Naomi Osaka’s Winning Streak Crumbles in Rome Open Showdown
In a nail-biting Rome Open round-of-16 match, Naomi Osaka’s triumphant wave crashed as she lost to Peyton Stearns in a three-set rollercoaster. The battle lasted almost three hours, with Stearns clinching a tight 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) victory over the former world No. 1, ending Osaka’s eight-match winning streak.
Stearns, ranked 42nd in the world, took the lead early in the game, securing a crucial break in the third game of the opener, which proved pivotal in claiming the first set. Despite facing a set down, Osaka fought back in the second set, breaking Stearns in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead and eventually force a decider.
The match took a dramatic turn as Osaka surged to a 2-0 lead in the third set, appearing to dominate. However, Stearns mounted a fierce comeback, leading to a tense tie-break where she rallied from a 2-4 deficit to seal the victory with five consecutive points.
In a surprising twist, Stearns experienced physical distress, vomiting both before the third-set tie-break and after her hard-fought win over Osaka. In a post-match interview, the American revealed, “I think in the tiebreak I was just trying not to throw up in the middle of the court. I wasn’t feeling the best. I dug deep. I don’t think I’ve dug that deep in a while.”
Stearns’ resilience and determination shone through, earning her a well-deserved spot in the next round against the winner of the Elina Svitolina versus Danielle Collins clash. The unexpected turn of events in Rome left fans on the edge of their seats, witnessing a fierce battle between two talented athletes.
AloJapan.com