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Former top-ranked player Naomi Osaka commenced the China Open 2024 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti on Wednesday.
The four-time Grand Slam winner headlined the opening day, wrapping up the first-round match against the world No. 77 in 83 minutes.
Osaka, the 2019 China Open champion, returns after a four-year hiatus due to a WTA boycott over concerns for Peng Shuai’s well-being. Her next opponent is 21st seed Yulia Putintseva from Kazakhstan.
“I’m glad to be able to play on this court again,” Osaka expressed. “I hope to lift a trophy again soon.”
.@NaomiOsaka back winning again in Beijing 5 years after her 2019 title 🌟#ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/gSL0nttnLO
— wta (@WTA) September 25, 2024
Osaka secured a crucial break in the seventh game of the first set and intensified her attack in the second, breaking Bronzetti twice to clinch the win.
Kenin, Townsend Advance
Sofia Kenin, former Australian Open champion, moved forward with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Romania’s Ana Bogdan.
Kenin, 25, part of a record 15 American women in Beijing’s draw, faces 12th seed Diana Shnaider next.
Taylor Townsend of the US joins Kenin in round two after a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win over Martina Trevisan. China’s Wang Xinyu overcame Mai Hontama from Japan 6-1, 6-3, and Yuliia Starodubtseva bested Laura Siegemund 6-4, 7-6 (3).
Top seed and US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka starts her campaign on Friday against the victor of Zarina Diyas and Mananchaya Sawangkaew’s match.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, with four WTA 1000 titles this year, is absent this week for personal reasons.
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