Osaka & Kvitova to clash in Australian Open final

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Reigning US Open champion and World No 4 in WTA rankings Naomi Osaka, 21, Japan, and World No 6 Petra Kvitová, 28, Czech Republic, will clash in the final of Australian Open (AO) on January 26, 2019. Osaka has so far won 2 WTA singles title in her career while Kvitová has won 26 including two Grand Slam titles.

Osaka reached the AO 2019 final beating World No 8 Karolina Pliskova, in a three-set encounter in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, on January 24, 2019. Osaka beat Pliskova 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the semi-finals. Osaka fired 15 Aces in the match to 3 by Pliskova, who had defeated 7-time champion Serena Williams in the quarter-fi9nals on January 23, 2019. Pliskova committed 4 double faults to 2 by Osaka.

Osaka’s winning percentage on both her first and second serve ( 81 % & 43 %) was better than that of Pliskova ( 69% & 38 %). Osaka won 4 break points while Pliskova won 2. Osaka won 4 games in a row in the match to 3 by Pliskova. Osaka won 59 service points to 52 by her Czech Republic opponent. Osaka could emerge as the new World No 1 if she wins the Australian Open title.

Earlier, Petra Kvitová beat World No 35 Danielle Rose Collins, 25, USA, 7-6, 6-0 in the first semi-finals on January 24, 2019, to advanced to the final of AO 2019.