Naomi Osaka, the former world No. 1 from Japan, has made a strong return to competitive tennis, continuing her momentum from a recent tournament victory. On Wednesday, she secured a convincing first-round win against Italy’s Sara Errani at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. The match concluded with a score of 6-2, 6-3 in a swift 79 minutes, showcasing Osaka’s remarkable form as she delivered 40 winners and maintained a 7-0 advantage in aces.
Osaka’s victory follows her recent success at a WTA 125 clay-court event in Saint-Malo, France, marking her first tournament title since returning from maternity leave. Currently ranked No. 48 in the world, Osaka has an impressive resume with two Australian Open (2019, 2021) and two U.S. Open titles (2018, 2020).
Reflecting on her performance, Osaka emphasized her desire to focus solely on the game rather than the pressures of public expectation. “I didn’t want to have too much of an ego playing that tournament,” she stated, highlighting her commitment to gaining experience on clay courts in preparation for the upcoming French Open.
In additional matches from the tournament, Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu battled through to eliminate qualifier Maya Joint of Australia in a three-set match, while other competitors such as Bianca Andreescu and Victoria Azarenka won their matches decisively. Also of note, Greece’s Maria Sakkari advanced after Swiss player Belinda Bencic retired from their match.
Osaka’s comeback is inspiring and indicative of determination, demonstrating that with dedication and hard work, athletes can return to form after significant breaks. As she continues her journey back to the top, fans are excited to see how she performs in the upcoming matches and tournaments.