TOKYO - Japan's former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka made a surprise second-round exit at the Pan Pacific Open on Thursday after losing to 18-year-old Mia Pohankova of Slovakia 6-3, 7-5.
Four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka, currently 18th in the world, suffered an upset against the 144th-ranked youngster who outhit the home favorite 7-3 in both winners and aces at Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo.
"It's really nice, I'm really proud of myself," Pohankova, who won the junior women's title at Wimbledon last year, said in an on-court interview. "It's the first time I play against such a hard player and I feel really, really good."
"(I) was watching her when I was younger and watching her when she won the Grand Slams, and now I play against her. I think it's like a dream and I'm really, really happy."
The tournament's 2019 winner, Osaka broke first to lead 2-0 in the first set but Pohankova broke straight back and broke twice more with accurate forehand winners to take control of the match.
Pohankova had the only break to seal the tightly contested second set as Osaka, who was back at the tournament for the first time in four years, sent her forehand long.
