Naomi Osaka said she was “really riled up” yesterday as Japan’s two-time Grand Slam champion reached the second round at the China Open, despite being far from her best.
The 21-year-old former world No. 1 racked up 26 unforced errors on the way to a 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) win over Jessica Pegula of the US.
Fourth seed Osaka looked frustrated and disgruntled on several occasions against the 76th-ranked Pegula.
Osaka, who plays Andrea Petkovic of Germany next in Beijing, was disappointed that she was unable to replicate the form that won her the Pan Pacific Open in Japan a week ago.
“During tournaments, the first match is always the worst for me,” Osaka said. “But I was kind of expecting it to be better because I just played really well in Tokyo [actually Osaka]. I don’t know, I thought it would carry on. I was a little bit frustrated that I felt my game wasn’t really where I left it.”
“I just felt like today I was really riled up, not really sure why,” she added, also describing herself as “very stressed” and “very nervous.”
“I also didn’t want to lose in the first round,” she said.
Another two-time Grand Slam winner, Simona Halep, cruised into round two in Beijing with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of qualifier Rebecca Peterson of Sweden.
The Romanian has had ongoing problems with her back and, despite having little trouble swatting aside Peterson, said that she was unable to play her normal game.
“I’m not 100 percent recovered, I still feel pain,” said the sixth seed. “Always when you have an injury, it’s a little bit risky, but I accepted it, I took the risk.”
Venus Williams, whose sister Serena is not in Beijing because of a knee problem, battled into the next round with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Barbora Strycova.
Ashleigh Barty of Australia said that she expects to be fit for her opener in Beijing after the world No. 1 struggled with a calf problem in Wuhan, China.
The 23-year-old lost to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka in Friday’s semi-final at the Wuhan Open and needed treatment on her left calf halfway through the second set.
“I’m sure that we’ll have no issue. It’s just about now ticking the boxes and making sure it’s alright to go,” said Barty, who has a bye in the first round.
On Saturday in women’s singles, Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei was ousted from the round of 64 by Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in a 7-5, 6-2 defeat.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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