Naomi Osaka beats world number one Barty to win China Open

Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka won her second tournament on the spin as she defeated world number one Ashleigh Barty in the China Open in Beijing on Sunday (October 6).

The Japanese emerged from a set down to 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory in a match which lasted for 110 minutes.

The 21-year-old, earlier Saturday (October 5), dominated Carolina Wozniacki in the semi-finals and called her own serve “confusing”.

And so it was in the sixth game when Osaka conjured up a double fault, then an ace, then another double fault against Australia’s Barty.

The world number four, victorious in her home Pan Pacific Open last month, was broken when she planted a forehand into the net.

The former number one appeared mildly uncomfortable with her shoulder, touching it and rotating it between points.

Barty, 23, who had strapping down her left calf, wrapped up the first set in 34 minutes and frustration was creeping in for the Australian Open champion Osaka.

But much of the crowd in Beijing was pro-Osaka and they were cheering when she broke Barty to move 4-2 up on the way to winning the second set.

“Basically I was telling myself to keep fighting even though my attitude was really trash. This is a final, I’m really privileged to be here in the first place, so keep fighting.”

Osaka was in control now and broke Barty — who five years ago took a rest from tennis and played cricket — in the first game of the deciding set on the way to victory.

This was a third title of 2019 for Osaka and fifth in her short career.

(With inputs from agencies)