‘It’s really amazing to see how far she has come’- Naomi Osaka very impressed with Iga Swiatek’s hustle for the Sunshine Double
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Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek
The 2022 Miami Open Women’s singles final is grandly set up for a high voltage clash involving the soon-to-be World No 1 Iga Swiatek and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka and it delivered as promised. This was surprisingly the first Miami Open final for both players. However, before the final, Naomi Osaka praises her opponent as she appreciates the Pole’s tenacity. Swiatek aims for the Sunshine Double.
Naomi Osaka has been excellent in her run up to the finals in Miami. The Japanese defeated players like Astra Sharma, Angelique Kerber, Alison Riske, Danielle Collins and also defeated Belinda Bencic in the semifinals. She also got a walkover when Karolina Muchova decided to withdraw in the third round.
The four-time Grand Slam winner had an intense battle with Bencic as she came back from a set down to win the match and set a final date with Swiatek. Naomi was down and out but she showed great character to come back as she eventually defeated the Swiss 4-6,6-3,6-4.
Osaka was determined to come up with a defining performance at the Miami Open after the disappointment of the Indian Wells. She was knocked out of the second round at the Indian Wells when she lost against Veronika Kudermetova.
Naomi Osaka is in awe of Iga Swiatek’s tenacity and determination ahead of the Miami Open finals
But before the big clash for the Miami Open title, Naomi Osaka praises Iga Swiatek for showing tremendous tenacity and shares a personal anecdote regarding the Sunshine Double.
“Yeah, I think it’s really amazing to see how far she’s come. She’s just so motivated. I know when I won Indian Wells I was just like really dead, and then they made me play Serena (Williams) in the first round. I was like, Whoa, dude,” Osaka said about Swiatek.
“It’s just incredible to see she’s still in this tournament and still fighting, and she’s going to be No. 1 soon or already. It’s really cool. I think the WTA is definitely doing its thing,” the Japanese player further said.
Naomi Osaka won the Indian Wells back in 2018 and then she was shocked to play against Serena Williams in the first round of the Miami Open. The Japanese still managed to find a way to get past Serena Williams but admittedly did not have enough energy to continue as she lost out in the second round as she faced Elina Svitolina.
Osaka bettered her performance last year by reaching the semifinals in Miami last year. However, this time she has even bettered that and is gunning for glory in the finals. Osaka very well understands that the match will not be easy as Swiatek is in sublime form and it promises to be an epic clash between two young talents.
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Atrayo Bhattacharya
(193 Articles Published)