Australian Open 2021/1/4 finals: Xie Shuwei - Naomi Osaka

In the quarterfinals, Japan's Naomi Osaka (3rd place in the WTA) and China's Se Shuwei (71st in the WTA rankings) will meet. In personal meetings, Naomi is ahead. She won 3 meetings and lost 1 time. This time forecasters are betting on Naomi's victory. On P2 the odds: 1.14. On P1 - 6.59. That is, privateers give an unconditional advantage to the Japanese tennis player. Moreover, the match should be as easy as possible for Naomi. On TM19.5 - 1.85. They put on TB for 2.06. But let's see how the meeting goes. Xie Shuwei has already shown that she is ready to surprise and think about sensations.

First set events

The start of the match turned out to be equal. Naomi Osaka wins 1 and 3 games on her serves. Xie Shuwei wins 2 games. In game 4, Naomi was in the lead, but could not keep the lead. But still, after a few "exactly", the Japanese woman was able to realize the break point. She took the lead in the score: 1 - 3. In the 5th game a struggle ensued. After 4 "exactly" and two break points won back, Naomi Osaka was able to take a point on her serve. In the 6th game, after a couple of "exactly" the Chinese woman was able to realize her serve (2 - 4).

Naomi wins 7 game at 0. Naomi confirms the privateers' opinion. She converted a break point in game 8 and won the set. First set score: 2 - 6.

Set events # 2

In 1 game of 2 sets, Naomi Osaka converted her serve. In the second game, Naomi was able to realize another breakpoint. She began to break away from her rival in the score (0 - 2). Osaka acts in a collected manner on his serves. She won the 3rd game. The Chinese woman tried to return to the game. She won the 4th game. In the 5th game Shuwei, losing 30 - 40, was able to equalize the score. But Naomi immediately wins 2 rallies and takes his serve (1 - 4). After the unforced mistakes of the Japanese woman, Shuwei was able to take a point on her serve in the 6th game (2 - 4).

In the 7th game, thanks to a confident play and ace, Naomi wins a point on his serve (2 - 5). In the 8th game the score was 15 - 40. But Su Shuwei was able to equalize the score: 40 - 40. But still, after the second "exactly" Naomi Osaka was able to convert the third match point. She won a game and a set. The account of the second half of the meeting: 2 - 6.

Meeting statistics

The meeting lasted 1 hour and 7 minutes.

Double faults: 3 - 1.

Unforced errors: 23 - 14.

Aces: 0 - 7.

Break-point realization: Xie Shuwei - 0 out of 3 = 0%; Naomi Osaka - 4 out of 12 = 33%

Active points won: 14 - 24.

Total points won: 44 - 65.

Total number of games: 16.

Thus, we can state that the privateers and bookmakers were right. Naomi won the victory effortlessly. At the same time, the rate TM19.5 passes. In the semifinals, Naomi Osaka will face the winner of the meeting: Serena Williams - Simona Halep. In this case, it does not matter who will become the rival of the Japanese woman. Both possible opponents show very strong and balanced play. As for me, this will be the central meeting of the semifinals.