Naomi Osaka showed her dominance in her opening match at the Italian Open by defeating Clara Burel 7-6 (2), 6-1. This victory marked Osaka’s first win over a top-50 player on clay since the 2019 French Open. The Japanese tennis star displayed mental toughness after dropping her serve while serving for the first set at 5-3. Osaka expressed her pride in being able to maintain her focus and eventually close out the match on her terms.
This tournament is significant for Osaka as it marks her return to Rome since 2019, where she reached the quarterfinals. Despite her hiatus from the sport due to maternity leave, Osaka demonstrated her prowess on the court by serving eight aces and hitting 27 winners compared to her opponent’s 10. Her next challenge will be against 19th-seeded Marta Kostyuk, who recently reached the final of a clay event in Stuttgart, Germany.
In other matches at the Italian Open, qualifier Bernarda Pera secured a win over Caroline Dolehide and will now face the top-ranked Iga Swiatek. Magda Linette also emerged victorious against Zhu Lin, while Brenda Fruhvirtova and Lesia Tsurenko battled their way to wins. Despite the rain causing several postponements, the competition remains fierce in both the men’s and women’s draws.
Unfortunately, the tournament saw the withdrawal of top players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Matteo Berrettini due to injuries. The absence of these formidable talents has opened up opportunities for other competitors to make their mark in the tournament. Additionally, Italian player Camila Giorgi announced her retirement, marking the end of her successful career on the professional circuit.
As the last big warm-up tournament before the French Open, the Italian Open serves as a crucial testing ground for players looking to fine-tune their skills ahead of the Grand Slam event. With top players like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic returning to action in Rome, the competition promises to be intense as players jostle for momentum heading into the upcoming major tournament, set to begin on May 26th.