𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The pattern of hot and cold continues. Osaka does not need to do too much to get the break straight back, just moving to the ball and staying in the rally. Anisimova makes successive forehand errors and needs to stop herself from throwing her racket.

What a start to the second set from Anisimova, with two thumping backhand winners. She’s not going to change how she wants to play.

Anisimova slipped a little on the second backhand return, finding herself off-balance. And she walks a little slowly back to her chair.

A set full of ups and downs from Anisimova. She’s had 17 winners to 23 unforced errors. For Osaka, it’s 9 winners to 10 unforced errors.

Anisimova heads off court.

ACE from Osaka! Then Anisimova goes long on the forehand to bring five set points.

Anisimova catches the back of the line with her forehand and then finds an ace to get it back to 6-3.

There’s a delay as Osaka’s ball is called out, but the computer went down to confirm it. 6-4.

Anisimova nets and Osaka yells “come on” as she gets the first set!

Anisimova stays where she is on the baseline and hangs her head.

That was a tiebreak littered with errors.

A forehand return into the net from Anisimova seems to dent her momentum, and a double-fault from the American is followed by another big forehand error into the net!

Osaka leads 4-1 with two serves to come.

And she makes an ace with the first one!

Just as Anisimova was catching fire, hitting winners on both sides to get to 15-30, she puts a backhand second-serve return into the net.

Osaka takes full advantage, Closing the door and getting to the tiebreak.

Anisimova finds her serve! Two first serves in a row from 30-30 is just what was required. Osaka nets on the first and then Anisimova blasts another forehand winner down the line!

A brilliant recovery from Anisimova from 5-3 down.

A double fault from Osaka on the opening point is followed by a great defensive effort from Anisimova. Osaka should find the forehand winner but blasts wide.

What a point from Anisimova to bring up break point! She absolutely crushes the ball past Osaka with venom. So clean and so quick.

And Anisimova does it again to take apart the Osaka second serve! A clean forehand winner down the line seals the break back!

Anisimova gestures to her box as Osaka hits out on game point. She’s not happy with how she’s playing but connected with a lovely forehand winner down the line to get the hold.

Osaka still has the chance to serve for it.

Osaka gets her third winner of the match with a lovely forehand down the line, and follows that with an ace.