Naomi Osaka began her Kinoshita Group Japan Open campaign with a dominant 6-0, 6-4 victory over fellow Japanese player and wild card Wakana Sonobe on Monday in Osaka, successfully advancing to the second round. This marks Osaka’s first appearance in the tournament since 2017, making her return highly anticipated by fans and tennis enthusiasts alike.
Osaka’s Path to the Quarterfinals
The four-time Grand Slam champion and current top seed showcased her skills by sweeping the first set without dropping a game. The pivotal moment came in the sixth game of the second set, where she secured a crucial break, ultimately closing out the match in just 1 hour and 16 minutes.
In her next match, Osaka is set to face defending champion Suzan Lamens from the Netherlands. This matchup is particularly significant as Osaka aims to reach her first quarterfinal appearance at this event. Historically, Osaka leads their head-to-head record 1-0, having triumphed over Lamens in straight sets on grass at ’s-Hertogenbosch last year.
The 27-year-old athlete arrives in Osaka with the goal of rebuilding her momentum after an impressive summer that saw her reach the final in Montreal and the semifinals at the US Open. These performances propelled her back into the world’s Top 20. However, her recent Asia swing has been less favorable, with only one win in the tournaments held in Beijing and Wuhan.
In other first-round action on Monday, sixth seed Olga Danilovic also advanced, defeating local wild card Nao Hibino with a final score of 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. The tournament continues to draw attention as top players compete for the championship title, and fans eagerly await further matches from Osaka and other prominent athletes.