MIAMI – Reigning US and Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka advanced to the Miami Open quarter-finals on Monday, stretching her win streak to 23 matches by defeating Belgian 16th seed Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-3.
The second-ranked Japanese star will next face the winner of a later match between US 29th seed Jessica Pegula and Greek 23rd seed Maria Sakkari at the WTA and ATP Masters Series event.
“I started off really well and then for some reason I became a little sluggish. My speed didn’t really feel the same,” Osaka said.
“I thought it was really mental from then on. In the end, it was who fought the hardest.”
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka broke at…
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