Naomi Osaka suffered an early exit at the Madrid Open and lost to Karolina Muchova in the second round.
The number two in the world only played her second game on clay since 2019 after she decided to play in not to travel to Europe last season, and the Czech Muchova looked much more comfortable with a 6: 4: 3: 6: 6: 1 win.
Osaka fought 3-1 behind for the second set with five Play in a row but it faded after Muchova made a strong start to the decision.
🪄 MAGIC Muchova 🪄
A third top 10 win of the season for 🇨🇿 @ karomuchova7 who kills the second seed for the last 16 in Madrid! #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/V8qZX0pcwg
– wta (@WTA) May 2, 2021
A third top 10 win of the season for 🇨🇿 @ karomuchova7 who kills the second seed for the last 16 in Madrid! #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/V8qZX0pcwg
After the US Open and the Australian Open champion Osaka hadn’t lost a game for more than a year before losing to Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open, she was in their beaten twice in the last three games.
The Japanese star said: « I think today was very different for me than last time I lost in Miami and I think I played a lot better here, that’s why I’m very happy about it. «
» I think what I can do with it is that I did my best throughout the game. I think when it comes to tennis, I felt too defensive in the first set. I think I was able to adjust that in the middle of the second set, and then, in the third set, I honestly feel like I started really badly and couldn’t afford it.
« Then, in I think she has served really well in the last three games and unfortunately I couldn’t keep my serve. » I wouldn’t say I’m happy that I lost, but I think I learned a lot. That’s all I can hope for. «
Former champion Simona Halep defeated Zheng Saisai 6: 0 and 6: 4. The two-time Madrid finalist Victoria Azarenka had to withdraw from the tournament before her game against Jessica Pegula due to a back injury.
The fifth Saat Aryna Sabalenka defeated Daria Kasatkina 6: 3: 6: 3, while Sakkari won against Anett Kontaveit 6: 3: 6: 1.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova sank Karolina Pliskova 6: 0, 7: 5, and es also gave wins for Jennifer Brady and Elise Mertens.
Ref: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk
