CINCINNATI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Japan's world No. 1 Naomi Osaka triumphed over Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-2 here on Wednesday to reach the third round of Cincinnati Masters.
The 22-year-old star fired 24 winners and committed 29 unforced errors, winning a narrow victory against her Belarussian opponent, whom she crushed 6-0, 6-0 at the US Open 11 months ago, after she lost in the first round last year at Cincinnati prior to winning her first major title at Flushing Meadows less than a month later.
"It's the first match I have ever won here in the main draw, so I can't be too hard on myself, even though I naturally am," Osaka said. "I think that's something that I learn as I play more matches. Hopefully I'll have that opportunity."
This two-time Grand Slam champion will face Hsieh Su-Wei from Chinese Taipei in the next round, who beat Jennifer Brady 7-6 (9), 6-3 earlier in the day.
"I never know what to expect with her. But the last time I played her in Miami, I just remember being frustrated. So I think the time after that in Germany I was just trying to be focused, and I won that match. I'll just try to carry that on," she reflected.
