Osaka Cruises Past Svitolina to Continue National Bank Open Success
Four-time Grand Slam Champion Naomi Osaka put on an impressive performance under the Center Court lights tonight in the National Bank Open, formerly known as the Rogers Cup. Coming fresh from her breezy 6-1, 6-0 victory against Latvian Anastasija Sevastova in the previous round, Osaka was much in the same form against the Ukrainian French Open Quarterfinalist Elina Svitolina. Svitolina has had a smooth-sailing tournament so far, winning all of her prior matchups in straight sets. Svitolina was seeded 10th in the tournament, while Osaka was unseeded, a result of her recent series of injuries and early losses in various other tournaments.
From the very first point of the match, Osaka was comfortable and in control in all of the lengthy, contested rallies, able to end them all with powerful winners at will—from each wing, without discrimination, leaving Svitolina scraping. With this command, Osaka was quickly able to run ahead in the first set 5-1. However, Svitolina dug in deep and fought back in the rallies, following Osaka’s blindingly fast balls with impossibly fast angled returns of her own—particularly on her backhand. Despite this valiant effort to raise her level, Osaka kept steady and found herself with the first set in the form of a break, with assistance from another unforced error from Svitolina. An emphatic fist celebration to her box accompanied the 6-2 first set score for Osaka.
Svitolina mounted a strong return, trying to go toe-to-toe with rallies once more. However, Osaka still found point-ending angles in the form of winners with her powerful forehands, and Svitolina still had no response or solution to them. At 3-2, Osaka found space to up her game still, not allowing any of Svitolina’s winners to faze her in the slightest, even when they had Svitolina at two points away from a possible hold at 30-0. That hold would never come to fruition, as Osaka ensured she broke it.
Osaka finished the match as she started it, without any doubt and powerfully. With a brief rally, yet another unforced error from Svitolina marked the win for Osaka, the final score 6-2, 6-2. Osaka faces Danish Clara Tauson in the Semifinals tomorrow, where the other side of the semifinal fight holds breakout Canadian sweetheart Victoria Mboko against Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina. The finals are set for Thursday, Aug. 7th.
