(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Japanese
dynamo Naomi Osaka punched her ticket to the Indian Wells final on
Friday, routing world No 1 Simona Halep to set up a title clash with
rising star Daria Kasatkina. World No. 44 Osaka stormed past the top
seeded Halep in stunning fashion with a 6-3, 6-0 win, while Russian
juggernaut Kasatkina wore down the 37-year-old seven-time Grand Slam
winner Venus Williams in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
The 26-year-old
former champion Halep dropped to 18-2 on the season as she lasted just
64 minutes on the court with Osaka. 'I just was not ready. I missed the
ball a lot and I didn't play what I had to play, Halep said. 'I don't
find excuses. She was better. I just was not ready and played wrong.
Youth
prevailed Friday night as both unseeded Osaka and world No. 19
Kasatkina are 20 years old while the combined age of Williams and Halep
is 63. 'I feel like there is a new generation and we are trying to push
through, said Osaka, who clinched the contest on the third match point.
Osaka
improved to 14-4 in 2018 as she came into the clash as the lowest
ranked Indian Wells semi-finalist since Kim Clijsters in 2005. 'I was
kind of nervous that entire (final) game because it kept going back and
forth, Osaka said. 'But I'm really glad I was able to finish on my
serve instead of having to break her or something like that. Yeah, it
felt good.
Halep had three double faults, won just five points on
her second serve and had her serve broken five times. Halep, who had
reached the semi-finals in all four of her tournaments in 2018, was
trying to repeat her Indian Wells success of three years ago when she
beat Jelena Jankovic to lift the trophy.
Meanwhile, Kasatkina rolled
over her third top-10 player in a row to reach her first Indian Wells
final. Kasatkina rallied to claim the biggest victory of her career and
defeat world number eight Williams, extending a year-long assault on top
players, Grand Slam winners and former world number ones. 'A match like
this, you're just speechless, Kasatkina said. 'Too many emotions and
you cannot explain everything. Maybe one of the best nights in my life,
for sure.
Serving for the match, Kasatkina clinched the victory on
her second match point as she raced out to a 40-0 lead. Williams hit a
cross-court forehand winner on the first match point but then dumped a
backhand into the net to end the two hour, 49 minute marathon showdown.
Ultimately
the young Russian proved to be too strong for Williams, who appeared to
hit a wall at about the two and a half hour mark. 'As my coach said,
she's 37 years old, I am 20, so I should go for three sets, she said.
Kasatkina fired one ace, hit five double faults and broke Williams's
serve seven times in the entertaining match.
Williams had almost
double the number of unforced errors, 63-45, and broke Kasatkina six
times but she also made five double faults — some at crucial moments in
the match. 'Anyone who gets used to losses should give up on life,
Williams said.
Kasatkina continues her Cinderella run through the
California desert tournament as she goes for her second WTA title.
Kasatkina has beaten all four reigning Grand Slam champions in the past
year, including US Open champ Sloane Stephens twice. She did it for the
second time at Indian Wells, winning their third round match 6-4, 6-3.
After
eliminating Stephens she beat two top 10 players to get to the semis —
world number two Caroline Wozniacki in three sets in the fourth round
and then No 10 Angelique Kerber in straight sets in the quarters.
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