Nao Hibino is the fifth Japanese singles player to reach the second round at the Rio Summer Olympics, completing a 6-0 record for Japanese players in first round matches. Hibino had been able to complete in Rio after being granted a place by ITF, and recorded a positive debut with her win against Irina-Camelia Begu, whom she had lost to just a few days ago in the quarterfinals of Brasil Tennis Cup.

In Florianopolis, the Romanian played a full week, ending it with a win for the title; in Rio she probably endured the fatigue, and eased the work to Hibino, who hadn’t been able to take a set from the more experienced player in their previous meeting. 

For Begu, this had been the second straight first-round loss in singles at the Olympics, after the one she suffered in 2012 after eventual bronze winner Victoria Azarenka. Despite her loss in singles, Begu will be able to continue her Rio campaign in doubles, pairing Monica Niculescu.

Hibino takes important points to gain the lead

The match began with the Japanese rushing ahead for an early lead. After a quick hold, Hibino frustrates a 40-0 advantage from Begu on her serve to score five points in a row and immediately get the first break of the match. She saved three break points to consolidate the lead, and then break to love to secure a 4-0 advantage.

Begu didn’t linger, and quickly turned the tables around. Two comfortable holds and only two break points needed, that Hibino couldn’t save, and she didn’t struggle to level-off the game to a 4-all. 

Hibino held to 15 to win her first game of the last five ones, and then went 40-0 up on Begu’s serve to immediately grant herself three set points. She converted the second to close the set 6-4 and conquer a one-set lead.

Irina-Camelia Begu competing at her first Olympics in London 2012, where she faced medalist Victoria Azarenka in the first round [Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]

Begu battles back and forces into a decider

The second set saw Begu more solid on serve, and Hibino more in struggle during her return games, which eased the Romanian’s path to attempt a comeback.

She quickly broke the Japanese to open the set, and saved one break point to keep her lead; after comfortable holds from both players, the late part of the set translated into long, battled games, in which none of the players went far enough to become a real threat on the opponent’s serve. Begu gained two more break points as the set went ahead, but Hibino saved both, without being able to find herself any chance to level-off the game.

In the last game, the Japanese lost another close battle to drop her serve one more time, and eventually lost a set in which she won only three games.

Nao Hibino made her debut as a Japan representative at Fed Cup in February. In Rio she achieved her second win overall for her country [Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]
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Hibino conquers a close fight to grab the win

A better consistency by Hibino on her return games and a real struggle from Begu on both first and second serve (with five double-faults and only three points won with her second serve) gave the Japanese a huge help as they entered the decider. 

After failing to convert one break point to start the set, the 21-year-old won four games in a row to repeat the pattern of the first set, quickly going 4-1 up.

From that score on, none of the players managed to win a single game on serve, beginning a long battle in which Begu won only three games on her serve. Hibino equally struggled, but the one break up she conquered at the beginning of the set resulted crucial for the final result; up 40-15 on Begu as the 25-year-old was serving to stay in the match, Hibino couldn’t convert her first match point, but succeeded with the second, closing the set 6-3 and defeating the odds to end Begu’s singles campaign. 

Nao Hibino joins fellow Japanese Misaki Doi in the second round. She’ll have to battle against third seed Garbiñe Muguruza to advance in the tournament.

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