China Open: Osaka cruises through opening round

Beijing: 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).