Osaka squeezes past Baptiste to earn shot at Paolini

MIAMI -- When she left the Hologic WTA Tour in the fall of 2022, Naomi Osaka was ranked in the mid-40s and playing something less than the sublime tennis that won her four Grand Slam singles titles.

When she returned 15 months later from maternity leave -- understandably -- Osaka struggled to summon the old fighting spirit that had sustained her.

“For me it’s really hard because last year I was coming back from not even being in my greatest form -- does that make sense?” Osaka told reporters Saturday. “When I stopped playing, I didn’t really have the fight in me anymore. I think a big basis of my game is fighting and just trying to stay as mentally strong as I can. 

“Last year I had some good matches, but there were other matches where I felt like since I didn’t play perfect, it was really difficult to win, and I just couldn’t get over that hump.”

On Saturday at the Miami Open, facing wild card Hailey Baptiste in a third-round match, Osaka found herself in another of those dire, do-or-don’t situations. This time -- after 2 hours, 59 minutes (and 57 seconds) -- she got over the hump.

The final was 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4, and it was the longest women’s match of the tournament.

“This year I’ve played already a couple scrappy matches,” Osaka said. “I think the fight kind of got me over it. Then I realized, like, you need to play a lot of matches like that to be I guess one of the great ones.

“So I’m hoping that I can continue.”

The No. 98-ranked Baptiste was up a break, serving at 4-3 in the third set when Osaka converted her third break point. After holding at love, Osaka broke Baptiste for the fifth time. 

Osaka finished with 13 aces. With Baptiste’s nine aces, the two combined for 22 aces -- the most in any women’s match here so far.

There were times when Osaka lost her composure, tossing her racquet in frustration. 

“But I also feel like I was trying to be really positive and really vocal,” Osaka said. “So I might have been a little annoying to her on that end, too. But I felt like I needed to do that to, I guess, push myself to continue.”

How much did the match take out of her?

“I feel fine right now,” she said. “I’m not sure about tomorrow morning. But I also feel like I’ve built up a pretty good tolerance and fitness. I think while I was playing, I felt like I could play some more, so I feel like that’s a good sign.”

Up next: Paolini

Osaka’s third match win here, equaling a career best, sets up a tantalizing Round of 16 matchup. For the first time this season, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion will face a Top 10 player when she meets No. 6-seed Jasmine Paolini on Monday.  A win there would equal Osaka’s best result at a WTA 1000 since she returned from maternity leave. She was a quarterfinalist last February in Doha.

The day’s first result came early, with Paolini advancing to the Round of 16 when Ons Jabeur, trailing 4-3, retired with a left leg injury.

“She’s such a great person and to see her injured on the court,” Paolini said afterward. “Hope she’s going to be back soon.”

This was Paolini’s first win over a Top 30 player after five consecutive losses. Last year, the diminutive Italian was a revelation, reaching the finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Everything was a pleasant surprise for her -- this year that’s not the case.

“In Miami it is,” she said laughing. “Happy to be in the fourth round -- never won two matches here.”

The third will be a big ask. Paolini knows exactly what to expect from Osaka, even though she’s never played or practiced with her.

“I think a fast match,” Paolini said. “I’m going to expect big serve, big return and big shots, of course. I think I have to stay there every point, be solid and consistent. Not going to be easy because she’s playing so fast.”