Osaka beats Strycova to reach semis

Naomi

Osaka raised her game when she needed to, and it landed her a spot in the semi-finals of the Pan Pacific Open.

The US Open champion, who upset Serena Williams in the final in New York at the beginning of the month, won her ninth straight match yesterday, beating Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-4. “This was my third time playing her, and each time it was very close, so I knew she was very good,” said the third-seeded Osaka, the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title. Osaka will next face Camila Giorgi. (AP)