Osaka eases through opening round at China Open

BEIJING — Former top tennis player Naomi Osaka began the China Open on Wednesday with a routine 6-3, 6-2 victory over Italian Lucia Bronzetti.

The four-time Grand Slam champion was the headliner on the opening day and showed her class by completing her first-round match against the 77th-ranked Italian player in 83 minutes.

Osaka, who won the 2019 China Open before COVID-19 and the WTA’s boycott of China due to Peng Shuai’s health, which led to tournaments in China being cancelled for four years, will face 21st seed Yulia Putintseva from Kazakhstan in the second round.

“I’m happy to be able to play on this court again,” Osaka said on the court. “And I hope to be able to lift a trophy again soon.”

Osaka, who opened the gap with breaks in the first set, found the serve that opened the gap in the seventh game of the first set.

The player increased the pressure after her effective serves in the second set and broke Bronzetti twice more to clinch the victory.

Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin advanced to the next round by defeating Romanian Ana Bogdan 7-5, 6-2.

Kenin, 25, is among 15 American women in the Beijing draw and will face 12th seed Diana Shnaider in the second round.

Kenin will be joined by American Taylor Townsend, who beat Martina Trevisan 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round.

Additionally, Chinese Wang Xinyu defeated Japanese Mai Hontama 6-1, 6-3, and Yuliia Starodubtseva defeated Laura Siegemund 6-4, 7-6 (3).

US Open champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka will begin her tournament in the second round against the winner of Friday’s match between Zarina Diyas and Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

Iga Swiatek, the number one ranked player and winner of four WTA 1000 titles this season, will not play this week due to personal reasons.

The men’s tournament begins on Thursday and the top contenders include number one Jannik Sinner and number three Carlos Alcaraz, who has won four Grand Slam titles this season.

Second-placed Alexander Zverev said earlier in the week that he would not play in Beijing due to illness.

Japan Open

Matteo Berrettini started his Japan Open campaign by defeating Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4.

The Italian hit seven aces and broke van de Zandschulp four times.

Former sixth seed Berrettini, now ranked 45, could play top seed Taylor Fritz in the second round. Fritz, who is reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open this month, will face Frenchman Arthur Fils in his opening match on Thursday.

Argentinian Mariano Navone defeated Italian Luciano Darderi 6-4, 6-4.