Osaka enjoys ‘really good starting block’ in Madrid
NAOMI Osaka was encouraged by her 2022 clay-court debut, winning her opening match at the Madrid Open against Anastasia Potapova.
The former world number one has not played on the red dirt since the 2021 French Open, where she withdrew citing mental health issues.
Heading into this week in Madrid, Osaka had an underwhelming 20-15 record on clay, with each of her grand slam successes coming on hard courts.
But the 24-year-old has spoken of adjusting her approach and learning from clay king Rafael Nadal - and the early signs were positive.
She needed just over an hour to defeat Potapova 6-3, 6-1 on Friday and said: “I’m honestly trying to be more positive with myself. “This year I came a week early to train on red clay, so I’m just trying to give myself more chances to do better.
Osaka added: “To be able to do it in two sets, for me, it’s a really good starting block. “I think today for me it was really fun, just being able to be back on the clay and not taking those moments for granted.” Fellow hard-court major champions Emma Raducanu and Bianca Andreescu also won their openers, although the latter required three sets to eventually coast past Alison Riske 6-4, 3-6, 6-0.
Raducanu will play another 19-year-old in the second round, with the US Open champion paired with Marta ostyuk after getting over a slightly slow start to thrash Tereza Martincova 7-6 7-3 , 6-0.
Fourth seed Maria Sakkari overcame a scare, meanwhile, ending her losing run at three matches by coming from behind to defeat Madison eys in three sets.
“Overall, it was a very positive match to get myself back in the winning feeling,” the Greek said. mma aducanu finishes strongly to reach second round in Madrid
Emma Raducanu won 11 of the last 12 games to defeat Tereza Martincova for the second time in a fortnight in the opening round of the Madrid Open. Czech Martincova was Raducanu’s opponent for her first professional match on clay in the Billie Jean ing Cup tie in Prague earlier this month, with the US Open champion battling to a 7-5 7-5 victory.
She found herself 5-2 down in the opening set at the Caja Magica but turned things around impressively, saving two set points on the Martincova serve at 5-3 before running away with the second set in a 7-6 3 6-0 victory.
Speaking in her on-court interview, Raducanu said: “It was a tricky first set. I think it’s always tough playing on a brand new court, so it took me a little bit to adjust to my surroundings.
“And, of course, if you’re low or lacking in your own game then an opponent at this level is going to take advantage of that. I’m just glad that I stuck through the first set and then definitely relaxed in the second.
“I love Madrid, I’ve been out once, it’s such a cool vibe. I’m looking forward and hopefully I get to spend some more days here.” Raducanu is being supported in Madrid by the Lawn Tennis Association’s head of women’s tennis, Iain Bates, after splitting from Torben Beltz earlier this week despite an encouraging showing in Stuttgart last week.
In explaining yet another coaching change, the 19-yearold cited her belief in her own game and decision-making, and that was certainly in evidence here.
Raducanu is continuing to learn the ropes on clay and she adapted her game after being out-hit in the early stages, using more spin and mixing up pace and angles to draw Martincova out of her rhythm.
It certainly worked, and the world number 49 could find no answers in the second set as Raducanu moved through to a second-round clash with fellow teenager Marta ostyuk from Ukraine.