By AFPMore by this AuthorMELBOURNEWorld number one Simona Halep eased into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open Monday with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over unseeded Naomi Osaka of Japan in 81 minutes. "I'm really proud I could stay focused and make every point very focused and concentrated." The big-hitting Osaka had her chances, notably in the fifth game of the first set when she squandered five points to break the Halep serve. She served out to take the set in 42 minutes and immediately broke the Japanese player again to start the second. The players matched each other with 22 winners apiece but Osaka's 31 unforced errors ultimately proved her downfall against the consistent Halep.

Source: Daily Nation January 22, 2018 08:26 UTC