Naomi Osaka has discovered the title of the opponent she shall be dealing with in her first Beijing match in 5 years because the Japanese tennis star drew 77th-ranked Lucia Bronzetti.
This 12 months, the 2019 China Open champion is about to make her fourth major draw look but additionally play on the occasion for the primary time since turning into a mother.
On paper, she acquired a fairly strong draw as she beat the Italian 6-1 4-6 7-5 on the French Open earlier this 12 months on a floor that does not favor her as a lot as laborious does. With that being mentioned, she will definitely enter the Bronzetti match with confidence in her possibilities though the previous few tournaments have been tough for the previous world No. 1.
If Osaka wins her Beijing opener, her subsequent rival shall be No. 21 seed Yulia Putintseva – the participant she beat on the Billie Jean King Cup in April. In the course of the summer season, the Kazakh upset Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff however the four-time Grand Slam champion will surely love her possibilities there as effectively.
Can Osaka bounce again in Beijing
Earlier than coming to Asia, the previous world No. 1 did not handle to make it previous the Cincinnati qualifying occasion and he or she solely made the second spherical in Toronto and the US Open.
In New York, she made an excellent begin after dismantling Jelena Ostapenko however then disappointingly misplaced in two units to Karolina Muchova. Afterward, the 26-year-old did not disguise how disillusioned she was.
“It is a bit tough as a result of I do take these losses actually personally. It is like a dramatic phrase, however I really feel like my coronary heart dies each time I lose. I have been making an attempt to be extra mature and be taught and speak extra about them,” the two-time US Open winner admitted after the loss.
Up to now, the Japanese loved success in Beijing after reaching the semifinal in 2018 after which successful all of it the next 12 months.
This 12 months, Osaka will surely love greater than the rest to make a deep run in her China Open return and bounce again after a few robust losses.