Coach Advice Sees Osaka Through To Brisbane International Semi's

Coach Advice Sees Osaka Through To Brisbane International Semi's

By: Francis Joseph

Naomi Osaka called in her coach for advice on how to swing momentum after losing the first set to
Anastasija Sevastova, and it did the trick.

The U.S. Open champion responded by conceding only five points in the next set on her way to a 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 win on Thursday that secured her spot in the Brisbane International semi-finals.

Osaka was clearly under pressure against the eighth-seeded Sevastova, who had won both of their head-to-head meetings last year and converted two service breaks in the first set.

A disconsolate-looking Osaka went to a courtside chair at the changeover. And whatever coach Sascha Bajin told her during a quick, animated conference, it worked.

She finished with 11 aces, converted all four of her breakpoint chances in the second and third sets and appeared far more confident in her own game.

Bajin, a former hitting partner for Serena Williams, really just gave her a reality check. He told Osaka to stay calm and wait for her opportunities.

"She's one of the best players in the world. I just have to stay in there, and hopefully I'll get a chance,'" Osaka said. "I did, so I just kept trying to roll with it. He literally told me that."

The 21-year-old Osaka will play Lesia Tsurenko, a 7-5, 6-3 winner over Anett Kontaveit, in the semi-finals. She could rise to No. 3 in the rankings next week - which would be a record high for a player from Japan.

Osaka has now made the semi-finals or better at four of her last five tournaments, a streak that began with her run to a first major title that culminated with a memorable win over Williams in the U.S. Open final. And it has all been a significant boost to her confidence ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on Jan. 14.

"I feel like right now I'm really confident in myself, and I feel like the offseason training that I've been doing is really paying off," she said. "And I'm not sure if I would have had the same feeling six months ago. Six months ago I didn't win the U.S. Open."