Osaka plays solidly in her opening match at the Italian Open. Darderi eliminates Shapovalov
ROME (AP) — Naomi Osaka looked comfortable in her opening match at the Italian Open, beating 45th-ranked Clara Burel 7-6 (2), 6-1 on Wednesday.
It was Osaka’s first victory over a top-50 player on clay since defeating Victoria Azarenka at the 2019 French Open.
Osaka was proud of the way she maintained her mental focus after dropping her serve while serving for the first set at 5-3.
“Just being able to hang in there and eventually close it on my terms is something that I’m very proud of myself for,” she said.
It’s also the first time that Osaka is playing in Rome since 2019 — when she reached the quarterfinals.
Osaka, who was formerly ranked No. 1 but is now No. 173 after a maternity break, served eight aces and produced 27 winners to her opponent’s 10. She’ll next face 19th-seeded Marta Kostyuk, who reached the final of a clay event in Stuttgart, Germany, recently.
Related articles
A Cambodian court sentences a union leader to 18 months in prison for comments on Facebook
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A Cambodian labor union leader has been sentenced to 18 months in prison2024-05-09- The South team rallied to beat the North team 138-122 in the 2024 CBA All-Star Game in Xiamen on Sun2024-05-09
Shenzhen to host 2025 FIBA Women's Asia Cup
The FIBA Regional Office - Asia announced on Thursday that the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025 will b2024-05-09- Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-09
Maradona’s missing trophy has resurfaced and will be auctioned in Paris
Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy from the 1986 World Cup has resurfaced. The award, which had bee2024-05-09Hoping for a World Without Illness
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-09
atest comment