Kyodo -- Feb 08
Women's world No. 3 Naomi Osaka served up a tennis master class at the Australian Open on Wednesday with a 6-2, 6-3 second-round victory over Caroline Garcia of France in Melbourne.
Seeking a second Australian Open title to go with her two U.S. Open championships, Osaka sealed the 1-hour, 1-minute win at Rod Laver Arena, with her 10th ace of the match.
Osaka, who won her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne in 2019, made virtually no mistakes in the first set apart from a pair of double faults while her opponent pressed. Garcia rallied at the last, fighting off three set points on her serve before Osaka put the set to rest with her second service break.
She seized control of the second set by breaking in the sixth game to go up 4-2, and both players held serve the rest of the way.
"It's really hard to play opponents like her because you never know what she's going to do and how hard she's going to hit," Osaka said of Garcia, who is ranked 43rd in the world. "So (the key was) just staying within myself."
Garcia relied on some pin-point serves to score four second-set aces, but Osaka was definitely on her return game.
- Kyodo
Feb 25
Japan's Olympics minister said Wednesday that coronavirus vaccinations would not be a prerequisite for participation at this summer's Olympics and Paralympics, despite a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal that athletes be inoculated. (Kyodo)
Feb 25
Roughly 1,000 volunteers who were to help out at this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have quit in the wake of sexist comments by former organizing committee president Yoshiro Mori, the committee said Wednesday. (Kyodok)
Feb 24
Travel virtually anywhere in Japan and it won’t be long before you hear the distinctive cacophony of a pachinko parlour ringing out. (newsonjapan.com)
Feb 23
Mongolian-born yokozuna Hakuho on Monday spoke of his frustration at missing the January Grand Sumo Tournament after contracting the novel coronavirus, while remaining hopeful of a memorable return at the upcoming March meet.
(Kyodo)
Feb 22
The Japan Sumo Association imposed the second most severe punishment on stablemaster Tokitsukaze on Monday, recommending he retire for violating coronavirus protocols when he made nonurgent, nonessential outings during a basho.
(Kyodo)
Feb 20
Japan's Naomi Osaka on Saturday defeated Jeniffer Brady 6-4, 6-3 to win the Australian Open final as she continued her unbeaten streak to 21 matches (14 Grand Slam matches). (wionews.com)
Feb 19
Women's tennis star Naomi Osaka on Thursday welcomed the appointment of former Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto as the new head of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee in place of Yoshiro Mori, who resigned last week amid a storm of criticism over his sexist comments.
(Kyodo)
Feb 18
Hashimoto Seiko has officially been chosen as the president of the Tokyo Games organizing committee. She stepped down from her cabinet position as Olympics Minister.
(NHK)
Feb 18
Japanese tennis star Osaka Naomi has beaten Serena Williams in two straight sets to advance to the women's singles final at the Australian Open.
(NHK)
Feb 15
Over half of Japanese firms believe the Tokyo Olympic Games should be cancelled or postponed, a survey by think tank Tokyo Shoko Research showed on Monday, casting further doubt over the fate of the troubled Games. (Japan Today)
Feb 11
Yoshiro Mori on Thursday decided to step down as head of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee amid a furor at home and abroad over his recent discriminatory comments about women, Nikkei has learned. (Nikkei)
Feb 09
Some 390 Olympic and Paralympic volunteers have decided to give up their roles in the wake of sexist remarks by Tokyo Games organizing committee chief Yoshiro Mori, the committee said Monday.
(Japan Today)
Feb 09
Japanese tennis player Nishikori Kei has been defeated in the first round of the Australian Open.
(NHK)
Feb 09
The Asian continent has experienced tremendous growth in Sports betting recently. (newsonjapan.com)
Feb 08
Women's world No. 3 Naomi Osaka served up a tennis master class at the Australian Open on Wednesday with a 6-2, 6-3 second-round victory over Caroline Garcia of France in Melbourne.
(Kyodo)
Feb 04
After igniting a social media backlash and catching international media attention, the head of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee is apologizing for controversial comments.
(NHK)
Feb 04
Olympic officials have unveiled anti-coronavirus guidelines to be observed by international sports federations taking part in the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
(NHK)
Jan 29
Tochinoumi, who was the oldest living yokozuna, died Friday from a type of lung infection known as aspiration pneumonia at the age of 82, a Japan Sumo Association official said.
(Japan Times)
Jan 29
Three-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka of Japan has become an investor in the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the American squad announced Thursday.
(Japan Today)
Jan 29
The Spring Grand Sumo Tournament will be moved from its traditional Osaka venue to Tokyo to limit the mass travel of wrestlers and staff during the coronavirus pandemic, the Japan Sumo Association said Thursday.
(Kyodo)