2020 Tokyo Games: Naomi Osaka makes triumphant return; Ashleigh Barty exits

The top two seeds at the 2020 Tokyo Games had contrasting results in their respective first-round matches on Sunday. World no. 1 and top seed, Ashleigh Barty crashed out in her opener. On the other hand, world no. 2 and second seed, Naomi Osaka cruised through her opening-round clash.

Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo dashed Barty’s Olympic hopes with a 6-4, 6-3 win over the Australian in an hour and 34 minutes. Barty served poorly and wasn’t able to make inroads on her opponent’s game throughout the match. The Wimbledon champion did hit 24 winners to Sorribes Tormo’s four but also hit more than four times as many unforced errors as the latter – 55 to 13. Sorribes Tormo ended the match with 11 points more than Barty’s 58.

In the second round, Sorribes Tormo will take on France’s Fiona Ferro. Ferro defeated Latvian Anastasija Sevastova 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in their first-round match.

2020 Tokyo Games: Naomi Osaka begins Olympic conquest

Meanwhile, Osaka pocketed a 6-1, 6-4 win over China’s Saisai Zheng in an hour and 27 minutes. The Japanese built a 4-0 lead in the first set in no time with some crisp hitting and Zheng could only win one game. The second set, in comparison, was tougher as Zheng composed her game better. But it wasn’t enough as Osaka broke down Zheng’s game to clinch her win.

Naomi Osaka hit 17 winners to Zheng’s seven and had 26 unforced errors to her opponent’s 17. The four-time Major champion faced six break points – three across each set – but saved them all. She broke Zheng’s serve thrice in the match. The 23-year-old, who’s playing her first event since pulling out of the French Open in May, will now play Swiss Viktorija Golubic in the second round of the 2020 Tokyo Games. Golubic won her first round on Saturday.

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