Naomi Osaka moved a step closer to a second US Open title after advancing to the semi-finals at the expense of Shelby Rogers. (More Tennis News)
Osaka – the 2018 champion and former world number one – was too good for Rogers 6-3 6-4 at Flushing Meadows early Wednesday morning.
A two-time grand slam champion, Osaka was 0-3 against Rogers heading into the quarter-final but the fourth seed finally ended her drought thanks to 24 winners and just eight unforced errors.
Osaka – who has claimed the US Open and Australian Open on the two occasions she has progressed beyond the fourth round of a slam – will face Jennifer Brady in the semi-finals.
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It was an evening opening on Arthur Ashe Stadium behind closed doors, a showdown from the baseline under lights.
Osaka earned the first break-point chance in the sixth game, but Rogers caught the line with an aggressive cross-court winner to fend it off.
However, Osaka had a second chance to claim the break after Rogers sent a forehand long and another wayward shot gifted the Japanese star a 4-2 lead following a tense game.
Rogers, though, hit back immediately, smashing a ferocious winner on a second serve to reclaim the break, only for Osaka to break to love to restore her cushion with some powerful baseline hitting as she served out the set.
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World number 93 Rogers – who was sidelined for 13 months in 2018 and 2019 due to a knee injury and was unranked as recently as last April – continued to play with aggression but she came unstuck in the third game, another stray forehand seeing Osaka move 2-1 ahead with the break.
Rogers tried to stay in the contest, but Osaka never looked back en route to the final four of a slam for the first time since winning the 2019 Australian Open.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Osaka [4] bt Rogers 6-3 6-4
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Osaka – 24/8
Rogers – 23/27
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Osaka – 7/1
Rogers – 3/2
BREAK POINTS WON
Osaka – 3/5
Rogers – 1/1
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
Osaka – 48
Rogers – 61
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
Osaka – 83/69
Rogers – 66/33
TOTAL POINTS
Osaka – 67
Rogers – 45
