Ukrainian giant-killer
Polish star closes in on third Pan Pacific Open crown
Elina Svitolina of Ukraine screams in delight after beating Spanish top seed Garbine Muguruza (left) during the women’s singles quarter-finals at the Pan Pacific Open women’s tennis tournament in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. Svitolina defeated the French Open champion 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 and will face Japan’s Naomi Osaka for a place in the final.
TOKYO: Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska made light work of Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig, beating the Puerto Rican 6-2, 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
The 27-year-old Pole served up eight aces, hit 16 winners and made just 10 unforced errors during the one hour and 16 minute encounter.
“I was serving well and keeping the ball very well ... I just felt like John Isner for a little bit there,” Radwanska, who is eyeing her third Pan Pacific Open title, said in an on-court interview.
World No. 4 Radwanska will take on former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who also put in a strong performance yesterday to beat Magda Linette 6-4, 6-3.
Naomi Osaka of Japan beat Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) to set up a semi-final match against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, who upset world No. 3 Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
The 18-year-old Osaka was 5-0 down in the second set but clawed her way back to reach her first semi-final at the Pan Pacific Open.
Svitolina and Osaka have played twice before, with each winning once. — Reuters