Miami Open: Naomi Osaka sets up Angelique Kerber date
A controlled performance saw Naomi Osaka ease past Astra Sharma in the first round of the Miami Open. Osaka claimed a stunning 6-3, 6-4 win to advance in one hour and 20 minutes. Osaka has now set up a second-round clash against former world number one and the 13th seed Angelique Kerber. Here we present the key details.
Kerber leads the show versus Osaka
As per WTA, Osaka had earlier claimed her first career Top 10 win over Kerber at the 2017 US Open. She ended the German's title defence in the first round, winning 6-3, 6-1. However, Osaka has lost all four of their subsequent matches. Kerber leads the head-to-head meetings by a 4-1 margin. She last beat Osaka in the 2018 WTA Finals.
Osaka offers substance after being heckled at Indian Wells
Osaka was heckled recently at the BNP Paribas Open, losing 6-0, 6-4 in the second-round versus Veronika Kudermetova. Notably, she was left in tears. After her win, Osaka said she didn't want to let anything bother her after no matter what happened. The last match wasn't the greatest memory for Osaka and she wanted to prove that she could come out and compete.
Milestones for Osaka and Fruhvirtova
Osaka claimed the 50th career WTA 1000 win of her career in what was a special milestone. Talking about milestones, 16-year-old wildcard Linda Fruhvirtova registered her first WTA 1000 win. The Czech junior is competing in her fourth WTA main draw. She went on to stun Danka Kovinic 6-0, 6-4 in just one hour and 14 minutes.
A look at the other key results
Madison Brengle hammered 16-year-old wildcard Alexandra Eala in a 6-2, 6-1 contest. Irina-Camelia Begu came back from behind to beat 20-year-old wildcard Hailey Baptiste 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-1. She has set up a second-round clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka. Aliaksandra Sasnovich overcame 20-year-old qualifier Wang Xinyu 7-6(6), 6-4. Sloane Stephens beat Panna Udvardy 6-4, 6-3. Marie Bouzkova beat Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-2.
