OSAKA MAKES A FINAL POINT
Japanese star through but gallant Konta crashes out
NAOMI OSAKA made a big on-court statement by reaching the final of the Western & Southern Open yesterday as Jo Konta crashed out.
The Japanese star refused to play her semi-final against Elise Mertens on Thursday as a protest at the shooting of Jacob Blake in America – and walked out on court in New York wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt yesterday.
And despite confessing she had struggled to sleep and felt nervous, the world No10 confirmed her status as a contender for next week’s US Open by beating the Belgian 6-2, 7-6.
Osaka, whose father is from Haiti, said: “For me it has been a little bit stressful. I couldn’t really sleep last night so I’m really glad I was able to play at a pretty good level.”
The 2018 US Open winner, who saved eight break points in the ninth game of the second set, added: “Honestly, I’m glad I didn’t mentally collapse. I was
down a break in the second. I got really tight in the tiebreak too. This is my first tournament back so I’m really glad I’m playing well.”
Wildcard Osaka will meet Victoria Azarenka in today’s final after the world No59 came back to beat Konta 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The Belarussian had considered quitting after missing the Australian Open for “personal reasons” and lost her two previous WTA Tour matches this year before this week.
But the former world No1 broke the British star for the first time in the tournament in the second set – and five times in all - before cruising to victory.
It is her best result – and first big final – since the birth of her son Leo in December 2016. She has since faced injuries and a custody battle over her son.
Both 2018 US Open winner Osaka and Azarenka, who twice won the Australian Open, will be contenders for the American Grand
Slam, which starts on Monday with six of the top eight not competing.
Konta, who reached the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows last year, will start her campaign with a first-round match against Heather Watson.
Konta refused to blame her defeat after only finding out her semi-final would be delayed at 9.15pm local time on Wednesday night. “I think the mantra of 2020 is just ‘Roll with the punches’,” she said.
“So in terms of having this kind of disruption, I think it is actually on quite a small scale compared to the other disruptions we have had during the year. I just used the day to recover.”
Former British
No1 Laura Robson said the match against Watson was silly. “It is not ideal for them and it is not ideal for British tennis. You travel halfway across the world and join this bubble only to play someone who you have played so many times over the past couple of months.”
Meanwhile, Andy Murray says he feels safe in New York. “Here the situation is not any worse than it would be in the UK,” he said. “I understand why players wouldn’t travel, but I feel safe.”