Naomi Osaka’s confident return from maternity leave continued as she secured a dominant opening-round victory in the Miami Open, defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3 6-4. The Japanese tennis sensation, who had already captured four Grand Slam titles prior to her hiatus, displayed glimpses of her formidable form, never allowing her opponent a break chance in the opening set and closing out the match with an ace on her second match point.
Moving forward in the tournament, Osaka is set to face Ukrainian 15th seed Elina Svitolina, who herself is less than a year into her comeback from maternity leave. Reflecting on her upcoming match, Osaka expressed admiration for Svitolina’s impressive run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year, emphasizing the honor she feels in competing against her fellow athlete.
In another match at the Hard Rock Stadium court, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens celebrated her 31st birthday with a commanding performance, defeating Angelique Kerber 6-2 6-3. Stephens, a Florida native and 2018 Miami Open victor, conveyed her satisfaction with executing her game plan effectively during her post-match interview, highlighting her commitment to delivering her best effort on the court.
Stephens, who is ranked 41st in the world, now prepares to face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the following round. Her focused and composed play against Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam winner on her own return journey to the tour after an 18-month maternity break, underscores her determination and competitive spirit as she aims to advance further in the Miami Open.
The tournament also witnessed notable performances, such as qualifier Katie Volynets’ upset victory over former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, as well as Donna Vekic’s hard-fought win against big-hitting Czech Karolina Pliskova, demonstrating the thrilling and unpredictable nature of the competition.
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