Osaka returns to Rome with a victory after three-year absence

Naomi Osaka, 26, made a triumphant return to the Rome Open after a year, securing a straight sets victory over Clara Burel, 23, in the first round on Wednesday.

The former world number one displayed her prowess by defeating her French opponent, ranked 45th, with a score of 7-6(2), 6-1.

This win on clay against a top-50 opponent marks Osaka's first since her victory over Victoria Azarenka at the French Open in 2019.

Currently ranked at 173 in the world due to her break from the tour to have her first child, Osaka will now face 19th seed Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine in her quest for a place in the third round.

Kostyuk, who was the runner-up on clay in Stuttgart last month, previously lost to Osaka in their only other encounter at the 2020 US Open, which went to three sets.

In her latest match, Osaka secured victory in 84 minutes, showcasing her skills with 27 winners, including eight aces, and breaking serve four times.

Reflecting on her performance, Osaka stated, "The first set was really challenging, so I'm pleased that I was able to close it out in two sets. Mentally, I tried to remain strong throughout, and I'm really happy about that."

She further added, "Although I had a setback when I was serving for the set at 5-3 and lost the game, I'm proud of myself for persevering and ultimately closing it out on my terms."

Osaka acknowledged her improved performance in the second set and expressed her desire to learn from the mistakes she made in today's match for her upcoming game tomorrow.