Naomi Osaka's Olympic dream shattered as Angelique Kerber triumphs in first-round battle

Angelique Kerber triumphed in the battle of Grand Slam champions by defeating Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3. In what was likely one of the most intriguing first-round matches in the women’s draw, both former world No. 1 players, despite being far from their peak on the Tour, showcased a high level of tennis.

The German (world No. 217) took just one hour and nine minutes to win, extending her head-to-head lead to 5-2 in what is her final professional tournament. For Osaka (No. 102), it's another early disappointment at the Olympic Games, having been ousted in the third round in Tokyo 2021.

The match began favorably for the Japanese player, who secured a break in the fourth game and took a 3-1 lead. With strong service games, it seemed she was dominating Kerber from the start. However, the left-handed German responded by breaking back immediately in the next game. The set remained even until 5-5, when Osaka’s service errors gave Kerber another break, allowing her to clinch the first set 7-5 with her own serve.

Although Osaka commanded points easily when her first serve landed (75% of first serve points won), her errors proved costly. The 4-time Grand Slam champion had 17 winners and 15 unforced errors compared to Kerber’s 9 winners and 8 unforced errors.

With the first set under her belt, Angie Kerber appeared more confident in the second set. She landed 74% of her first serves and conceded just three points on serve, while Osaka continued to struggle without her first serve.

The score was level until 3-3, when Kerber secured the crucial break to take the lead. The German went up 5-3 and secured a second consecutive break on her first opportunity, sealing her victory over Osaka.

Kerber, who recently announced her retirement after the Olympics, extends her career by another match. In the second round, she will face Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, who pulled off the upset of the day by eliminating local favorite Caroline Garcia.