WTA Madrid: Osaka struggles to kick off, Sabalenka shines
Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka struggled in her first clay court match of the season. Osaka had to stretch against compatriot Misaki Doi at the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Madrid. Aryna Sabalenka , on the other hand, acted sovereignly.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Apr 30, 2021, 02:49 pm
The love affair between Naomi Osaka and the clay courts on the WTA tour is still a delicate plant that only master gardener Wim Fissette can possibly bring to bloom. The start of the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Madrid against Misaki Doi was not particularly easy for Osaka. Especially in the first round, the meanwhile four-time major winner struggled against her compatriot, but eventually made it into the second round with a 7: 5 and 6: 2. Osaka's next opponent will be Karolina Muchova.
Aryna Sabalenka, who last stood in the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, had far fewer problems. Sabalenka served Vera Zvonareva in the Caja Magica with 6: 1 and 6: 2. The Belarusian plays in round two against Daria Kasatkina, who only won against Irina-Camelia Begu in the tie-break of the third set.
Maria Sakkari and Amanda Anisimova made an interesting party. The Greeks didn't win a single game in the first set, but ultimately turned the game in their favor, winning 0: 6, 6: 1 and 6: 4. Sakkari will play against Anett Kontaveit from Estonia in round two.
Here the single tableau in Madrid
madridmap