Naomi Osaka slides well on Roman soil

Japanese Naomi Osaka won her second round match at the Italian Open in Rome on Thursday, against Marta Kostyuk, No. 20 in the world, 6-3, 6-2. Confirmation of his progress on this surface.

It was Osaka’s first victory over a top 20 player on clay (1-8). And it was the first time she had won two matches in a row on this surface since 2019.

Her victory of 6-3 and 6-2 over the Ukrainian, in 71 minutes, was crystal clear, with a first set acquired in 36 minutes, due to the great difficulties of her opponent in serving (40% success on her first ball, 5 double faults).

Kostyuk is not the latest addition, however. She was a finalist twice this season in WTA 500 tournaments.

The match was interrupted by rain, but the forced break did not distract the Japanese.

Osaka will face Daria Kasatkina, seeded No. 10 in the tournament, in the next round. In their last clash, in 2018, Osaka won 6-3 and 6-2.

Results of other matches:

First round (women’s singles):

• Varvara Gracheva (FRA) defeats Federica Di Sarra (ITA) 6-1, 6-3
• Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) defeats Renata Zarazúa (MEX) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
• Irina-Camelia Begu (ROM) beats Rebeka Masarova (ESP) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
• Rebecca Sramková (SVK) beats Georgia Pedone (ITA) 6-4, 6-1
• Sara Sorribes (ESP) defeats Nadia Podoroska (ARG) 6-4, 6-3
• Anastasia Potapova (RUS) defeats Wang Xiyu (CHN) 6-1, 7-5
• Sara Errani (ITA) defeats Amanda Anisimova (USA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
• Clara Tauson (DEN) defeats Daria Saville (AUS) 6-2, 6-3
• Laura Siegemund (GER) beats Lourdes Carlé (ARG) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4

Second round (women’s singles):

• Angelique Kerber (GER) defeats Veronika Kudermetova (RUS/no 17) 6-3, 6-0
• Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) defeats Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS/no 14) 6-0, 6-1
• Diana Shnaider (RUS) beats Liudmila Samsonova (RUS/no 15) 6-1, 6-3
• Daria Kasatkina (RUS/no 10) beats Tatjana Maria (GER) 7-5, 6-1
• Linda Nosková (CZE/no 29) beats Lucrezia Stefanini (ITA) 6-3, 7-6 (7/1)
• Zheng Qinwen (CHN/no. 7) beats Shelby Rogers (USA) 6-2, 6-0

With information from Agence France-Presse