Serena out in Miami as Osaka wins
Serena Williams crashed out of the Miami Open in the first round here Wednesday, slumping to a straight-set defeat against Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the latest setback to the former world number one’s comeback.
Osaka, who won her first major title in Indian Wells last weekend, was superior throughout and fully deserved her 6-3, 6-2 win in just one hour and 17 minutes. It was Williams’ fourth match and second tournament appearance since returning from 13 months maternity leave yet the American’s movement and inability to stay in the rallies suggested her comeback could be more arduous than expected.
The defeat was the first time Williams has lost her first match at an American hard court championship for 21 years. Williams, 36, may have been unfairly unseeded here due to her lack of action over the past year could have no complaints with the defeat.
In her comeback in Indian Wells, she made it through to round three where she fell to sister Venus in straight sets.
Taking on Osaka was always going to prove a tough task - and so it proved.
Williams, an eight-time champion in Key Biscayne, started strongly and held her serve to love but it took a while for the American to find her range.
Osaka, 20, showed some understandable nerves but was able to stay in the game and when she broke in the seventh game, it was the perfect chance for the Japanese player to take control.