Showing Impressive At Miami Open, Naomi Osaka Brings New Optimism

Naomi Osaka (Instagram/@naomiosaka).

JAKARTA - Naomi Osaka successfully won over Elina Svitolina at the Miami Open, Saturday, March 23. She won with a score of 6-2, 7-6 and proved her spirit was not over.

"I really think it was one of my best matches," Osaka said, as broadcast by the WTA, Sunday, March 23.

"But I also want myself to play better and better in every game. I feel like before the game, I know that he is a great tennis player, and I have no choice but to play very well if I want to have a chance to win."

In their last four games, Osaka has beaten two Top 20 players -- 15th in Liudmila Samsonova at Indian Wells, and is now 17th in charge of Svitolina.

In just their sixth game, Osaka moved better than last month, much more consistent than the baseline -- and her initial schedule to challenge for the US Open title no longer looked too ambitious.

Osaka is now leading head to head 4-3 with Svitolina. He will face 23rd seed Caroline Garcia - who won 6-1, 5-2 over Viktoriya Tomova - in the third half match. Before they met, the match was moved from Grandstand Court to the more intimate Butch Buchholz Court.

"To be honest, I think the pitch is really cool, it's like everyone around him and everyone is very loud and vocal," said Osaka.

Both have a history of performing well at the Sunshine Doubles. They are among the 10 players who have won a combined 25 games or more in Miami and Indian Wells.

In 2018, Svitolina beat Osaka in Miami in a second half match. In her final appearance in the desert tournament, Osaka won five games before losing to Swiatek.

Their match was a classic battle between forces versus defense. Svitolina tried hard to equalize but were broken in the sixth game.

Osaka opened the field with a strong forehand shot towards the corner, then hit the crosscourt cross-winner's backhand to lead 4-2. He closed the set with a second break, when Svitolina's forward shot soared.

Osaka broke Svitolina's service in the sixth game of the second set, but Svitolina replied by breaking her service for the first time so that the position became 4-5.

Osaka showed a sense of nervousness towards the end of the match, but given the lack of matches she has been going through lately, this is natural.

In the tiebreaking round, one last signature shot that was beyond reach gave Osaka victory.

"My biggest goal is to move forward," said Osaka.

"Of course, I want to win the tournament, but I know I have to take step by step."

"The more games I win, the more comfortable I will be... and hopefully that will make me sure one day," said the 26-year-old who gave birth to her first child last July.