Latvia’s Sevastova won both her meetings with Osaka last year and she looked set to record her third consecutive triumph over the Japanese when she claimed the opening set 6-3 in 33 minutes. Encouraged by her coach Sascha Bajin, Osaka turned the match around, bageling her opponent in the second set and staying in charge in the third set for a 3-6 6-0 6-4 victory. After today’s match, Sascha Bajin received the WTA Coach of the Year Award and our Jimmie48 photographed the happy team.
Osaka’s semifinal opponent will be Lesia Tsurenko, who beat Anett Kontaveit 7-5 6-3 in the second semifinal on Thursday.