Osaka cruises through opening round
at China Open
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[September 25, 2024]
BEIJING (AP) — Former top-ranked Naomi Osaka started the
China Open with a routine 6-3, 6-2 victory over Lucia Bronzetti of
Italy on Wednesday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion was the headline act on the
opening day and showed her class in closing out the first-round
match against the No.77-ranked Italian player in 83 minutes.
Osaka, who claimed the 2019 China Open before COVID-19 and a WTA
boycott of China over the wellbeing of Peng Shuai forced the
cancellation of tournaments in China for four years, next plays
Yulia Putintseva, a 21st-seeded player from Kazahkstan, in the
second round.
“I’m glad that I’m able to be able to play on this court again,”
Osaka said on court. “And I hope to be able to lift a trophy again
sometime soon.”
After trading breaks in the first set, Osaka made the decisive break
in the seventh game of the first set.
On the back of some big serving she increased the pressure in the
second set, breaking Bronzetti twice more to seal victory.
Former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin progressed with a 7-5, 6-2
win over Ana Bogdan of Romania.
The 25-year-old Kenin, one of a record 15 American women in the draw
in Beijing, next plays 12th-seeded Diana Shnaider 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 beat Mai Hontama of Japan 6-1, 6-3 and
Yuliia Starodubtseva defeated Laura Siegemund 6-4, 7-6 (3).
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U.S. Open champion and top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka
begins her tournament in the second round on Friday against the
winner of the match between Zarina Diyas and Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek, a winner of four WTA 1000
events this season, is not playing this week citing personal
reasons.
The men's tournament begins Thursday and is headlined by top-ranked
Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who accounted for all four
Grand Slam titles this season.
Second-ranked Alexander Zverev said earlier in the week he would not
be playing in Beijing as he recovers from an illness.
Japan Open
Matteo Berrettini started his Japan Open campaign with a
straightforward 6-3, 6-4 win over Botic van de Zandschulp of the
Netherlands.
The big-serving Italian fired seven aces and broke van de Zandschulp
four times.
Former sixth-ranked Berrettini, now No. 45, could next play
top-seeded Taylor Fritz in the second round. Fritz, who made his
first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open this month, plays Frenchman
Arthur Fils in his opening match on Thursday.
Earlier, Mariano Navone of Argentina beat Italy's Luciano Darderi
6-4, 6-4.
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