By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, March 29, 2021
Naomi Osaka scored her 23rd consecutive win—a 6-3, 6-3 sweep of Elise Mertens—powering into the Miami Open quarterfinals for the first time.
Photo credit: Getty
A series of shots came at Naomi Osaka from all different angles—she spun and faced every single one with an accomodating smile.
All that activity came after Osaka overpowered Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-3 scoring her 23rd straight victory to charge into her first Miami Open quarterfinal.
More: Barty Beats Azarenka, Will Face Sabalenka in Quarterfinals
Standing outside Hard Rock Stadium, Osaka spent several minutes taking selfies with fans young and old at a safe social distance.
Winning isn't easy, but it sure is enjoyable when you're riding the successful streak of Osaka. Her 23-match tear is the third-longest WTA unbeaten streak since 2010 behind Serena Williams (27 wins between 2014 and 2015) and Victoria Azarenka (26 wins in 2012).
The four-time Grand Slam champion has not lost a match since falling to then world No.78 Sara Sorribes Tormo in Fed Cup duty in February of 2020. Osaka, who received a walkover into the round of 16 when Serbian qualifier Nina Stojanovic withdrew with a thigh injury, will play Maria Sakkari for a spot in her fifth straight semifinal.
The 23rd-seeded Sakkari saved six match points—five match points serving at 4-5 and another in the tie breaker—out-dueling 29th-seeded Jessica Pegula 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(8) in a two hour, 38-minute battle.
Osaka grew up in Florida, attended the Miami Open as a kid when it was staged on Key Biscayne and calls it one of her favorite events. Her enthusiasm is evident both on the court and interacting with fans on the grounds.
"For me it feels really exciting. I mean, as a kid I grew up watching players play here," Osaka said. "Like, Miami, of course the venue is different, but it definitely feels very special.
"This is like one of my favorite tournaments to play, and of course I'm sad I haven't been able to get to the second week the last times that I have played this tournament. But I'm here now, and hopefully it will go well this time."
While today's triumph wasn't precisely picture perfect—Osaka tore out to a 5-1 lead then dropped serve at love on her first attempt to serve out the set—it highlighted the two-time Australian Open champion's point-ending explosiveness.
Credit Mertens, who fought off 22nd-seeded Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 in a physical third-round test for competing with stubborn grit. The 16th-seeded Belgian saved four set points holding for 3-5 and earned a break point to get back on serve.
Osaka wasn't having it. The second seed slashed her third ace to erase break point. Osaka scored style points with a leaping Marcelo Rios-esque backhand winner and belted a backhand crosscourt for her seventh set point. The world No. 2 whipped a 111 mph serve wide to take the opening set in 40 minutes.
Mertens, who partnered Aryna Sabalenka to the Australian Open doubles crown last month, coughed up an uncharateristic nine double faults on the day. That high double total may well have been due to a cranky shoulder.
After holding for 3-2, the 25-year-old Belgian left the court for treatment. Meanwhile, Osaka hit some practice serves tuning up her biggest weapon while she waited for the Belgian to return to court.
When play resumed, Osaka reeled off 12 of the next 13 points sparking a four-game surge to close the match in 88 minutes.
The reigning US Open champion started this Miami Open draw as one of five Grand Slam champions in the bottom half of the draw and if she continues riding this winning wave it may well be just a matter of time before she surpasses world No. 1 and reigning Miami Open champion Ash Barty, who scored a three-set win over Victoria Azarenka in today's first match on Grandstand Court, in regaining the top spot.
"I understand how important it is and what an honor it would be to be No. 1, but for me, I realize that my mind doesn't function well if I keep thinking about all the things that could be, so right now I'm just thinking that I'm playing this tournament," Osaka said. "Every round that I play is against a really tough opponent.
"So I'm trying to take it round by round, and hopefully it will lead me to the finals or to win, and I know that, you know, if you win more tournaments, eventually you'll get the opportunity to be No. 1. But I'm not just thinking of it as a straightforward goal right now."