On Thursday, tennis player Naomi Osaka obtained her first top-20 win at Italian Open 2024. Beating number 20 Marta Kostyuk with 6-3,6-2 in the second round.
After registering straight win over France’s Clara Burel, for the first time, Osaka has registered consecutive wins on clay since 2019.
🚨 THIS IS NOT A DRILL 🚨@naomiosaka defeats Kostyuk 6-3, 6-2 for her first Top 20 win on clay!#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/gJvkcYhHz3
— wta (@WTA) May 9, 2024
When asked about her win, Naomi was nothing but humble. She said “I’m extremely humble. I want to learn from the match I played today, and hopefully apply that.”
Later, talking about her match in detail, she said ”Overall, If I had to give myself a rating, I’d say that I can see a lot of progress from my last match to now.”
Recounting her experience, Osaka disclosed after the suspension of match due to rain, Osaka was looking for a breaking opportunity with Kostyuk already serving 3-1 down the second set.
But after the resumption, Osaka never slowed down for a minute. She broke the serve, with laser-like inside-out forehand. Thus leading 4-1.
Later, she managed to close down the match within 71 minutes, with the help of precise baseline hitting.
Thus, finishing the match with a win. With 19 winners to 12 unforced errors.
The 26-year-old tennis player will later face No.11 Daria Kasatkina in the third round. Where both will face each other for the time since 2018 Indian Wells final which Osaka won with the score of 6-3,6-2.
Thus, becoming the winner of WTA tour final for the first time.