Naomi Osaka downs Irina-Camelia Begu to reach Gippsland Trophy semis

World no. 3 Naomi Osaka is through to the semi-final at the Gippsland Trophy, ousting Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-1 in an hour and 16 minutes to remain on the title course.

The Japanese fired seven aces and saved two of three break chances to mount the pressure on the other side of the net. Struggling on the second serve, Begu got broken four times, fighting hard in the opener before losing ground in set number two to push Osaka over the top.

The Romanian grabbed a break at 1-1 when the Japanese sent a forehand long before Naomi broke back in the next game following a sharp forehand winner. Osaka saved two break points at 4-4 to avoid another setback and grabbed a break at 6-5 when Camelia-Begu hit a double fault. Naomi produced three comfortable holds in set number two and grabbed breaks in games four and six, moving over the top with a hold at love at 5-1 and set the clash against Mertens or Svitolina.

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