Swiatek Swats Away Gauff At Miami Masters; Osaka v Collins QF
Nearby Delray Beach resident Coco Gauff hung tough with Iga Swiatek for a good 30 minutes before soon-to-be-No. 1 pulled away with a 6-3, 6-1 to reach the Miami Masters quarterfinal.
Swiatek has now won her last 14 matches as she bids for a rare Sunshine Double — winning both Indian Wells and Miami. She’s lost just nine games en route to her first Miami quarter.
The Polish star will get a day off before returning Wednesday to meet Petra Kvitova. The Czech lefty overcame a 4-0 hole in the second to defeat Viktoria Kudermetova 7-6(5), 6-4.
Naomi Osaka advanced easing past American Alison Riske 6-3, 6-4. Osaka had a walkover yesterday when Karolina Muchova withdrew.
“I felt a bit rusty because I haven’t played in three days, so just kind of trying to get back confident and into the groove of things,” Osaka said. “The last time I played her, it’s been a couple of years, and knowing that she’s a really tough opponent and knowing she’s a bit unorthodox, I would say, the trajectory of her balls were quite difficult for me.”
Osaka is back tomorrow to face Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins who took out Ons Jabeur 6-2, 6-4.
Gold medalist Belinda Bencic is also playing well. The Swiss reached her first Miami quarter cruising past Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-3. Bencic hasn’t dropped a set in three matches, she’ll now face wildcard Daria Saville in the quarters tomorrow.
Bencic and Osaka are projected to meet in the semifinals.
Also advancing to a Tuesday quarterfinal clash were Paula Badosa and Jessica Pegula. Badosa stopped the run of Czech 16-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova while Badosa got a second set retirement from Anhelina Kalinina.
“Today was a very tough day for me,” said Badosa who had to see the trainer for her vitals during the match. “I didn’t wake up feeling very well so I didn’t know if I would be able to finish the match. I always say I want to be a fighter no matter what so that’s what I did today. I kept fighting and I don’t really know how I won. But I’m very happy.”
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