Osaka, Venus through at China Open
NAOMI Osaka and Venus Williams both advanced to the second round of the China Open yesterday.
The No. 4-seeded Japanese won 76 percent of first serves and hit 26 winners in her 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over unseeded American Jessica Pegula.
“I just felt like this match, I was kind of living in the moment every point. I wasn’t really thinking too much in the future, too much in the past,” said Osaka.
The reigning Australian Open champion won the fourth title of her career in Osaka last week. She will next play qualifier Andrea Petkovic of Germany, who beat Swiss Jil Teichmann 7-6 (4), 6-3 to advance.
American Williams defeated Czech Barbora Strycova 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in 2 hours and 33 minutes to reach the round of 32.
The seven-time major winner converted three of four break points and rallied back from 3-5 down in the third set for the win.
“My strategy is always basically to dominate. Basically, whoever does that usually wins,” William said.
It was a promising start for Williams, who had managed just four wins in her previous six China Open appearances. Williams will face Belinda Bencic of Switzerland next.
Wimbledon champion Simona Halep also advanced, beating Rebecca Peterson of Sweden 6-1, 6-1 in just an hour and 11 minutes.
Halep was forced to withdraw from Wuhan last week due to a back injury, the same issue that sidelined her at the end of 2018.
“I was a little bit down before this tournament because it’s happening again, like last year,” said the Romanian. “I’m really happy I could win. The way I played makes me happier.”
No. 3-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine came back from a set down to beat Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-2, while American Sloane Stephens beat Magda Linette of Poland 7-5, 6-3.
In Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Pablo Carreno Busta claimed his first ATP title in more than two years after outlasting Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik to win the Chengdu Open yesterday.
The 28-year-old Spaniard collapsed to his knees after prevailing in just over 2 gruelling hours, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3).
The world No. 63’s last title on the ATP Tour came at Estoril, Portugal, in May 2017.
The triumph in China was his fourth career crown.
Bublik, 22, ranked 71st, had been chasing a maiden ATP title.
In Zhuhai, southern Guangdong Province, Alex de Minaur of Australia won his third ATP title of a breakout year with victory over France’s Adrian Mannarino in the final of the inaugural Zhuhai Championships yesterday.
The 20-year-old, who defeated former No. 1 Andy Murray in the last 16, won 7-6 (4), 6-4 in a little over 2 hours.
Ranked 31 in the world, De Minaur has been imperious in southern China all week and broke the lower-ranked Frenchman in the 10th game of the second set to seal his victory.
De Minaur adds Zhuhai to titles in Atlanta and Sydney this year.
(Agencies)