Romp for Osaka; Pliskova stunned
NEW YORK: Naomi Osaka continued her charge towards a second US Open crown by thrashing Italian Camila Giorgi 61, 62 in the second round yesterday, while top seed Karolina Pliskova crashed out following a 61, 76 (72) loss to Caroline Garcia.
Osaka, who withdrew from her Western & Southern Open final last week with a left hamstring problem, walked on to the court with her leg wrapped in medical tape but was barely troubled in the lopsided match to set up a meeting with Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.
‘My serve was pretty good,’’ the 22yearold said after the match. ‘‘I’m really happy with my attitude. I thought I was really positive throughout.’’
Former world No 1 Pliskova had no answer to Garcia’s power and precision and her exit marked the worst display by a women’s top seed in the tournament since Simona Halep’s firstround defeat in 2018.
Czech sixth seed Petra Kvitova struck 33 winners in a dominant display to dispatch Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova 76 (73), 62.
Kazakhstan youngster Elena Rybakina, seeded 11th, failed to clear the secondround hurdle, losing 75, 61 to American
Shelby Rogers.
American Alison Riske, seeded 13th, was stunned by compatriot Ann Li in a 60, 63 secondround defeat.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich caused an upset in the women’s draw when she knocked out Czech 12th seed Marketa Vondrousova 61, 62 in the second round.
In the battle of the two Germans, 17th seed Angelique Kerber beat AnnaLena Friedsam 63, 76 (86) to move into round three.
In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic brushed aside Briton Kyle Edmund 67 (57), 63, 64, 62 after a slow start to improve his match record in 2020 to 250 and move into the third round on a hot, humid day at Flushing
Meadows.
It stands as the secondbest start to a season since the world No 1, who is chasing an 18th grand slam title, went 410 in 2011.
Also advancing was fifth seed Alexander Zverev, who overcame American wildcard Brandon Nakashima to seal a 75, 67 (810), 63, 61 victory Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas got past Maxime Cressy, beating the American 76 (72), 63, 64.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov, seeded 12th, surrendered the opening set against Kwon Soonwoo before blasting past the South Korean 67 (57), 64, 64, 62 to move into the third round.