Naomi Osaka passed a stern test against No. 20 seed Sara Bejlek on Sunday, overcoming a determined challenge to earn a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory and advance to the Round of 16 in Beijing for the fourth time. The former World No. 1 needed just over two hours and five match points to secure the win.<\/p>\n
Beijing: Scores<\/a> | Order of play<\/a> | Draws<\/a><\/p>\n Osaka not only had to fend off Bejlek, but also battle difficult playing conditions that included strong winds and cold temperatures.<\/p>\n “I’m really happy with how I played,” Osaka said in her post-match interview. “Obviously the conditions weren’t amazing, but we both have to play in them, so I never try to complain [about] that. She’s an incredible player, so it’s nice to have pulled out a two-set victory against her.”<\/p>\n Little separated the two players throughout the match. Bejlek held four set points in the opening set and generated nine break-point opportunities overall, but Osaka excelled in key moments to win their first career WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz meeting.<\/p>\n Osaka also continued to prove herself as one of the tour’s best front runners. She improved to 28-2 this season when winning the first set, with her only losses in those matches coming against the world’s top two players: Aryna Sabalenka in Madrid and Elena Rybakina in Toronto.<\/p>\n Here were three keys to Osaka’s third-round win:<\/p>\n Clutch factor<\/p>\n Osaka delivered in the match’s biggest moments. After being broken late in the first set, she broke back as Bejlek served for the set. A few games later, while serving to force a tiebreak, Osaka saved four set points — including one with a well-timed volley winner — before taking four of the final five points in the tiebreak to claim the opening set after 64 minutes.<\/p>\n After Bejlek double-faulted to hand Osaka a break for a 4-2 lead in the second, the four-time Grand Slam champion again rose to the occasion, saving three break points with a trio of overheads to consolidate for a 5-2 advantage.<\/p>\n Then, after a shaky service game in which she double faulted on match point and was broken while serving for the match, Osaka regrouped. She outlasted Bejlek in a five-deuce game — the third of the match — to earn the decisive break and close out the victory.<\/p>\n Overhead mania<\/p>\n While Osaka is best known for her serve and powerful groundstrokes, she frequently moved forward against Bejlek. The tactic paid off, highlighted by a series of overhead winners.<\/p>\n She unveiled a surprise serve-and-volley early in the first set, finishing the point with one of several overhead winners before holding at love for 2-2. Later, she used a backhand volley winner to hold for 3-3.<\/p>\n Her most emphatic overhead came in the first-set tiebreak, when she hammered a winner to bring up the only set point she would need. The overhead also proved crucial late in the second set, helping Osaka fend off a barrage of break points to maintain control of the match.<\/p>\n First-serve prowess<\/p>\n Given her track record, it was no surprise that Osaka excelled behind her first serve despite facing nine break points.<\/p>\n Big serve \ud83d\udc4a @naomiosaka takes the opening set, 7-6(4)! #ChinaOpen https:\/\/t.co\/Gc8Yr9oEax<\/p>\n