Naomi Osaka, winner in 2018 but down to 78th place in the world, qualified for the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, beating American Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, Thursday in the California desert.
On the central court, swept by a fairly strong and swirling wind, the Japanese took a set to adapt, showing a good fighting spirit if not fully reconnecting with her best level, she who has been plagued for many months to mental anxiety issues.
“This victory means a lot to me. It’s been a long time since I’ve played in such difficult conditions. But I felt that I was fighting for my survival as much as against Sloane, in this crazy wind,” he said. – she reacted hotly on the court, applauded by the public.
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Osaka, who won the last set by lining up six games in a row while trailing 2-0, is looking for an 8th title on the WTA circuit, more than thirteen months after the last gleaned at the Australian Open.
Since then, she has chained poor performances, cracking under the pressure, whether in front of the press at Roland-Garros and at the US Open last year, where she was eliminated prematurely.
She then took a few months off before returning to Melbourne in January, where she was unable to retain her Major title, eliminated in the third round.
In Indian Wells, where she won the first tournament of her career four years ago, Osaka is trying to get back to the top. Her course will oppose her to the Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the 2nd round.
nip/ybl
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