Indian Wells (United States) (AFP) – Naomi Osaka powered through on a third match point to advance to the second round of the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters on Thursday with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Italian qualifier Sara Errani.
The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan, fighting to lift a post-motherhood ranking of 287, sealed victory with a forehand winner. Osaka then joked about heading back to her hotel to change nappies on her infant daughter, born last summer.
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Thursday’s victory featured five breaks of serve in the first set before the 2018 Indian Wells champion stepped it up for a straight-sets victory in 70 minutes. “It’s a pleasure to be back playing – but once I get home, I’m a mom,” she said. “When I was pregnant I really wanted to return to playing. I know I’ll have to play well to improve…but I’m excited to start winning more matches.”
After losing in the Australian Open first round, the California-based player reached the Doha quarter-finals last month. She next faces Liudmila Samsonova for a third-round spot.
Former WTA number one Caroline Wozniacki took a further step in her return to tennis, with the Dane finishing off a match interrupted the night before by rain. It took only a few extra minutes on court for the number 204 to conclude victory against Zhu Lin of China 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 with Wozniacki now facing Croat Donna Vekic.
Venus Williams remained winless since August as the veteran lost a promising early lead and crashed out 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 to Nao Hibino of Japan. The 43-year-old Williams last competed at the US Open in August and earned her last victory two weeks before in Cincinnati.
Britain’s 250th-ranked Emma Raducanu scored a first-round win over number 96 qualifier Rebeka Masarova of Spain 6-2, 6-3, with the 2021 US Open champion next playing Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska. “I was really pleased with how I stayed focused, didn’t get down and competed really hard in tough situations,” said Raducanu, who overcame eight double-faults.
In the men’s draw, Australian Aleksandar Vukic lined up as the opening opponent for top seed Novak Djokovic after defeating Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (8/6). Rising Czech Tomas Machac added to a miserable 2024 start for former number three Stan Wawrinka with the youngster defeating the 38-year-old Swiss 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-2. Defeat in just over two hours marked only the second first-round loss here for the veteran in 13 appearances. Machac advances to a second-round meeting against France’s Adrian Mannarino, the 21st seed. French showman Gael Monfils lost just three games as he thrashed Australian Max Purcell 6-1, 6-2.
© 2024 AFP
