Osaka says better focus behind stellar run
BEIJING: Her chopstick skills might not be the best but Naomi Osaka says an improvement in her focus is behind a run of success that culminated in winning the US Open.
The 20-year-old, who stunned Serena Williams to win her maiden Grand Slam last month, was devastating against 10th seed Julia Goerges of Germany on Thursday, winning 6-1, 6-2 in 65 minutes to speed into the
Osaka, the eighth seed in Beijing, similarly thrashed unseeded American Danielle Collins 6-1, 6-0 in the previous round and is showcasing the ruthlessness that saw her beat Williams in
The Japanese will face home hope Zhang Shuai in the last eight in the Chinese capital after Zhang pulled off a shock in defeating three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber.
China Open organisers have had the players competing in a “chopstick challenge” and Zhang and the Ger-
a 138 total and a whopping five- stroke lead over fellow Taiwanese Chen Szu-Han and Yu Pei-Lin, who shot 69 and 73, respectively, and Jackie Chulya and Poruangrong, who turned in 72 and 75, respectively, for 143s. Superal, three behind after 18 holes of play, stayed within striking distance despite a 37 start but reeled farther back with a couple of missed birdie putts and backto-back bogeys from No. 15. She wo u n d up with a birdie-less 75 for a 145, which Rod r i g u e z man Kerber are currently winning.
Told that she was well behind both with her score, Osaka joked: “We’re not talking about that.
“Come on, with Shuai, let’s face it... But the thing is, I hold chopsticks in a weird way anyways.”
Turning more serious, the world number six, said: “On the court I have to think ‘focus’ because it’s not something that’s natural to me.
“It’s something that I’ve been working on throughout this whole
to get into the mix with a twounder 70 Wednesday.
But there was no big windup for back-to-back winner of LPGT Highlands and Riviera last March as conditions turned from bad to
also needing to deal with the biting cold spawned by rain showers in the closing holes.
Chen Meng-Chu blew an opening 34 with a 38 for a second 72 and 144 for joint sixth with Thai Supamas Sangchan, who rallied with a 70.
Rodriguez, a former three-time LPGT Order of Merit winner, celebrated in jest as she turned in her scorecard that yielded an eagle and two birdies against two double-bogeys.
“I’ve got no bogeys,” she paused. “But made two double-bogeys,”
She actually set in motion her rebound bid from an opening 73 with an eagle on the par-5 No. 3 but gave up the strokes just as quickly with a 6 on the next. After a par on No. 5, she dropped two strokes again the long, daunting par-4 sixth but birdied the par-5 seventh and got another stroke on No. 10 before settling for pars the
Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a return during her women’s singles third round match against Julia Goerges of Germany at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 4. 45 emerged from a see-saw battle with third seed Kerber.
6-1, before reigning Wimbledon champion Kerber fought back to win the second 6-2.
Zhang stepped up a gear in the decider, taking the set with a comprehensive 6-0 to thrill the home crowd.
Kerber said that she had been troubled by a problem with her right knee, but refused to blame that for the defeat.
“I was not feeling the best at the beginning of the match, but then I was playing better and better,” said the 30-year-old.
“At the end she played a good third set — she took her chances and played a really solid match.”