Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka reaches first round of China Open
Former top seed Naomi Osaka began the China Open with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti on Wednesday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion was the main attraction on day one and displayed her superiority by winning her first-round match against the 77th-ranked Italian in 83 minutes.
Osaka, who won the 2019 China Open title before the COVID-19 pandemic struck and tournaments in China were cancelled for four years due to the WTA’s boycott of China over Peng Shuai’s health, will play 21st seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the second round.
“I’m so happy to be able to play on this court again,” Osaka said on court. “And I hope I can lift the trophy again soon.”
After being down a break in the first set, Osaka scored the decisive break in the seventh game of the first set.
He increased the pressure in the second set with some big serves and broke Bronzetti’s serve twice to seal the win.
Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin won, beating Romania’s Ana Bogdan 7-5, 6-2.
The 25-year-old Kenin, one of a record 15 American women in the draw in Beijing, will now face 12th seed Diana Schnyder in the second round.
American Taylor Townsend will join Kenin in the second round after beating Martina Trevisan 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Also, China’s Wang Xinyu defeated Japan’s Mai Hontama 6-1, 6-3 and Yulia Starodubtseva defeated Laura Siegemund 6-4, 7-6 (3).
US Open champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka will begin her tournament in the second round on Friday against the winner of the match between Zarina Diyas and Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
Top seed Iga Swiatek, winner of four WTA 1000 events this season, is not playing this week, citing personal reasons.
The men’s tournament starts on Thursday and features top-ranked Jannik Sinner and third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, who have won all four Grand Slam titles this season.
Second-seeded Alexander Zverev said earlier in the week that he would not play in Beijing as he recovers from illness.
Matteo Berrettini began his campaign at the Japan Open with a straightforward 6-3, 6-4 win over Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands.
The big-serving Italian hit seven aces and broke Van de Zandschulp four times.
Former sixth seed Berrettini, now ranked 45th, could play top seed Taylor Fritz in the second round. Fritz, who played his first Grand Slam final at the US Open this month, will play Frenchman Arthur Fils in his first match on Thursday.
Earlier, Argentina’s Mariano Navon defeated Italy’s Luciano Darderi 6-4, 6-4.