BEIJING – Former top tennis player Naomi Osaka started her China Open campaign on a positive note with an effortless 6-3, 6-2 win over Lucia Bronzetti on Wednesday, celebrating her first match with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
The four-time Grand Slam winner headlined the opening day and showed her class when she won the first-round match against the 77th-seeded Italian player in 83 minutes.
Osaka, who won the 2019 China Open before COVID-19 and a WTA boycott of China over the welfare of Peng Shuai forced a four-year cancellation of tournaments in China, will next play Yulia Putintseva, a 21st seed from Kazakhstan, in the second round.
Osaka, 26, began training with Mouratoglou ahead of the women’s Asian tour. After a disappointing exit in the second round of the US Open, she split from Wim Fissette.
“I think I’m at a point in my life where I don’t want to have any regrets,” Osaka said. “I’d rather tackle something and – I don’t want to say ‘fail,’ but I feel like I really need to learn as much as I can at this stage of my career.”
“Patrick seemed like the guy who, I guess, had the information I wanted to learn from.”
After an exchange of breaks in the first set, Osaka managed the decisive break in the seventh game of the first set.
After some strong serves, she increased the pressure in the second set and was able to score two more breaks against Bronzetti, sealing the victory.
Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin advanced with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Romania’s Ana Bogdan. The 25-year-old Kenin, one of 15 Americans competing in Beijing, will next play 12th seed Diana Shnaider in the second round.
American Taylor Townsend joined Kenin in the second round after defeating Martina Trevisan 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, as did Katie Volynets, who defeated Dalma Galfi 7-5, 6-1.
Another American, McCartney Kessler, lost in a close match against China’s Zhang Shuai 7:6 (5), 7:6 (1).
China’s Wang Xinyu defeated Mai Hontama of Japan 6-1, 6-3 and Yuliia Starodubtseva defeated Laura Siegemund 6-4, 7-6 (3).
US Open champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka begins her tournament on Friday in the second round against the winner of the match between Zarina Diyas and Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
Top seed Iga Swiatek, who has won four WTA 1000 events this season, is not playing this week for personal reasons.
The men’s tournament begins on Thursday and is led by top seed Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who won all four Grand Slam titles this season.
Second-seeded Alexander Zverev announced earlier this week that he would not play in Beijing due to illness.
Second seed Hubert Hurkacz needed three sets in the first round of the Japan Open to defeat Marcos Giron 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4.
For eighth-seeded Hurkacz, it was his 40th win of the season, with the Pole extending his head-to-head record against the American to 3-0.
Matteo Berrettini started his season in Tokyo with a clear 6-3, 6-4 victory over Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. The Italian, with his strong serve, hit seven aces and managed four breaks against van de Zandschulp.
Former No. 6 player Berrettini, now No. 45, could next play top seed Taylor Fritz in the second round. Fritz, who reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open this month, plays Frenchman Arthur Fils in his opening match on Thursday.
Mariano Navone from Argentina defeated Luciano Darderi from Italy 6:4, 6:4.
