Naomi Osaka Claims Victory in First Grass-Court Match in Five Years
2024 ‘s-Hertogenbosch
Former world No.1 tennis player Naomi Osaka started her grass-court season with a triumphant win at the Libema Open in the Netherlands. She defeated No.32 Elise Mertens with a score of 6-2, 6-4 in the first round on Tuesday, marking her first victory on grass since the 2019 Wimbledon tournament.
“I think I just try to play every point as much as I can and hopefully that will take me further and further,” Osaka expressed her satisfaction on the court after the match. “As of right now, I’m really happy.”
This tournament debut for Osaka in Rosmalen proved successful as she utilized a wild card entry. Following her impressive performance in the second round of Roland Garros, where she held a match point against eventual champion Iga Swiatek, Osaka’s strong serves and precise baseline shots were once again evident in her 70-minute victory over Mertens.
Improving her head-to-head record against Mertens to 4-2, Osaka delivered an impeccable serving performance throughout the match. She saved a break point in her second service game and did not face any more break points, winning 90 percent of her first-serve points. Additionally, she capitalized on her break-point opportunities by breaking Mertens three times.
Finishing the match with 21 winners and 13 unforced errors, Osaka dominated the court while limiting Mertens to just nine winners. This win also served as redemption for Osaka, who had previously lost to Mertens in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in March.
Stay tuned for more updates on Osaka’s performance in the ‘s-Hertogenbosch tournament.