Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka, both former world no. 1, advanced to the second round of the Monday, Bad Homburg, Wimbledon warm-up match.
Osaka from Belarus defeated Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-2, to defeat Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4).
In the second round, Azarenka, 35, will face Polish Iga Swiatek.
In a big-serving match that lasted for more than two hours, Osaka scored 16 aces and Danilovic scored 10.
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Osaka, a wildcard in the main draw, “It’s my first grass-court win of the year,” he said.
“Everyone else is really good, but I think I have potential (on grass),” he said.
The wins, I can never take for granted, “I can never take it for granted.” I’m just so happy I won today.
As she recovers from her maternity leave from last year, Osaka ends her three-game losing streak with victories in Rome, the French Open, and Berlin.
Fifth seed Emma Navarro of the United States will face the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Danilovic, a Japanese player who managed two close tie-breaks, saved four break points while Danilovic fought off six.
In the first-set breaker, Osaka resurrected after going 4-2 up and forcing an error on the next set point.
Danilovic added three more aces to the second set to set things up.
Osaka challenged a Danilovic called an ace in the tiebreak, but the review revealed the ball was just out. Danilovic double-faulted before Osaka took a 3-1 lead.
Osaka seized the advantage and double match point with a forehand winner on the next point after a smash.
Azarenka, the two-time Australian Open champion, was forced to advance to this week’s main draw, but Siegemund prevailed over the wild card.
Donna Vekic, a Croatian, lost to Diana Shnaider in the previous year’s Bad Homburg final, but she won on Monday.
Vekic defeated the Russian with 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, to win all four of her break points.
Source: Channels TV
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