Reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka blasted her way past Germany’s Andrea Petkovic to reach the semi-finals of the Melbourne Summer Set on Friday.
The Japanese star raced through the opening set in just 26 minutes, but was pushed harder in the second before beating Petkovic 6-1, 7-5 to set up a semi-final against third seeded Russian Veronika Kudermetova.
Kudermetova beat fellow Russian Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 to book her place in the semi-finals.
Osaka was in imperious form in the first set, smashing winner after winner from both sides, racing to a 5-0 lead before Petkovic was at last able to hold serve. When Osaka broke Petkovic in the opening game of the second set it looked like an early night for the four-time Grand Slam champion.
However, Petkovic lifted her game as Osaka’s dropped slightly and the German fought back to skip away to a 4-2 lead.
But Osaka fought back and levelled the set, then broke at 5-5 before comfortably closing out the match.
