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WTA Rome: Naomi Osaka and the sand - nothing comes from nothing

Next clay court tournament, next early bankruptcy for Naomi Osaka . The Japanese is probably going to the French Open in Paris as an outsider.

by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 12, 2021, 04:17 pm

Naomi Osaka doesn't get going on sand
© Getty Images
Naomi Osaka doesn't get going on sand

Losing to Jessica Pegula is by no means a shame, especially not this season in which the American has steadily improved. However on hard court. The ashes are not so much for Pegula, a childhood disease of many American players. It was still enough for a win against Naomi Osaka. Which, in turn, should give the Japanese woman something to think about.

Osaka, which seemed almost unbeatable at the beginning of the year despite (or perhaps because of) two defended match points against Garbine Muguruza on the way to their fourth major title, has reached a very human level. Maria Sakkari has already shown this in Miami, and Karolina Muchova a few weeks later in Madrid. And on Wednesday in the Foro Italico just Jessica Pegula. In contrast to her greatest rival in the WTA world rankings Ashleigh Barty , who had no problems at the start in Rome, Osaka will travel to Paris for the second Grand Slam tournament of the year without any significant match practice.

#VIDEO#

Osaka is rare on sand

In the recent past, Osaka's tournament planning has often and rightly been praised, but the clay court season can confidently be excluded. Osaka did not start in Stuttgart, even in Charleston she was not to be found in the field of participants - Ashleigh Barty was, even if the Australian's appearance on the green US sand was rather short. But practice makes perfect - and victories bring confidence.

And in that regard, Naomi Osaka's list is not very long, historically either. In 2021 she only won against Misaki Doi in Madrid, the year before she lost her only appearance on Asche in the Fed Cup against Sara Sorribes Tormo. In 2019 Osaka played four tournaments on clay, but did not appear in either the semi-finals in Stuttgart or the quarter-finals in Rome.

Not good conditions for an attack on the fifth Grand Slam title in just under three weeks in Roland Garros. Especially since Osaka doesn't seem as fit physically as it did when she won the US Open 2020. This is also a contrast to competitor Ashleigh Barty.

Here the single tableau in Rome

rommap

by tennisnet.com

Thursday
May 13, 2021, 09:55 am
last edit: May 12, 2021, 04:17 pm