Flushing Meadows, New York – E don land! This Saturday, dem go see Naomi Osaka face Daria Kasatkina for the third round of di US Open, and gbori sabi say this match no go be small matter at all.
Osaka, wey don grab four Grand Slam titles, including two sweet ones for di US Open, dey come into dis match as di number 23 seed. She don dey hot like fire dis week as she slice through her opening matches, defeating Greet Minnen and Hailey Baptiste without breaking a sweat. Na only one double fault she get across dem matches! (E be like say dis babe don sit down collect serious tennis lessons o.)
As she dey aim to reach di second week of a major for di first time since she collect di Australian Open title for 2021, you fit no blame am if her eyes dey shine like pounded yam wey just land for table. But if she gree win dis match, e fit set am up for big Round of 16 match on Monday.
Kasatkina, di No. 15 seed, dey look to spoil Osaka’s party. She don face wahala for her path, wey her journey no sweet like as she struggle against Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Kamilla Rakhimova before she finally survive dem. Dem say she get tactical variety and defensive skills, but make we clear: if Osaka carry her A-game, e go hard for Kasatkina to gree pull any stunt.
Naomi don beat Kasatkina for di two times wey dem don meet before, so abeg hold your popcorn make we see if dis third time no go fit make am three out of three. Dem dey call dis match na ‘Rivalry Oh!’ (No be joke, e fit be believe or no believe toast.)
Match dey set to start around 1:10 PM Eastern time, after di Musetti-Cobolli game for di Louis Armstrong Stadium. If you wan catch am live, oshey to ESPN2 and di ESPN app. For diehard fans wey wan follow every beat, dem get dedicated match stream for ESPN+ too (but make una no forget say e dey cost small change o!).
In this year of surprises, sabi say Kasatkina is also no slouch. She don show how she fit bounce back even when cramps dey try to scatter her brain. She don talk say even at 4-1 down, e no easy but she fight am back. (Na so dem dey talk say ‘perseverance’ for sports, abi na another thing?)
No matter di outcome, dis match go sure be one valiant battle. So, make you sit down, grab your palm wine, and enjoy di action wey dey come this weekend. Who you think go carry di day? Place your bets (but no gamble with wetin your pocket no fit carry o!).
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