Osaka set fourth round clash with Paolini at the Miami Open

Naomi Osaka came out on top in the longest match of the tournament so far to reach the fourth round on Saturday at the Miami Open.

The Japanese and former world No.1 defeated wild card Hailey Baptiste 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4 in a third-round match , and it was the longest women’s match in the ongoing event.

This year I’ve played already a couple scrappy matches,” Osaka said. “I think the fight kind of got me over it. Then I realized, like, you need to play a lot of matches like that to be I guess one of the great ones.

“So I’m hoping that I can continue.”

“For me it’s really hard because last year I was coming back from not even being in my greatest form — does that make sense?” Osaka told reporters Saturday. “When I stopped playing, I didn’t really have the fight in me anymore. I think a big basis of my game is fighting and just trying to stay as mentally strong as I can.

“Last year I had some good matches, but there were other matches where I felt like since I didn’t play perfect, it was really difficult to win, and I just couldn’t get over that hump.”

The No. 98-ranked Baptiste was up a break, serving at 4-3 in the third set when Osaka converted her third break point. After holding at love, Osaka broke Baptiste for the fifth time.

Osaka finished with 13 aces. With Baptiste’s nine aces, the two combined for 22 aces — the most in any women’s match here so far.

Osaka’s third match win here, equaling a career best, sets up a tantalizing Round of 16 matchup. For the first time this season, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion will face a Top 10 player when she meets No. 6-seed Jasmine Paolini on Monday. A win there would equal Osaka’s best result at a WTA 1000 since she returned from maternity leave. She was a quarterfinalist last February in Doha.

The day’s first result came early, with Paolini advancing to the Round of 16 when Ons Jabeur, trailing 4-3, retired with a left leg injury.

“She’s such a great person and to see her injured on the court,” Paolini said afterward. “Hope she’s going to be back soon.”