Osaka thrashes Hsieh to reach Australian Open semi-finals

Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand against Su-Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei during day nine of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 16, 2021

MELBOURNE (Reuters): The brute force of Naomi Osaka crushed the artistry of Hsieh Su-wei as the Japanese former champion charged into the Australian Open semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-2 win on Tuesday.

On a warm and muggy day at Rod Laver Arena, Osaka attacked Hsieh’s weak serve with gusto and the Taiwanese giantkiller quickly wilted under the pressure of her Grand Slam quarter-final debut.

Osaka had a torrid time in her last Australian Open clash with Hsieh in 2019, having to come back from a set and a break down on the way to claiming the championship. So the Japanese third seed was thrilled with her form against the Taiwanese maverick in a 66-minute clinic.

“Yeah, definitely really happy,” 23-year-old Osaka said on-court.  “I always watch Serena’s matches, anyway,” said Osaka of her semi-final opponent. Osaka has never failed to win a Grand Slam after making the quarter-finals.