Naomi Osaka through to Pan Pacific Open semi-finals
Friday 21 September 2018 17:12, UK
Naomi Osaka progressed to the semi-finals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo after beating Barbora Strycova in straight sets.
The 20-year-old, who stunned the world by beating Serena Williams in the US Open final, failed to hit the same heights as New York but still had enough quality to beat Strycova 6-3 6-4.
"I don't feel any extra pressure playing in Japan," said Osaka, who has a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, but was raised in the United States.
"I've played her three times and each time it's been very hard.
"I've improved a lot of things in the last few years and I feel excited playing here."
Osaka will now face Camila Giorgi. The Italian was leading former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka 5-3 when the Belarusian retired with stomach pains.
Earlier, fourth seed Karolina Pliskova saved two match points before the former women's top-ranked player ended American qualifier Alison Riske's run with a 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-4) victory.
"It was an important win for me," said Pliskova after reaching her first Tokyo semi-final. "I'm just happy to be able to fight back -- she was a little bit better than me, but you need a bit of luck in tennis."
Pliskova faces Croatia's Donna Vekic in the last four after she upset second seed Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-4.
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