2021-02-16 01:54:36 | Australian Open 2021 day nine: Hsieh Su-wei v Naomi Osaka – live! | Sport

First set: Hsieh Su-wei* 1-3 Naomi Osaka (denotes server) Trouble for Hsieh on her next service game as she falls to 0-40. But the unseeded player digs deep, and wins the next four points. Osaka then opens up her forehand to devastating effect, and again a few points later to bring up another break opportunity. And at the fourth time of asking, Osaka unleashes a backhand winner to finally make the breakthrough, and open up a two-game lead.

First set: Hsieh Su-wei 1-2 Naomi Osaka* (denotes server) Osaka holds again without too much ado, to love, and we’re still on serve early on this opening set. Remember, Osaka has the edge on head-to-heads: the Japanese leads 4-1 in the pair’s previous five meetings. But, the results mask how close those matches were.

First set: Hsieh Su-wei* 1-1 Naomi Osaka (denotes server) Hsieh, who has never before been this deep at a grand slam, is known for her unpredictability and she throws up a bit of funky stuff on her first service game today. All good for the Tawainese so far.

First set: Hsieh Su-wei 0-1 Naomi Osaka* (denotes server) Okey dokey, here we go then. And it’s not an ideal start for No 3 seed Osaka, who is forced to save an early break point (with a well-timed ace), but she gets there in the end thanks to a couple of wayward baseline shots from Hsieh. Hsieh, at 35, is not the oldest player left in the draw (Serena Williams is 39) but she is an experienced campaigner who should give Osaka plenty to think about today.

Of course, there are still no fans in the stands today – and at least until Thursday – as we await clearance from the Victorian government to lift the snap lockdown imposed from Friday last week. And with two new locally acquired cases reported today, things it would seem are still very much in the balance. We shall see.

To the action! Osaka will serve first. Ready? Play.

Here come the players onto Rod Laver Arena, both sporting hats and face masks. Osaka supplements her headgear with a pair of headphones. There’s a high of 27C in Melbourne today and it’s partially cloudy over Melbourne Park. In short, more perfect playing conditions.