Osaka crashes out of Pacific Open with loss to Pohankova
Naomi Osaka crashed out of the Pacific Open after a disappointing 6-3, 7-5 defeat to Mia Pohankova on Thursday.
It was a stunning victory for the 144th ranked Pohankova, who earned her first career top 20 win.
She will now face Alycia Parks in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The 18-year-old entered the tournament through wild-card, and has qualified for the last eight for the first time in her career.
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Pohankova described the victory as tough, while praising Osaka’s performance.
She said: “I believe (in myself) all the time, and yes, it’s a really good match against her. She’s a really good player, and I’m just proud of myself. I’m really happy, and I hope it’s just the start of my career.
“She played very good, but I won the first set. In the second set I was just saying she needs to do something better, and I’m just trying to focus on every point. There was like no break in the second set. And it’s really tough against her, but on the last point, and I said, oh, it’s a chance, and when she put the forehand out, it’s a good feeling, a very good feeling.”
Mia Pohankova is currently ranked no.144 with 504 points, while Naomi Osaka is ranked 18th with 2287 points.
In other round-of-16 matches, top-ranked Elena Rybakina beat Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-3 and Leylah Fernandez defeated No. 14 Elise Mertens 6-2, 7-6 (8).
