MADRID — Naomi Osaka’s clay-court season began with a loss within the first spherical of the Madrid Open towards Lucia Bronzetti on Tuesday.
Japan’s four-time Grand Slam champion discovered match level as Bronzetti accomplished a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win earlier than checking whether or not Osaka was OK as they approached the online for a postmatch handshake.
The Fifty fifth-ranked Osaka was unseeded in Madrid for her first match in nearly a month since reaching the fourth spherical of the Miami Open. Italy’s Bronzetti will play fifth-seeded American Madison Keys within the second spherical.
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Alexandra Eala will get a rematch with Iga Swiatek within the second spherical in Madrid after gorgeous the Polish participant as a wild card in Miami final month. The 19-year-old Eala gained her first-round match 6-3, 6-2 towards Viktoriya Tomova.
“Every match is a unique story,” Eala mentioned. “Even when it is towards the identical participant each time — would not matter if I play her on the similar time subsequent yr in Miami or in Madrid subsequent yr, it’ll be a unique story than the final one.”
Caroline Dolehide of the U.S. gained 6-4, 6-4 towards Elina Avanesyan to arrange a second-round assembly with Liudmila Samsonova.
One other American to win was Peyton Stearns, who rallied to get previous Kimberly Birrell 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Hailey Baptiste defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (4).
