Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka showcased her dominance on grass, launching her Libema Open marketing campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over fourth-seeded Elise Mertens.
The Japanese star broke Mertens twice within the opening set, securing it 6-2 with a deadly serve.
The second set was a better battle, however Osaka seized her alternative within the tenth recreation, securing two match factors with a lucky internet wire and highly effective groundstrokes. She transformed the primary, clinching the set 6-4 and the match.
“I think it’s maybe four or five years since I last played on grass but I’m super excited to be here,” Osaka stated after the match.
“I don’t really have much experience on grass but to be able to close it out in two is something I’m very happy about,” added the 26-year-old.
Osaka, now ranked a hundred and twenty fifth on the planet, has by no means obtained previous the third spherical at Wimbledon, her 4 Grand Slam wins approaching laborious courts in Melbourne and New York.
Her subsequent opponent in s’Hertogenbosch might be both Bernarda Pera from the United States or Suzan Lamens from the Netherlands.
Osaka appeared relaxed, dancing together with the music at changeovers and showing to share a joke along with her workforce within the stands.
“I tried to play every point as well as I can and hopefully that will take me further and further. I guess I’m really happy… It was a really nice atmosphere,” she stated.
Playing in solely her second Grand Slam since giving delivery to her daughter final July, Osaka was inside some extent of dethroning Iga Swiatek within the French Open second spherical.
World No. 1 Swiatek went on to win her third successive title at Roland Garros however Osaka handed her the sternest take a look at she confronted on the clay.
“My match against Iga was really amazing for me even to play. I just need to play tighter matches like that because I felt like I was playing well,” she stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com