Osaka overcomes late errors to hold on for win

Naomi Osaka put aside a late-match injury scare and a double-fault on match point to squeeze to a 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-2 over a Dutch defending champion on Wednesday.

The Japan Open win in the city of Osaka packed in plenty of drama for former No. 1 Osaka, who needed an injury timeout for a left thigh problem while leading 5-0 in the third set against No. 57 Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens.

Osaka got treated off court and returned with his leg bandaged as she carried on while missing two match points on her own serve, 5-1,

Japan’s four-time Grand Slam winner finally prevailed a game later with backhand success on her third chance after two and a quarter-hours on court.

.”It was definitely really difficult – I’m kind of sorry about my attitude,” Osaka said with her future in the home tournament hanging in the balance.

“It (the leg) feels better than what it is right now, but obviously it doesn’t feel good. I couldn’t really move that well. 

“But I think I’m a fast healer so it should be OK for my next match,” she added.

Osaka began the contest by winning the first eight points before her defending champion opponent began to make an impression, winning nine straight points at one stage.

“Emotionally, I was going through a lot in this match,” Osaka said. “And then in the third set I tried my best to have no regrets.”

Osaka will hope to be fit to face Jaqueline Cristian in the Friday quarter-finals after the Romanian eliminated eighth seed Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain 
 0-6, 6-4, 6-2