Naomi Osaka's clay-court season got off to a surprising start at the WTA Madrid Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion, currently ranked 55th and unseeded, battled hard but ultimately fell to Italy's Lucia Bronzetti in a nail-biting three-set match (6-4, 2-6, 6-4). Despite the loss, Osaka showcased great sportsmanship as she shared a post-match handshake with her opponent. 🎾
Bronzetti now advances to face fifth-seeded American Madison Keys in the second round, eyeing her third appearance in the third round at a WTA 1000 event.
Meanwhile, rising star Alexandra Eala is gearing up for a rematch with Iga Swiatek in the second round after her standout first-round win against Viktoriya Tomova (6-3, 6-2) in Miami last month. This clash between established veterans and emerging talents promises exciting moments as the Madrid Open unfolds.
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Osaka's clay-court season starts with a loss in Madrid Open 1st round
cgtn.com
