Halep ends Osaka’s run to reach quarter-finals

MELBOURNE (Reuters): World number one Simona Halep proved too experienced for Japan’s rising star Naomi Osaka as she eased into the Australian Open quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-2 victory on Monday.

The score line did not tell the whole story however as the Romanian was given a real fight early on by the 20-year-old, who is tipped to become the next big thing in women’s tennis.

Halep, still looking for her first grand slam title, was under the cosh in the opening stages of the match as 72nd-ranked Osaka blazed away to set up numerous break points.