Osaka powers into China Open quarters, Zhang upsets Kerber

BEIJING: Naomi Osaka maintained her strong form since winning the US Open by reaching the China Open quarter-finals by crushing Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-2.

Osaka made a slow start, saving a break point and enduring five deuces in the eight-minute first game yesterday. But she broke Goerges’ serve in the next game and raced to 5-0 lead.

Osaka won four consecutive points on Goerges’ serve to open the second set and rolled on.

When asked why she’s risen into the top 10 this year, Osaka said: “I think my biggest improvement is mental.

“My game is more consistent, there are not so many unforced errors. I’m not sure how many I hit today, but sometimes last year I was hitting a lot.”

In the quarter-finals, Osaka will play Zhang Shuai (pic), who came back from a set down to defeat third-ranked Angelique Kerber 6-1, 2-6, 6-0.

This is Osaka’s second tournament since she defeated Serena Williams in the US Open final on Sept 8. In the first tournament last week, she got to the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo.

Also, 2010 champion Caroline Wozniacki beat Anett Kontaveit 7-5, 6-4 and qualified for the WTA Finals, where she will be the defending champion.

On the men’s side, fourth-seeded Fabio Fognini downed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-3, and Marton Fucsovics of Hungary beat Marco Cecchinato of Italy 6-4, 6-2.