue her best Grand Slam run since 2021.
Osaka lit up Louis Armstrong Stadium in broad daylight, turning her third-round clash into a showcase of power and composure.
The Japanese player dominated early, absorbed a brief second-set wobble, and closed out the win to set up a blockbuster fourth-round showdown with American third seed Coco Gauff.
“Honestly, I was trying to tell myself to stay calm. I was so shaky today but I’m glad that it was an entertaining match,” Osaka said.
Whenever I come here it feels like home and you guys are very involved and I feel grateful, thank you.
“Can someone come to the match and cheer for me?,” the 27-year-old added. “I mean it’s kinda tough playing an American here but I hope you guys have adopted me. I kinda see her as a little sister so it’s cool to be playing her here.”
From the first point, Osaka looked sharp, putting pressure on Kasatkina with an early break gifted to her by a double fault before racing into a 3-0 lead.
Kasatkina’s delivery deserted her in the first set with eight double faults and only 25 percent of first serves landing as Osaka coolly dished out a bagel in 22 minutes.
Kasatkina, however, forced a decider after a scrappy second set riddled with breaks. Errors crept in on both sides, Osaka’s frustration surfaced, and Kasatkina steadied enough to seize the lead.
Seven service breaks kept the set on edge before the Russian-born player finally held her nerve to level the match.
Osaka, however, regained her composure in the third.
She saved a break point with two blistering winners and surged into a 3-1 lead before closing out the match to stay on course for a third US Open title.
Osaka shines to set up US Open last-16 clash with Gauff
https://arab.news/wy5q3
Osaka shines to set up US Open last-16 clash with Gauff
- Osaka lit up Louis Armstrong Stadium in broad daylight, turning her third-round clash into a showcase of power and composure
Campaigners demand action after 4 Premier League players racially abused on ‘appalling weekend’
- Anti-discrimination campaigners have bemoaned an “appalling weekend” in the Premier League after four players were targeted with racial abuse on their social media accounts following games
- It said “this has been an appalling weekend after four players called out the racist abuse they’ve received on social media. But the sad fact is, we know it happens regularly”
LONDON: Anti-discrimination campaigners bemoaned an “appalling weekend” in the Premier League after four players were targeted with racial abuse on their social media accounts following games.
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri shared images of racist messages they were sent privately over Instagram following their teams’ match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday that finished 1-1.
Wolverhampton striker Tolu Arokodare showed racially aggravated messages he received on Instagram after a 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace on Sunday, during which he had a penalty saved.
Sunderland said its winger, Romaine Mundle, was also subjected to “vile online racist abuse” after his substitute appearance in a 3-1 home loss to Fulham.
Kick It Out, a British-based anti-discrimination charity, repeated its calls for platforms to do more to address the problem.
“This has been an appalling weekend after four players called out the racist abuse they’ve received on social media. But the sad fact is, we know it happens regularly,” the organization said.
“The message from them is loud and clear: action must follow. Players cannot be expected to tolerate this behavior, and nor should anyone else.”
The Premier League also condemned the abuse of the players.
“There are serious consequences for anybody found guilty of discrimination and we will offer our full support with their investigations,” the competition said. “Football is for everyone — there is no room for racism.”
The 22-year-old Mundle has since deleted his Instagram account, the Sunderland Echo newspaper reported.
The incidents came days after UEFA began an investigation into claims by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior that he was racially abused on the field by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League game in Lisbon.
