Osaka Storms into Saint Malo Open Semifinals; Topples World No. 143
Quarterfinal Upset: Osaka Dominates Jaccumo in Straight Sets
In a commanding performance, second seed Naomi Osaka defeated France’s E. Jaccumo, ranked 143rd, in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) at the women’s tennis Saint Malo Open 35 quarterfinal on Saturday.
Osaka’s Road to the Semifinals
En route to the semis, Osaka, ranked 55th and playing as a wildcard, overcame P. Martinko (Croatia, 220th) in the first round and D. Parry (France) in the second. Osaka’s quarterfinal performance featured astounding first service accuracy (87%), effectively denying Jaccumo any breakpoints.
“In the return game, Osaka took the lead by scoring a break in the sixth game.”
— Osaka’s quarterfinal match report
Traits of Osaka’s dominant play include a sharp return game, capitalizing on breakpoints, and minimizing unforced errors. Her semifinal opponent, L. Jean-Jean (France, 107th), awaits after defeating F. Ferro (France) in the quarterfinals.
Did You Know?
- Osaka’s last appearance in a lower tour tournament was in 2015, nearly nine and a half years ago.
- Osaka is now in the top four of a tournament for the first time since 2021.
What’s Next for Osaka?
Following this weekends’ results, Osaka is.max. the top four in a tournament since 2021. The question now is whether she can maintain this form and secure her first title of the year.
Q: Who is Osaka’s next opponent?
A: L. Jean-Jean (France, 107th).
Stay tuned for live updates on Osaka’s semifinal match and other Saint Malo Open 35 action!