February 16, (THEWILL) – Former world number one Naomi Osaka was knocked out of the 2024 Qatar Open by fellow ex-top-ranked player Karolina Pliskova 7-6, 7-6 in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The Japanese star, who recently returned from maternity leave, struggled to find her form against the Czech’s strong serving and net play.
Despite solid returns and aggressive baseline shots, Osaka could not overcome Pliskova’s dominance on serve. The Czech fired 11 aces and won a remarkable 92% of first-serve points. Osaka had breakpoint chances in both sets but failed to convert as Pliskova raised her game each time.
This marathon clash lasted nearly two hours but the 26-year-old Osaka simply ran out of steam. She made 34 unforced errors to Pliskova’s 19. It was a second straight loss to Pliskova after an early exit in Brisbane last month.
Pliskova, currently ranked 59th, continued her amazing form having already won the Transylvania Open on Sunday. She has now won nine of her last ten matches and looks in peak condition. The former world number one will face top seed Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.
After a difficult 2023 due to injuries and off-court issues, Osaka hoped the Qatar Open would help rebuild her confidence. But this loss shows she still has work ahead to regain her best tennis before the major clay and grass court seasons begin.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
