Gippsland Trophy: Naomi Osaka Enters Semifinals

Gippsland Trophy Naomi Osaka: Ahead of the Australian Open 2021, in full attacking mode, World number three Naomi Osaka on Friday entered the semifinals at the Gippsland Trophy after securing a 7-5, 6-1 win over Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania.

Osaka beat Begu in a hard-fought match that lasted for 76 minutes. The former World No.1, who won the Australian Open in 2019, will take on either No.3 seed Elina Svitolina or No.7 seed Elise Mertens in the final four. With the win, Osaka extended her winning streak to 14 consecutive match-wins.

Gippsland Trophy Naomi Osaka

.@naomiosaka takes the opening set, 7-5!#GippslandWTA pic.twitter.com/kEOQrAL0OI

— wta (@WTA) February 5, 2021

The reigning US Open champion has not faced a defeat since Sara Sorribes Tormo upset her at Billie Jean King Cup 12 months ago. To reach the quarter-finals, Osaka had earlier beat Great Britain’s Katie Boulter.

The final four are almost set!@naomiosaka and Ekaterina Alexandrova both advance with their wins at the #GippslandWTA --> https://t.co/RpVaJFiUEC pic.twitter.com/SVIxlpDbI9

— wta (@WTA) February 5, 2021

"My opponent today, she was really tricky for me," the WTA website quoted the No.2 seed Osaka as saying after the match. "I’ve never played her before, so just to be able to not have to play that 10-point tiebreaker, for me, I’m really relieved."

The Australian Open favourite Osaka is seeking a fourth Grand Slam title. The Japanese national has won a total of six titles in her career.

The first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles, Osaka won her last major and second US Open in 2020, arriving for each of her matches wearing a face mask with the name of a different people who reprtedly died due to racial injustice.

She held the title of the Highest-Paid Female Athlete by Forbes last year. Off the court, she has been protesting against racial injustice and the death of Breonna Taylor, an African-American who was shot dead by cops last year in May, and also the death of George Floyd. She was also adjudged Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year.

She now ramps up preparations for the Australian Open starting Monday.

Feature Image Credit: Skysports