NEW YORK (US) – The sharp serving and superior return game of Naomi Osaka helped her trounce rival Shelby Rogers of the US 6-3 6-4 and enter the semi-finals of the US Open on Tuesday. The Japanese champion is gunning for a second title at Flushing Meadows.
Osaka took a 5-3 lead in the first set where Rogers hit 16 unforced errors to the Japanese champion’s five and held serve to claim the set.
Osaka, who is fourth seeded, broke again early in the second set and claimed a 2-1 lead. She sealed her victory when Rogers dumped a forehand into the net on match point for her 28th unforced error.
“Honestly, I felt like she had the upper hand because I’d never beaten her and those memories are stuck in my head,” said Osaka, 22, who played with Rogers in 2017.
“So, yeah, I consider this a little bit of revenge.”
The Japanese player came into the arena with tape around her left thigh, but she said it was just a precautionary measure.