Madrid Open LIVE: Naomi Osaka got off to a great start on her clay court debut this season as she won her first set 6-3 against qualifier Anastasia Potapova in the first round of the Madrid Masters on Friday (29 April). Osaka who finsihed as the runner-up at Miami Open, makes a return to the circuit at Marid after a short break. Follow InsideSport.IN for more updates.
Madrid Open LIVE: Naomi Osaka defeats Anastasia Potapova in straight sets, enters second round- Follow Osaka vs Potapova LIVE updates
Leaving her own mark ‼️
🇯🇵 @naomiosaka dazzles in Madrid!@atptour | @ATPTour_ES | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/13Pa6QY4er
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 29, 2022
On Manolo Santana Stadium, Osaka looked in fine form in her first clay-court match of the season. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka won 86 percent of her first-service points and converted five of her nine break points to sweep to victory.
In their first meeting, Osaka garnered a solid win over former No.1-ranked junior Potapova, who was on a winning streak.
On Friday, though, Osaka fought back from an early break down in the opening set, leveling proceedings at 3-3. Deep returns put Osaka up a break for the first time at 5-3, and she closed out the set with one of her six aces.
Osaka, currently ranked World No.36, romped through the second set without facing a break point, ending Potapova’s superb winning streak.
All told, Osaka won 10 of the last 11 games against Potapova to make it into the Madrid second round for the third time. Osaka’s best Madrid showing is a quarterfinal run in 2019.
Madrid Open LIVE: Naomi Osaka defeats Anastasia Potapova in straight sets, enters second round- Follow Osaka vs Potapova LIVE updates