The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Osaka powers into first slam semi-final
Dominant display sweeps young talent into last four
Naomi Osaka needed just 57 minutes to defeat Lesia Tsurenko at the US Open in New York to race into her first grand slam semi-final.
In a meeting between two first-time slam quarter-finalists it was Osaka who produced much the better display, winning 6-1 6-1.
The 20-year-old Japanese-American has been earmarked as a future star for several years and made her big breakthrough earlier this season by winning the big WTA Tour event in Indian Wells.
But this has been her best run on the biggest stage and, after a real battle in the last round against fellow young gun Aryna Sabalenka, Osaka returned to her dominance of the first three matches.
She said: “It means a lot. I was freaking out inside. My entire body was shaking so I was really glad I was able to play well today.”
Osaka had lost just seven games in reaching the fourth round and was simply far too good for Tsurenko, who struggled badly in the heat in beating Marketa Vondrousova two days before and could not find anything like her best form here.
The heat was again intense and the Ukrainian, through to this stage for the first time in her 29th slam, could not find her first serve and hit 31 unforced errors compared to just 10 winners.
Osaka, who next faces either Madison Keys or Carla Suarez Navarro, is the first Japanese woman to reach the last four at a slam since Kimiko Date at Wimbledon 22 years ago.
Rafael Nadal admitted was delighted, relieved – and sorry – after winning one of the great US Open night-session matches against Dominic Thiem on Wednesday.
Twenty-four hours after Roger Federer fell to John Millman, his old rival avoided following him out of the tournament, but only just, completing a 0-6 6-4 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5) victory at 2.03am.
Ninth seed Thiem became the first player since Andy Roddick in 2004 to win a love set against Nadal in New York but the defending champion again dug deep to come out on top of a gruelling battle in more punishing humidity.
Nadal said: “It was very demanding in all aspects. It was a very tough start for me. After that first set, then the match became more normal. A tough match against a great opponent.
“It was physically demanding because the conditions were tough out there, too. And I played against a great opponent. He played a good match. Sorry for him. He’s a top guy.
“I’m sad for him because when this moment arrived, he did all the things well to win the match. Me, too, I think. I fought until the end.
“I’m happy, of course, to be in the semi-finals again. It means a lot to me. It’s good to have now two days that probably give me the chance to be 100% in the semi-finals.”
Remarkably, Thiem was the first top20 player Nadal has faced at Flushing Meadows since his final win over Novak Djokovic in 2013.
The 25-year-old Austrian was heartbroken but proud, saying: “It’s going to be stuck in my mind forever.
“It’s cruel sometimes tennis, because I think this match didn’t really deserve a loser.
“Of course, now I’m devastated a little bit. But in a few days I will look back and will remember how great it was to play in front of a packed Arthur Ashe this great match.”
Nadal moves forward to a clash with
Juan Martin del Potro, who beat John Isner, in a rematch of last year’s semifinal.
Del Potro’s victory was no walk in the park either, the Argentinian battling through strength-sapping heat to win 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.
The popular third seed will now attempt to take a step he has not managed since winning his only grand slam title here nine years ago and reach another final.
He said: “I have my trophy at home. I like to see that trophy every single day. I don’t know if I can get a new one, but I’m doing all my best to try to get it again.”