Naomi Osaka (23 = Nissin Foods), who is aiming for the second win in the world, advanced to the best 8 with a big setback that repelled match points for the first time in all four major tournaments. In 14th place, last year’s runner-up Garbine Muguruza (Spain) kept the last set and two consecutive match points, but reversed with 4-6, 6-4 and 7-5. Ai Sugiyama won the 19th Australian Open, the largest number of Japanese women in history. In the quarterfinals, he will face 71st place Hsieh Su-wei (Taiwan). The result of the match is Osaka’s 4 wins and 1 loss.

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It was desperate. The final set. His service game at 3-5. 15-40, two consecutive match points against the opponent. In the last 63 games from the top four accounts, he has never won on match points. “He was stressed. He couldn’t have enough strength.” However, he never gave up and said, “Let’s fight to the end.”

“I want to do some service,” said the first, beating the ace in 191 km / h. In the second race, the opponent’s forward is out. I caught up with him and escaped the biggest pinch. However, at 4-5, the next game is the opponent’s serve. If you don’t defeat this service game, you will lose. He raised the bar by a stretch and said, “I played instinctively” and made a break point for the third time. When I hit 5 oars in the last minute, I won a great comeback.

The reason for the great fight was a small mistake. 2 oars in the final game. Osaka came off a simple lead. “There were a lot of mistakes.” The following points were also taken away, and I hit the racket for the first time in this tournament. “I regret my actions.” It bothered me, I quit the service game and caused a pinch.

Still, he’s proud of his growth and says, “I wonder if I’ve gotten a little stronger mentally.” The match point reversal was the first in the big four tournaments, and there are signs of mental growth too. She says, “I don’t think of records,” but she has made a name for herself in Japanese history, alongside the Australian Open-winning star, which is the largest number in Japanese women’s history.

I have had a lot of hard feelings in the past in the four main competitions. “They told me I could go to the best 8 and the best 4, but I cried many times on the wall in the fourth round.” Therefore, if you pass the fourth round, you have won all 3 times in the past. The next race will be against the usual Xie, but I have no intention of stopping this momentum.[Tadahiro Yoshimatsu]

◆ Australian Open Tennis will be broadcast live every day from February 8-21 on WOWOW Live. Scheduled to be delivered simultaneously in WOWOW on demand.