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.
Tags: #NaomiOsaka, #ZhengQinwen, #ecotransLadiesOpen, #Berlin, #WTA
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