Japanese people Naomi Osakaformer world number 1, returned to WTA 1,000 tennis in Rome after missing out on the 2022 and 2023 editions with victories over the French Clara Burelwhich he defeated in two sets, for 7-6(2) and 6-1.
She was unexpectedly eliminated in the first rounds in 2021, missed 2022 due to injury and withdrew from all tournaments in 2023, but Osaka, now world number 173, smiled again in Rome.
The four-time Grand Slam champion opened the women’s draw on center court and after an hour and a half of play she qualified for the second round, where she will face Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, number 20 in the ranking.
He had a set point in the first set that he missed and led the challenge to the tie-break, which he won easily.
She showed the same in the second set, where she overcame her rival in a resounding 6-1 to fight her way into the third round, where she will face Russian Daria Kasatkina, the tenth favorite in the draw.
Source: La Verdad
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