No bother for Naomi after shock defeat
Naomi Osaka said that she e is not worried after the world No. o. 1 was shocked in the second round nd at the Dubai Tennis Championships. ips.
The two-time Grand Slam champion was convincingly incingly beaten 6-3, 6-3 by Kristina Mladenovic in her first match since nce she memorably won the Australian ustralian Open last month — her second consecutive Slam success.
Heading into the clash there was much talk about her lack of action and her split with ith coach Sascha Bajin. She he said there was nothing to o the split with Bajin other r than “happiness was more important than success.”
But having been easily beaten by the Dubai-based Frenchwomen, Osaka said third, which I started with my serve. Obviously it was better, but still I was down 40-15. I turned it around, I don’t know how, but I did. It was really important.”
Those hardly sound like words of someone confident they will be lifting the trophy on Saturday evening. Having spent more than five hours on court in her two matches so far, Kvitova was quick to dismiss the idea that she has an advantage heading into the later stages — there being no danger she starts her quarterfinal against Viktoria Kuzmova undercooked.
“I don’t think (two long matches will help),” Kvitova said.
“(But) I didn’t really have many days of practice ( before the first that she was not troubled by her form form.
“T “The Australian Open was not even a month ago,” Osaka said. “I mea mean, this was just one match. I feel like even if I don’t win any mat matches for the rest of the year, I wou wouldn’t say I’m concerned.
“I think I’m pretty young. I still feel like I have a lot to learn.”
Th The Japanese star, who became the first Asian woman to reach the su summit of the rankings, added th that the shock defeat might a actually work in her favor.
“For me, that’s sort of my biggest thing after this match. I think I play well after I lose a sort of bad match,” the 21-yearold said.
“I’m just looking forward to the next tournament.
“Before the US Open (which s she won), I lost those three ma matches in a row. I was just thin thinking, like, ‘wow, am I ever goin going to do anything in my life?’” round), to be honest.
“I wasn’t really that prepared for this tournament.”
Meanwhile, Simona Halep revealed she is feeling in good form as she goes in search of a first Dubai title since 2015. The Romanian made light work of Lesia Tsurenko, winning 6-3, 7-5.
“My mindset now is just to finish the points as quickly as possible. I’m trying to be more aggressive,” the former world No. 1 said.
“Maybe it’s a good thing, and I have to learn for when I’m ready to play. I’m more relaxed. I don’t put pressure on myself.
“I feel good on court. I feel that my game is pretty strong. Yeah, I feel close to my highest level.”