Japan’s tennis star
Naomi Osaka is set to take part in the
first clay court season after accepting a late wildcard entry to Open Capfinances
Rouen Métropole.
The competition will take place from April 15 in the French
city of Rouen. This will be the third edition of the tournament.
In the previous edition, it was Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland
who lifted the title after beating Russia’s Erika Andreeva in straight sets
with a score of 6-4, 6-1.
In the first edition of the competition, it was Belgium’s Maryna
Zanevska who won the competition after defeating Golubic in the final with a
score of 7-6, 6-1.
Osaka will be hoping that she can start the clay court
season with a positive result, especially after not having the kind of season
she was expecting after returning to professional tennis following a lengthy
break of more than 12 months because of pregnancy.
The former world number one, who is a four-time Grand Slam
winner, recently took part in the WTA 1000 event in Miami — the
Miami Open — where
she was knocked out after losing in the round of 32 to France’s Caroline Garcia
in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 7-5.
After that result, Osaka hinted that she was just looking to
participate in different events to get her rhythm back, regardless of the result.
“That’s one of the key things I was trying to get better at
I guess from the start of the year, from Australia. I’m trying to get better at
returning,” said Osaka. “I just want to have progression and I want to go out
like myself, even if I win or lose.”
