Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, suffered a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat to Lucia Bronzetti to crash out of the Madrid Open in the first round on Tuesday.
The Japanese endured a poor start in the clash, losing the first set before fighting back in the second half with an improved showing but she was unable to cope with the powerful service of Bronzetti.
She secured two break points in the fourth game of the first set which she failed to take advantage of, Bronzetti broke in the seventh and served it out.
The 55th-ranked Osaka was unseeded in Madrid for her first match in almost a month since reaching the fourth round of the Miami Open.
Osaka landed seven aces, and three double faults to Bronzetti’s zero aces and four double faults. Osaka hit 63% of her first serves, winning points on 63% and 55% of her first and second serves, respectively.
Meanwhile, Bronzetti hit 68% of her first serves, winning points on 60% and 57% of her first, and second serves, respectively.
Bronzetti was proud of her performance against the former world number one.
She said: “From the outside maybe it seems easy but when you’re on the court against a great champion like her it’s always difficult – I’m proud with how I managed the match.
“She hit the ball very strong… I tried to make some variation in my game like drop shot, I got a lot of points with that”.
She will now take on American world No 5 Madison Keys in the second round.
Bronzetti won her first WTA Tour title at the Morocco Open in May 2023.
