MADRID — The clay-court campaign for Naomi Osaka began on a challenging note as she faced a first-round defeat at the Madrid Open against Lucia Bronzetti on Tuesday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan faced a tough battle, suffering a setback on match point as Bronzetti secured her victory with a score of 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. In a display of sportsmanship, Bronzetti checked in on Osaka as they met at the net for their post-match handshake.
Ranked 55th, Osaka entered the Madrid tournament unseeded, marking her return to the circuit after nearly a month’s hiatus since her fourth-round run at the Miami Open. Bronzetti, on the other hand, is set to face fifth-seeded American Madison Keys in the next round, eyeing her third appearance in the third round of a WTA 1000 event.
In an exciting turn of events, Alexandra Eala will face off against Iga Swiatek again in the second round. Eala, fresh from her stunning upset of the Polish star as a wild card in Miami last month, secured a solid victory against Viktoriya Tomova, winning 6-3, 6-2 in her first match.
“Every match tells a new story,” Eala remarked. “Whether I’m up against the same player or not, it’ll always be a different tale, even if we meet again at the same venue next year.”
American player Caroline Dolehide triumphed over Elina Avanesyan with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-4, earning her place in the second round against Liudmila Samsonova.
Also advancing was Peyton Stearns, who staged a comeback to defeat Kimberly Birrell 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Hailey Baptiste showcased her resilience by overcoming Sorana Cirstea with a thrilling finish, winning 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (4).
