MELBOURNE, Australia -- Defending champion Naomi Osaka didn't make it to a much-anticipated fourth-round contest against top-ranked Ashleigh Barty at the Australian Open.
Amanda Anisimova, a 20-year-old American ranked 60th in the world, ensured that so-called final-before-the-final won't happen when she beat the four-time major champion 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) Friday.
"I knew I had to be playing sharp if I wanted to give myself a chance," said Anisimova, who took out Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in the second round and then accounted for the 2021 Australian Open champion.