Osaka battles her way to first-round French Open win

[Pelican Press 0]

Osaka battles her way to first-round French Open win

Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka laboured past unseeded Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 4-6 7-5 in the first round of the French Open to claim her first win at Roland Garros in three years.

Returning to professional tennis this year after a 15-month maternity break, Osaka had fallen in the first round at the *********** Open in January.

However, she looked set to breeze into the second round in Paris on Sunday as the former world No.1 bombarded Bronzetti from the baseline.

Osaka dominated the first set on a gusty Philippe Chatrier Court to wrap it up in 28 minutes, but her unforced errors rose steeply in the second, allowing Bronzetti to break at 5-4 and force a decider.

However, the 26-year-old ********* player got back on track in the deciding set and had the opportunity to break for a 5-0 lead, but appeared to implode as world No.67 Bronzetti clawed her way back into the contest.

Osaka pounced for a crucial break in the 11th game before finally clinching the back-and-forth battle.

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