Naomi Osaka Triumphs at Italian Open in Straight-Set Victory

Naomi Osaka, the former world number one, made a triumphant return to the Italian Open, defeating France’s Clara Burel in straight sets in the tournament’s first round. Osaka secured a 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 victory against the 45th-ranked Burel, marking her first win against a top-50 opponent on clay since her 2019 French Open triumph over Victoria Azarenka.

Osaka, now ranked 173rd in the world, showcased her impressive form, firing 27 winners, including 8 aces, over the course of the 84-minute match. The 26-year-old, who welcomed her first child last year, will face 19th seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the second round on Thursday.

“I obviously played a lot better in the second set,” Osaka said after the match. “I’m hoping that when I play my match tomorrow, I’m able to learn from the mistakes that I did today and apply them better.”

Meanwhile, British player Dan Evans will have to wait to take on Italy’s Fabio Fognini in the men’s competition, as their first-round tie on Wednesday was canceled due to inclement weather in Rome.

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