No. 2 seed Naomi Osaka looked confident on clay in her 7-5, 6-2 first-round victory over Misaki Doi at the Madrid Open. Doi had a solid first set, but Osaka squashed any momentum she may have mustered with a stifling service game.
Naomi Osaka showing some touch on clay 🤩She wins her opening round match in Madrid over Misaki Doi 7-5, 6-2. #MMOPEN | @naomiosaka pic.twitter.com/6qLO373P1X— US Open Tennis (@usopen) April 30, 2021
Naomi Osaka showing some touch on clay 🤩She wins her opening round match in Madrid over Misaki Doi 7-5, 6-2. #MMOPEN | @naomiosaka pic.twitter.com/6qLO373P1X
As the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion, all eyes will be on Osaka in Madrid, and the tournament should provide Osaka with some vital time on clay, having missed last year’s clay-court season.
Simona Halep will also be one to watch, advancing to the second round after a commanding 6-0, 7-5 win over Sorribes Tormo.
Seeded third, Halep is favored on clay and has a track record to back it up. She was last year’s Madrid Open runner-up and won the tournament in both 2016 and 2017.
The mark of a champion🇷🇴 @Simona_Halep d. 🇪🇸 Sorribes 6-0, 7-5.#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/9kkIk92teD— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 30, 2021
The mark of a champion🇷🇴 @Simona_Halep d. 🇪🇸 Sorribes 6-0, 7-5.#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/9kkIk92teD
For her second-round match, Osaka will play 24-year-old Karolina Muchova on May 2 at 9 am ET.
Looking to reach another Madrid Open final, Halep will face-off against Saisai Zheng at the same time.