Naomi Osaka opens Madrid campaign in style
The Japanese will meet either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Sar Sorribes Tormo in round two
Zuma/Panoramic
Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka began her quest for a first title of the year – and a first title on clay – with a confident 6-3, 6-1 win over Anastasia Potova in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Friday.
The four-time US Open champion, who last year pulled out after round one of the French Open with mental health issues, looked right at home as she marched to a convincing victory over world No 78 Potova, who came into the match on a nine-match clay-court winning streak.
“I wouldn’t say it was an easy match. I feel like I just adjusted a little bit. (It’s about) just gaining confidence and feeling more comfortable on clay.”
She’ll play either last year’s French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain in round two.
Osaka said he had set herself a couple of smaller goals, eyeing up a place in the semi-finals of Madrid or Rome and also said she had a couple of surprises up her sleeve.
There were no obvious signs of anything new but the strong points of the 24-year-old’s game were in sync as she recovered from an early break down in the opening set to pull away from Potova.
People in this post
More tennis news
US Open 2026 women’s draw: Sabalenka’s three-peat bid, brutal bottom half
US Open men’s draw: Zverev’s path clears while Fils and Shelton block Alcaraz’s route
August 27, 1975: The day a very special US Open edition began, with clay and night sessions
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik win US Open mixed doubles title, beating Bencic and Cobolli in final-set tiebreak thriller
Marozsan ends Damm’s giant-killing run to reach Winston-Salem quarter-finals
