via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Spain’s Garbine Muguruza during her fourth round match against Japan’s Naomi Osaka REUTERS/Loren Elliott
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Spain’s Garbine Muguruza during her fourth round match against Japan’s Naomi Osaka REUTERS/Loren Elliott
What an incredibly nerve-wracking end to a fourth-round match at the Australian Open 2021. Saving two match points, Japan’s Naomi Osaka defeated Spain’s Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 4-6, 5-7. And the turnaround has set the Twitteratis in motion.
To book a berth in the quarterfinals, the duo battled on an unusually cool morning at the Rod Laver Arena. Although the match started with Osaka hitting an ace, the opening set went to her opponent.
It was Muguruza’s rock-solid temperament that stood tall against everything. Coupled with bull striking returns and quality serves, the 2-time Grand Slam champion was in total control of the match.
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However, the relentless fighter inside Naomi Osaka kept pushing her back in the match. Finding her way through a break in the second set, the Japanese World No. 3 leveled the sets at 1-1.
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021, Japan’s Naomi Osaka in action during her fourth-round match against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza REUTERS/Loren Elliott
All was left in the arms of the final set to decide the winner between the two. The Spaniard, who held her composure throughout the match, continued the same in the climax of the match.
This caused the nervous Naomi to commit mistakes, giving away two match points to Muguruza. But somehow she turned the tables in the nick of the time, enduring in the tournament.
With hitting 22 winners against 1 winner in the last two games, the Japanese-born Osaka snatched away the match. Such a loss will certainly haunt the last year’s runner up at the Australian Open, Muguruza.
READ MORE- Naomi Osaka Fends Off Two Match Points to Beat Garbine Muguruza at Australian Open 2021
Twitterati on the epic battle between Naomi Osaka and Garbine Muguruza
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021, Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts during her fourth-round match against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza REUTERS/Loren Elliott
While many others applauded the 2019 Australian Open champion, there was no way to not feel sorry for the Spaniard. But she has had a rebelling start of the 2021 season, and she will hope to take it forward.
Naomi Osaka trailed Garbine Muguruza by a set and a break. Didn't matter. Then she trailed by a break in the final set. Didn't matter. Down 3-5, saves two match points and wins 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Heck of a match!
— Jill Martin (@ByJillMartin) February 14, 2021
Damn, no final set tie-break. Happy for Osaka. I am a fan, but hate to see what happened to Muguruza. Played a poor final game and had 2 match points earlier. The sport can be brutal.
— Christian (@ItsMeCree_) February 14, 2021
Naomi Osaka has that champion's ability to just will herself a point when she really needs it.
Today, she needed it twice.
Osaka saves two match points to beat Muguruza 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Hell of a match.#AusOpen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 14, 2021
With a stirring comeback, fending off match points, @naomiosaka d. Garbine Muguruza to win the 2021….wait, that was only the fourth round?
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) February 14, 2021
That’s going to hurt Muguruza. Set and a break up. Two match points up. Looked like she’d done enough. Osaka said no. Battled back. What a player and what a mindset. Gutted for Garbine though. #AusOpen #AO2021
— James Stevenson (@JStevo21) February 14, 2021
Unreal comeback from Osaka after facing two match points down 3-5 (15-40) on serve.
It literally felt like watching Serena in her prime, the last 15 minutes were *so, so* impressive. No signs of potential nerves.
4-6, 6-4, 7-5 vs. Muguruza.
— Alex | Tennis 🎾 (@Alex_Boroch) February 14, 2021
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STUNNING COMEBACK:
Naomi Osaka saved two match points to defeat Garbine Muguruza 4-6 6-4 7-5.#AusOpen
— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) February 14, 2021
For a position in the semifinals of the Australian Open 2021, Osaka will face Taiwanese professional Hsieh Su-wei. And considering her performance, she is a big favorite for the title.
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Nevertheless, we have two more exciting weeks to go. Who will win the Australian Open title this year?
