2021 Olympics: Naomi Osaka wins opening match in Tokyo, first since withdrawal
By The Athletic Staff
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World No. 2 Naomi Osaka cruised in the opening match of the Olympics in her home country on Sunday, breezing by Saisai Zheng 6-1, 6-4 in the first round in Tokyo.
It was Osaka s first match since withdrawing from the French Open in May amid growing attention over her media boycott. She skipped Wimbledon and has focused on preparing for the Olympics, for which she lit the flame at the opening ceremony.
The 23-year-old came out on fire in her return, winning the first five games and taking the first set in 33 minutes. She broke Zheng s serve once more in the second set, closing out the match in 1 hour, 29 minutes.
Olympics: Naomi Osaka cruises to victory in Tokyo Games opener
July 25, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, plays against Saisai Zheng, of China, during the first round of the tennis competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) TOKYO (Kyodo) Japanese world No. 2 Naomi Osaka made a perfect start to her Olympic career Sunday with a 6-1, 6-4 win over China s Zheng Saisai in the Tokyo Games women s singles tennis competition. Sporting long braids with red and white elements to match her outfit and the Japan national flag, second-seed Osaka stormed into a 5-0 lead in stamina-sapping heat at Ariake Tennis Park before wrapping up the first set in 32 minutes.
Grasping for air: Heat a major issue at Olympic tennis venue
By ANDREW DAMPFJuly 24, 2021 GMT
TOKYO (AP) French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova grasped for an air tube during a medical timeout and grew frustrated at the lack of ice in a court-side container.
German player Mona Barthel struggled with 10 double-faults in a loss to Iga Swiatek as a blinding sun made it nearly impossible to see the ball once she tossed it.
Heat and humidity quickly became a major issue when the Olympic tennis tournament opened Saturday. The temperature soared to 93 degrees F (34 degrees C) and the heat index made it feel more than 100 F (38 C).
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