Top-ranked Osaka gets 1st-round win in Birmingham on grass
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A day after saying she was "not really that comfortable" playing on grass, top-ranked Naomi Osaka needed three sets to get past her first-round opponent at the Birmingham Classic on Tuesday.
Osaka lost the second set to Maria Sakkari of Greece before recovering to win 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, for only her 11th tour-level victory on grass.
"I was kind of screaming on the inside during that entire match," Osaka said in her on-court interview. "I got lucky a little bit, I guess."
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Osaka has yet to make it past the third round at Wimbledon, which starts on July 1.
"I felt better than the two practice days," Osaka said. "And I feel every day that I play on grass of course I'm going to learn how to play better, but for now I'm just really happy I was able to win that match."
Osaka needs to reach the final in Birmingham to guarantee holding on to top spot in the rankings heading into Wimbledon.
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"During my entire clay season, it kind of mattered and I think it showed because I was kind of stressed out the entire time," she said. "So, now, I'm just having fun. I'm enjoying it. And I know that if I play well, then I'll be No. 1."
Osaka will next face Yulia Putintseva, who defeated Britain's Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-4.
Rain washed out much of the schedule Tuesday, with second-seeded Ashleigh Barty — the newly crowned French Open champion — among those who will have to try again on Wednesday.
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Julia Goerges recovered to defeat Dayana Yastremska 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 while former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko eased past Wimbledon junior champion Iga Swiatek 6-0, 6-2 and will now face Johanna Konta.
Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic set up a first tour-level meeting with her twin sister, Karolina, by defeating Viktoriya Tomova 6-3, 6-4.