Naomi Osaka Wins First Match Since 2022 at Madrid Open

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka earned her first win on clay in two years by defeating lucky loser Greet Minnen 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the Madrid Open on Monday. Osaka had eight aces and faced only one break point in securing her first win since beating Anastasia Potapova in the opening round in Madrid in 2022.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, who is now ranked No. 197 after returning from maternity leave in January, spoke about 'embracing' the clay surface that has been a challenge for her in the past. "I'm taking a lot of inspiration from people who do well on it," Osaka said. "I don't want to completely change my game, but I want to adapt it to clay. I'm embracing the clay a lot more now."

Osaka looked comfortable during her straight-sets win over Minnen, citing improvements in her movement and shot-making on the red dirt. The victory sets up a second-round clash with 15th seed Liudmila Samsonova, whom Osaka defeated at the same stage of the Indian Wells tournament earlier this year.

Why this matters: Osaka's win marks a positive step as she continues to work on improving her performance on clay courts. Success on the surface has eluded the Japanese star, but her renewed focus and determination to adapt her game could lead to better results, especially with the French Open and the Olympics in Paris on the horizon.

In other notable matches, qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina upset 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-2, while American Sloane Stephens extended her clay court winning streak to six matches with a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Italian Martina Trevisan. Home favorite and former world No. 2 Paula Badosa, who is struggling with long-term back pain, crashed out 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Spanish qualifier Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Osaka, who is aiming to win her first tournament on clay as part of her comeback, said, "I want to do well here, and I'm hoping I can win a tournament on clay. I'm taking it one match at a time, but that's definitely a goal." Her positive attitude and commitment to improving on the surface have been evident in her approach to the Madrid Open, as she looks to make a strong statement on clay this season.

Key Takeaways

• Naomi Osaka earned her first clay-court win in 2 years at Madrid Open.
• Osaka, now ranked 197, is embracing clay and adapting her game.
• Osaka defeated Greet Minnen 6-4, 6-1 and will face Liudmila Samsonova.
• Qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle upset Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-2 at Madrid.
• Osaka aims to win her first clay-court tournament as part of her comeback.