Independent on Saturday

Anisimova stuns Osaka as Nadal sends title warning

| AFP

DEFENDING champion Naomi Osaka was dumped out of the Australian Open in the third round yesterday by unseeded American Amanda Anisimova to open up the draw for title favourite Ashleigh Barty.

Anisimova, ranked 60th in the world, saved two match points to stun the former world number one 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10/5) and will now face Barty in the last 16.

It was a hugely disappointing end for Osaka in Melbourne, having also gone out at the same stage at the US Open in September, after which she took a break from tennis.

In the men’s draw, Rafael Nadal underlined his status as one of the favourites with a four-set victory over Russian 28th seed Karen Khachanov.

But day five at Melbourne Park was all about the 20-year-old Anisimova.

“I’m speechless, I can’t stop smiling,” she said after sending four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka home.

Osaka attempted to find a positive, saying she can’t always win.

“You know, I’m not God,” said the dethroned Japanese champion.

Anisimova will be eyeing another scalp in the form of Australia’s Barty, who was a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 winner over Italian 30th seed Camila Giorgi, inching closer to a maiden Grand Slam crown on home soil.

“It was a pretty good performance,” said Barty, 25, who is now 7-0 for the season and yet to drop a set in Melbourne.

Also into round four is two-time champion Victoria Azarenka.

The 24th seed crushed 15th seed Elina Svitolina as she tries to climb back to the top of women’s tennis.

The 32-year-old Belarusian turned back the clock with a 6-0, 6-2 dismissal of her Ukrainian opponent and will now play French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova for a place in the quarter-finals.

In the absence of the deported defending champion Novak Djokovic and injured Roger Federer, Spanish legend Nadal is attempting to become the first man to win 21 majors.

He dropped a set for the first time at this tournament but called his 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win over Khachanov under the lights his best performance since he returned this year following a foot injury that ended his 2021 season early.

“I went through some very tough times in the last year and a half, but nights like this mean everything to me,” said the 35-year-old.

SPORT

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2022-01-22T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-22T08:00:00.0000000Z

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