ADMITTING she has not got “any power” and she is “skinny”, Japanese qualifier Aoi Ito has made a name for herself in Osaka. The 188th ranked Japanese hope knows where her strengths and weaknesses lie, and focuses on what she can do, rather than she cannot, leading her to a quarter finals appearance in the WTA 250 event.

The 20-year-old enjoys being “unconventional” in every sense of the word, and she was able to mastermind a another victory against a higher ranked opponent. After defeating Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round, Ito took out eighth seed Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the Round of 16.

In her latest match, Ito won 6-4 6-3 to reach the quarter finals of the Osaka event, and already move up 26 spots from the victories. Currently the sixth highest ranked Japanese player, she would overtake Nao Hibino and move into the Top 50 with a victory in the next match. A finals appearance would result in a 109th placed effort, overtaking two more compatriots in the process.

“The player I admire is Hsieh Su-Wei,” Ito said. “Even though I’m skinny, I can beat foreign players. I’m aiming to play tennis like Hsieh, and I’m trying to become unique.

“I don’t have any power, so I try to compete by technique. “By slicing, by drop shots, by figuring out how to beat power.”

It has worked so far, with Ito winning on Center Court with fans behind her, thanks to a consistent serving game. She won 62 per cent of her first serve points serving at a high clip of 73 per cent. Though she struggled off her second serve (30 per cent) due to that lack of power, her opponent Cocciaretto was unable to take advantage of her first serve, winning just 44 per cent of points despite an 85 per cent efficiency.

Ito is poised to face off against talented young German Eva Lys in the quarter finals after the Ukrainian-born 22-year-old took out American McCartney Kessler in three tight sets, 7-6 3-6 7-5. There is plenty on the line for the German, because if she can make the Osaka final, she will enter the Top 100 for the first time.

In the other singles match, talented but injury-prone Dane Clara Tauson easily got past Brit Harriet Dart in 91 minutes, 6-3 6-2 to reach the last eight of the event.

Ningbo Open | Ningbo, China – WTA 500

After a little delay, the first round of the WTA 500 event in China was completed with a couple of Australians on the wrong end of the results. Qualifying duo Olivia Gadecki and Ajla Tomljanovic both went down in the Round of 32 to Karolina Muchova and Yue Yuan respectively.

A step ahead of them, the first four quarter finalists were decided with former would number three and eighth seed Paula Badosa and Russian talent Daria Kasatkina both needing to come back from a set down to win their respective Center Court matches. Teenager Mirra Andreeva had it far easier, skipping past German lucky loser Tamara Korpatsch 6-0 6-4 in an hour and 26 minutes.

Nordic Open | Stockholm, Sweden – ATP 250

Like in China, the last of the first round matches were finally completed, with the contest everyone wanted to see going the way of veteran wildcard Stan Wawrinka. He fought off in-form and talented young American Brandon Nakashima 6-4 6-4, joining Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Frenchman Quentin Halys in the Round of 16.

Meanwhile Wawrinka’s compatriot Dominic Stricker caused a huge upset by downing the red-hot Matteo Berrettini in straight sets 7-6 6-4, in what was a bad day for the Italians with Lorenzo Sonego also bowing out at the hands of second seed Casper Ruud. Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor snapped British qualifier Jacob Fearnley impressive recent winning record, while American Tommy Paul also secured a quarter finals spot.

European Open | Antwerp, Belgium – ATP 250

Just the one Round of 32 match needed to be completed in Antwerp with German Daniel Altmaier making his way into the second round. The day saw Australian Alex de Minaur make his return from injury to overcome a sluggish start before eventually putting away Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena, 2-6 6-4 6-2.

Another Spanish hope in Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry in two tight sets 7-6 6-4, with Etcheverry joining fellow South American Mariano Navone as outs in the tournament after the Argentinian went down to France’s Hugo Gaston in a two-hour and 49-minute epic, 6-4 6-7 7-6. Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime also won in three sets over Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, 6-7 6-4 6-2.

Almaty Open | Almaty, Kazakhstan – ATP 250

Having the extra day’s rest after a big run to the semi-finals in Shanghai, Tomas Machac kicked off his campaign in Almaty with a 6-3 6-4 triumph over local wildcard Timofey Skatov. He and Australian Aleksandar Vukic were the two completing the first round on day three, as the fifth seeds sets his sights on Alexander Shevchenko in the Round of 16.

Speaking of the Round of 16, second seed Alejandro Tabilo knocked off German Maximilian Marterer 6-2 6-4, while fourth seeded Francisco Cerundolo was too good for German Justin Engel in a tight 6-4 7-6 result. It was a similar case for Canadian Gabriel Diallo‘s victory over Croatian Borna Coric, 7-6 6-4 to reach the quarter finals.