TOKYO, September 19, 2018 (News Wires) - Japan's Naomi Osaka pulverised Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-1 to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals on Wednesday in her first match since her historic US Open triumph. The 20-year-old, who stunned Serena Williams to become Japan's first grand slam singles champion earlier this month, fired down 10 aces in a fearsome display of wham-bam tennis in Tokyo. Osaka came out firing and ripped a fizzing forehand down the line on the first point, the third seed powering away to close out the first set with a pair of thundering aces. A dazed Cibulkova had no answer to Osaka's firepower as the world No 7 wrapped up a comfortable victory with a ferocious cross-court backhand after just 59 minutes. "I didn't really feel any pressure," said Osaka, who reached the Tokyo final in 2016. "It was really difficult because she's such a great player but I just thought it was more fun. "My serve was really good," added Japan's latest sporting celebrity. "I'm just grateful to be able to play here again." Earlier, sixth seed Garbine Muguruza was upset by American qualifier Alison Riske 6-1, 6-2 in an abject performance from the Spanish former world No 1, who looked a shadow of the player who captured the 2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon titles. Riske advances to face fourth seed Karolina Pliskova, another player to have previously held the women's top ranking. The Czech recovered from a set down to beat Australia's Daria Gavrilova 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and avenge her opponent's defeat of twin sister Kristyna earlier this week. But she made hard work of it, trashing a racquet in frustration as she slipped behind 4-1 in the deciding set before clawing her way back. "The first set was in my hands but I made some stupid mistakes," said Pliskova, who ended Gavrilova's resistance with a clever drop volley after two hours and 21 minutes. "I tried to stay positive and even though I broke my racquet I tried to keep fighting because you always have a chance." Second seed Caroline Garcia flirted with an early exit as the Frenchwoman overcame Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 to reach the last eight of the prestigious Tokyo event, whose list of former champions includes Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Kimiko Date and Martina Hingis. Meanwhile, world number one Rafael Nadal has been forced to withdraw from the China Open in Beijing and the Shanghai Masters next month as he recovers from his latest knee problems. The 17-times Grand Slam champion was forced to retire from his US Open semi-final with Juan Martin del Potro earlier this month, and has confirmed on Twitter that he will not be back in time for the Asian swing. Nadal, 32, was due to defend his China Open title in early October while he lost to Roger Federer in the final of the Shanghai Masters event a year ago. "Hello everyone, as you know I had to retire from the party of semi-finals in the US Open and this past Monday I was in Barcelona watching with doctors the situation of my knee," wrote Nadal. "While the annoyances on my knee are nothing new, we have decided together with my medical and technical team not to participate in the Asian tour to recover the knee the way we have always done. "I'm sorry I can't be with all the fans in China who are so many and with the organizers of the Beijing and Shanghai tournaments that have always given me and my team so much attention." Wimbledon and US Open champion Novak Djokovic will hope Nadal's absence can help his push to become the prestigious season-ending number one at the Paris Masters and World Tour finals in November with Nadal's injury opening the door for his return to top spot.
