Top 5 Photos 2/5: Osaka ups winning streak to 14 matches

By Jordaan SanfordPublished February 05, 2021

Tennis is back! After a day of no tennis due to a hotel quarantine guard testing positive for COVID-19, the players were back in action at all six warm up events. There were upsets, triumphs and even a few withdrawals Down Under.

These are the Top 5 photos from Friday:

Naomi Osaka's Winning Streak Continues

Make that 14 consecutive matches for the world No. 3. Osaka pulled through a tough opening set against Irina-Camelia Begu and was locked in for the entire match to post a 7-5, 6-1 scoreline. The Gippsland Trophy's No. 2 seed will next face No. 7 seed Elise Mertens for a spot in the final of the Australian Open warm-up event.

Japan's Naomi Osaka wearing face mask arrives to face Romania's Irina Begu in their Gippsland Trophy women's singles quarter-final match in Melbourne on February 5, 2021. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images) — © AFP via Getty Images

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Alexander Zverev Fires Back!

Although the German gave the world No. 1 a difficult time and even saved match point, he would fall, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 5-7, to Team Serbia's Novak Djokovic. The fight was far from over, however, as Zverev came back on the doubles court alongside Jan-Lennard Struff. The two would slip past Djokovic and Nikola Cacic, 7-6(4), 5-7, 10-7 to clinch the win for Germany and advance to the ATP Cup's semifinals.

Germany's Alexander Zverev signs autographs for fans after he and partner Jan-Lennard Struff beat Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Nikola Cacic in their ATP Cup group A men's doubles tennis match in Melbourne on February 5, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images) — © AFP via Getty Images

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Stan the Man Advances

The world No. 18 came out strong by taking the first set, but found himself down 3-5 in a decider and on the brink of losing his first match of the year to Alex Bolt. The 35-year-old turned the tables once again and ultimately claimed the match, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5) to advance into the Murray River Open quarterfinals.

Later, though, he would withdraw from his scheduled quarterfinal clash with France's Jeremy Chardy.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 05: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland plays a backhand in his match against Alex Bolt of Australia during day five of the ATP 250 Murray River Open at Melbourne Park on February 05, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images) — © @Mike Owen Photograhpher

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Team France Bows Out on High Note

Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin may have fallen short against Austria and ended their ATP Cup campaign, but they finished strong. The French duo posted a seamless 6-3, 6-3 score over Philipp Oswald and Tristan-Samuel Weissborn. Mahut also managed a 7-6 (2), 6-2 win over Dennis Novak in singles to finish second in Group C.

France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin (R) gives a hand to his partner Nicolas Mahut during their ATP Cup group C men's doubles tennis match against Austria's Tristan-Samuel Weissborn and Philipp Oswald in Melbourne on February 5, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images) — © AFP via Getty Images

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Simona Halep Falls

The Romanian hasn't competed in a WTA event since last October at the rescheduled Roland Garros, and it appeared she was feeling lower back pain during her quarterfinal bout against Ekaterina Alexandrova. The world No. 33 surged past the Gippsland Trophy No. 1 seed, 6-2, 6-1, to take a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head record.

Romania's Simona Halep leaves the court after losing against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova during their Gippsland Trophy women's singles match in Melbourne on February 5, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images) — © AFP via Getty Images

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