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.”
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