Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, began the China Open with a solid performance, defeating Lucia Bronzetti from Italy 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday. This match was significant as it was Osaka’s first under her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. The match lasted 83 minutes, and Osaka showcased her skills against the world’s 77th-ranked player.
Upcoming Match
Previously, Osaka won the China Open in 2019. After a four-year hiatus from tournaments in China due to COVID-19 and a boycott related to Peng Shuai’s situation, she is excited to return. Next, she will face Yulia Putintseva, the 21st seed from Kazakhstan, in the second round.
Training with Mouratoglou
The 26-year-old Osaka started training with Mouratoglou before this part of the women’s tour. She parted ways with her previous coach, Wim Fissette, after an unsatisfactory second-round exit at the U.S. Open. After her recent match, Osaka expressed, “I want to avoid regrets. I’d rather take chances and learn as much as I can at this stage of my career.”
Match Highlights
In the first set, both players exchanged breaks until Osaka made a crucial break in the seventh game. She maintained her momentum in the second set, breaking Bronzetti twice more to secure her victory.
Other Matches
In other matches, former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin won against Ana Bogdan of Romania 7-5, 6-2. Kenin will next compete against 12th-seeded Diana Shnaider. American Taylor Townsend also moved to the second round by defeating Martina Trevisan 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, while Katie Volynets beat Dalma Galfi 7-5, 6-1.
In contrast, McCartney Kessler faced a narrow defeat against Zhang Shuai from China, losing 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1). Meanwhile, China’s Wang Xinyu won against Mai Hontama of Japan with a score of 6-1, 6-3.
Tournament Overview
U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, will begin her tournament in the second round on Friday against the winner of Zarina Diyas and Mananchaya Sawangkaew. Iga Swiatek, currently ranked number one, is not participating this week due to personal reasons.
The men’s tournament starts Thursday, featuring top-ranked players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who have won all four Grand Slam titles this year. Alexander Zverev, ranked second, announced he would not compete in Beijing as he recovers from an illness.
Japan Open
In the Japan Open, second-seeded Hubert Hurkacz won a three-set match against Marcos Giron 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4. This victory marked Hurkacz’s 40th win of the season, improving his record against Giron to 3-0.
Matteo Berrettini also started strong in Tokyo, winning against Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, hitting seven aces and breaking his opponent four times. Berrettini, who is now ranked 45th, may face top-seeded Taylor Fritz in the next round. Fritz is coming off a Grand Slam final appearance at the U.S. Open and will play against Arthur Fils in his opening match on Thursday.
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