Osaka makes winning start in Melbourne, Kenin through
Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka yesterday successful returned after long layoffs, fine-tuning their preparations ahead of the Australian Open. In the night match, world No 1 Barty showed little rust to comfortably beat Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-3 in the Yarra Valley Classic.
The Australian played her first tournament in 11 months after opting to remain home in relatively Covid-19 free Queensland during the pandemic and even decided against defending her French Open crown.
Barty, hoping to break her country’s 43-year singles title drought at the Australian Open, was made to work early before pouncing on Bogdan’s tentative serve and she proved far too consistent for the Romanian.
The 24-year-old plays world number 52 Marie Bouzkova next. Osaka made similarly light work of France’s Alize Cornet in the Japanese star’s first competitive match since winning the US Open for a second time.
The three-time Grand Slam champion hit 22 winners to move into the third round of the Gippsland Trophy with a 6-2, 6-2 victory in Melbourne. It was an impressive performance from Osaka, who had few problems against Cornet in her first encounter with the French veteran.
Osaka plays Katie Boulter in the next round after the British woman knocked out teenage sensation Coco Gauff 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 43 minutes. After a tough opening victory over Jil Teichmann, the 16-year-old American started strongly before fading in her second match in consecutive days.
Kenin Goes Through
Earlier, defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin’s longawaited return to Melbourne Park was brief after her Italian opponent Camila Giorgi retired injured after one set at the Yarra Valley Classic.
The 22-year-old was back at the scene of her stunning breakthrough Grand Slam title last year, where she beat Garbine Muguruza in three sets. But it was a short stay on Margaret Court Arena with the 76th-ranked Giorgi retiring because of a thigh injury after Kenin clinched a tight first set 7-5. Barty, Osaka, Kenin and world No.2 Simona Halep will all be in action today.