Former top-ranked player Naomi Osaka secured an impressive victory in her first match at the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto. She delivered an outstanding performance, showcasing her skills and defeating the ninth-seeded Ons Jabeur. The anticipated first-round match turned out to be completely one-sided, with Osaka, currently ranked 95th in the world, dominating throughout the game. She triumphed with a score of 6-3, 6-1 in just over an hour. Osaka took an early lead in the match, breaking Jabeur’s serve and maintaining her dominance until the end. She achieved four breaks without facing a single break point herself.
Having defeated Jabeur for the second time in their head-to-head encounters, with their previous match taking place at the 2021 Australian Open, Osaka now prepares to face Elise Mertens in the next round. Mertens, who defeated Katie Volynets in the first round, has already faced Osaka twice this year. Osaka suffered a loss in Indian Wells but managed to defeat Mertens in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
Although Osaka had the opportunity to close out the first set in the eighth game, she was unable to convert her set point on Jabeur’s serve. However, this did not hinder her progress, as she confidently served out the set in the following game, securing her second set point. In the second set, Jabeur managed to hold her opening service game, but Osaka quickly regained control by claiming three consecutive breaks and winning six games in a row. With this dominant performance, Osaka heads into the match against Mertens with great confidence, aiming to secure her fifth victory in their seventh meeting.
Photo from Naomi Osaka Instagram
