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RG R3: (6) Halep d. Osaka 4-6 6-2 6-3

10K views 96 replies 56 participants last post by  Quest for Infamy 
#1 ·
Osaka is exciting. RAW, but exciting.

Reminds me a bit of Rezai.

She REALLY needs to work on her footwork, esp moving over to the FH side, and her fitness and movement in general.

Well done Simona :yeah: Fought hard, well earned win.
 
#4 ·
It's surreal to realize racism exists when someone with Osaka's extraordinary beauty is the result of an interracial relationship.

Great fight, the difference in this match really only came down to experience, very noticeable from 3-3 in the third set and onwards.
 
#7 ·
More experienced player won, because Simona wasn't totally in good mood today. Naomi showed some good shots, but made many unforced errors too.

6-2 for Simona.

This will probably be a 4-6 6-2 6-3 sort of match for Simona, she seems to have adjusted to the speed of Naomi's serves and groundstrokes now and isn't making as many errors as she did in the first set and Naomi was too error prone
Congrats on great prediction :p

Mario jinxed to death Osaka in Live Commentary thread :lol:
 
#8 ·
Simona picking up steam :yeah: Tricky match vs Lucie potentially, but if Stosur manages to overcome her nemesis, she would certainly be playing high level tennis - she'd be a tough one as well. If Simona makes the quarters I'd put her as fave for the final. One match at a time though.

Naomi :hug:
 
#10 ·
Well, Osaka is promising but in set 2&3 she was mostly ballbashing. Not to mention she lost at least 3 games in which she had a BP's...
Halep was visibly nervous after the set 1 and Osaka should have absolutely won the first game of the 2nd set. I think Lučić actualy would have had a better chance to take out Halep.

I actually expect her to make the final now unless peak Sloane/Radwanska shows up.
 
#38 ·
When did she once moonball except when stretching in a very defensive position?
:secret: It's actually a smart tactic rather than hitting back flatter because it allows you time to recover your position at the centre of the baseline.

... Simona is not a good big-match player at all and it's going to result in her never winning a Major until she sorts it out. ...
Very strange thing to say after she's just fought back to win from a set down. :lol:
 
#15 ·
Well done for toughing out this match Simona.

Moving forward, this could provide some momentum. I just saw this and couldn't quite believe it.



If she wants to win a Slam, she's going to have to get over this hurdle and fast! I wonder if Mug is the one? She looked pretty bad today, but she will probably find her rhythm against Halep.
 
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#16 ·
With Naomi I really hope she has great coach. You can see all the potential she has and her weakness is typical of most big hitters. If she has one of those coaches who just keep telling her hit big and not develop the ability to stay in rallies, she will waste her talent. Look at Konjuh....also massive game, but 2 years and zero improvement of other aspect of her game. This is the danger with youngster with huge game, they need even more guidence
 
#78 ·
I agree. I feel like Zeljko Krajan would be a good match, he managed to get Safina into killer shape and more consistent, and Osaka doesn't have the rage issues that made Safina such a mental midget during her better years. Getting the movement and fitness to feel like she can rally longer, and learning to dial back the pace to 90% for safety sake until the right opportunity, she'd be formidable.
 
#19 ·
Well done. miss Osaka does have talent... still a bit raw, going for the wrong shot at the wrong time, but she has potential.
 
#20 ·
First of all congrats Simona by winning against an inexperienced but good youngster. Positive note that i can take from this match was her fighting spirit is back. Negative note, incapable to hold her service game. Onwards.


I usually don't watch asian girls, so was the first time watching Osaka. Caught my attention this youngster which could have won today if had more experience. I saw a beautiful explosiv cross-cort forehand which was very efficient in the first part of the match from her. Keep working and good luck further.
 
#21 ·
Didn't expect her to win this match at all, but extremely proud of her for getting a set off Halep.

Naomi was too hot-and-cold to trouble a good claycourter like Simona. Her groundstrokes are HUGE, but she misfired too often in this match to really beat Simona. Inexperience really showed, I guess -- hit too many wrong shots at the wrong time. Did really well to take a set off Simona considering Halep led 4-2 in the first set and looked to be on cruise control until Naomi really upped her game and forced more errors out of Halep, and hit some stunning DTL winners and returns.

I've always seen Naomi as one with a huge game and serve (just like Serena), but just not as consistent as hers, of course. She's still raw at only 18 years of age, so there's a lot of time for her to fine-tune her game to make it more consistent. I've seen her making some improvements to be less error prone, such as hitting with more margins and spin, but in this match it seemed like Simona's constant retrieving was just too much for her and she just over-pressed.

Simona was pretty consistent throughout except for the brief spells throughout the match where she leaked inexplicable errors, which gave Naomi the chance to make this match competitive. She also exposed Naomi's poor movement by moving her side to side and with angles. Simona played extremely well on the break points that Naomi had and that really snuffed out any chances of Naomi getting ahead in the match from the second set on. Not as good as she needs to be to reach the final, so hopefully she can improve.

Naomi... great tournament for her, cemented her place in the top 100 now! :cheer: After all, she's only bound to improve on this surface considering how this is only her first year playing on red clay.
 
#23 ·
Osaka has a very crude and basic game. Sorry, I really don't see if happening for her. Halep looking vulnerable as usual; she's not moving well or anticipating well, and her shots are puffballs. That stat about not beating top 10 players is as sad and embarrassing for her as it is for the WTA.
 
#34 ·
strange stat, isn't Halep 3-0 against Kvitova, and beat Serena and Azarenka in the last 18 months, also a positive record against Kerber and Aga.

This top 10 stat is kind of meaningless, how many times do top 10 players flop early in WTA tournaments these days, look at Madrid, not Halep's fault top 10 players flop early on.
 
#28 ·
Osaka is a raw talent and seems to be improving all the time. Scary to think how good her serve could become. Lots to look forward to with her. Plus off court she gives good quote.

Don't think I'd be too worried for Halep. She kept her head for the most part after the frustration of losing the first set. I think that consistency carried her through.
 
#29 ·
I posed this question in the live thread, but if Naomi's daddy is Haitian why is her last name Osaka? I assume that's her mama's name? Were her parents not married?

In any case, good result for baseball player Naomi. Simona is not a good big-match player at all and it's going to result in her never winning a Major until she sorts it out. Bless her zebra-wearing heart. :p
 
#31 ·
Oh boy! :scratch:
 
#32 ·
I thought Halep was superb today, apart from some loose errors in the first set. Impressive mental focus in a very tough match against a power hitter with nothing to lose.

I have nothing but good words for Osaka, powerful, calm, excellent first serve. She is no only 18, it's clear what she needs to improve so I won't list them.

She can be a top player without a doubt. Movement will be the most difficult thing to improve because is a more natural talent that you either have or don't have, but she can improve it 'enough', im sure.
 
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