WUHANS, China – Osaka’s Naomi defeated Leila Fernandez 4-6, 7-5 and 6-3 on Tuesday to drop the first set before rallying to advance to the second round of the WTA’s 1,000th level Uhan Open.
Osaka returned to China’s city for the first time since 2017, facing a player who caused great upset to beat her in the 2021 US Open in her first match on Center Court.
Fernandez transformed one of her two first set breakpoint opportunities and served consistently. However, Osaka put pressure on service returns in the second set, featuring five service breaks, finishing at the top of the 2021 US Open Finalist.
Emma Laducanu, who won the US Open title four years ago to beat Fernandez, chased Anne Lee 6-1, 4-1 when she retired from her first round match due to dizziness.
In other early matches, Sofia Kenin set up a second round meeting with No. 16 Ludmila Samsonova, who edged Anastasia Zakalova 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, and defeated Emiliana Alango 6-1, 7-5.
No. 2 Iga Swiatek was scheduled to make his Wuhan tournament debut in a second round match against Marie Bouzkova in the evening session.
Top ranked Aryna Sabalenka and No. 3 Coco Gauff were scheduled to open on Wednesday. No. 4 Amanda Anisimova was runner-up in both the US Open and Wimbledon this year, and after winning the Chinese Open title, he retreated from Wuhan Open citing a muscle injury to his left calf.
