Tennis

Naomi Osaka's resurgence on the WTA Tour hit a roadblock at the ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin, as she succumbed to a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 defeat against rising star Zheng Qinwen. The former world No. 1, playing her first match since a narrow loss to Bianca Andreescu, faced a formidable opponent in Zheng, who unleashed an impressive 23 aces and secured her second victory over Osaka in as many meetings.Zheng's dominance on serve was evident from the outset, as she fired seven aces in the opening set to take an early lead. Osaka responded with her trademark power hitting, breaking Zheng in the second set and leveling the match. However, Zheng's resilience shone through in the decider, as she broke Osaka in the fourth game and held on despite Osaka's valiant efforts to save three match points.The rivalry between Osaka and Zheng has an added layer of intrigue, as both players have worked with the same coach, Wim Fissette. Zheng has expressed admiration for Osaka's determination to return to the top after becoming a mother, while Osaka has acknowledged Zheng's rapid rise in the rankings.Zheng's victory over Osaka is a testament to her growing confidence and ability on grass. The Chinese star, who has a 2-6 career record on the surface, will now face Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova in the second round. Osaka, meanwhile, will look to regroup and continue her pursuit of a first Top 10 victory since 2020.

Daria Kasatkina's candid reaction to facing Aryna Sabalenka in Berlin has sparked amusement among tennis fans. The Russian star, who recently triumphed over Marta Kostyuk at the ecotrans Ladies Open, was caught on camera expressing her dismay upon learning that her next opponent would be the reigning Australian Open champion."Oh my God, no," Kasatkina exclaimed, eliciting laughter from her friend and fellow player Daria Saville. The Aussie, who also received a challenging draw in Birmingham, shared the clip on social media with the caption "Classic."Despite her initial reaction, Kasatkina remained composed and praised the tournament's high level of competition. "This 500 is special," she said. "You can get a top player in the first round, so it's a very tough tournament. The list of players is incredible."Kasatkina's victory over Kostyuk was hard-fought, requiring two hours and 39 minutes to rally from a set down. The former world No. 8 attributed her comeback to her ability to adapt to the grass surface. "I felt that in the first set, but then I got used to it a little bit more," she explained.Sabalenka, who will also be making her grass-court debut in Berlin, will pose a formidable challenge for Kasatkina. The Belarusian has won their last three encounters and holds a 2-6 advantage in their overall head-to-head record.The match between Kasatkina and Sabalenka is set to be a captivating clash between two of the WTA's top players. Kasatkina's resilience and Sabalenka's power will make for an intriguing battle on the Berlin grass.