Osaka triumphs in first round of Italian Open 2024 as Berrettini pulls out

Naomi Osaka Dominates in Opening Match at Italian Open

Naomi Osaka made a strong statement in her opening match at the Italian Open, defeating Clara Burel 7-6(2), 6-1 on Wednesday. This victory marked Osaka’s first win over a top-50 player on clay since the 2019 French Open, where she defeated Victoria Azarenka.

Returning to Rome for the first time since 2019, when she reached the quarterfinals, Osaka looked comfortable on the court. Despite her current ranking of No. 173 after a maternity break, she served eight aces and hit 27 winners in the match, showcasing her powerful game.

Next, Osaka will face 19th-seeded Marta Kostyuk, who recently reached the final of a clay event in Stuttgart, Germany. In other women’s singles matches, qualifier Bernarda Pera defeated Caroline Dolehide, Magda Linette beat Zhu Lin, Brenda Fruhvirtova rallied past Taylor Townsend, and Lesia Tsurenko eliminated Donna Vekic.

In men’s action, Argentine-born Italian Luciano Darderi thrilled the crowd with a victory over Denis Shapovalov, while Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro defeated Gael Monfils. Rafael Nadal, the 10-time Rome champion, is set to open against Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs on Thursday.

With top-ranked Novak Djokovic also back in Rome, the tournament promises exciting matchups as players prepare for the upcoming French Open. Stay tuned for more updates as the competition heats up in Rome, the final big warmup event before the Grand Slam tournament begins on May 26.