Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made a triumphant return from a two-month layoff by defeating Chinese teen Zheng Qinwen on Tuesday at the WTA San Jose hardcourt tournament.
The 24-year-old Japanese star outlasted the gritty 19-year-old 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in a first-round match at the US Open tune-up tournament.
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Osaka had not played a competitive match since losing in the first round of the French Open due to a left Achilles tendon injury.
“It’s really cool to be back playing,” Osaka said after the victory. “I haven’t played since May. I didn’t know that. Somebody told me that. It’s really good to be back.”
Former world number one Osaka, whose ranking has slid to 41st, will play for a quarterfinal berth against 18-year-old American sixth seed Coco Gauff, this year’s French Open runner-up.
Gauff routed Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-1, 6-0 in 54 minutes.
Osaka’s match marked the return of her father, Leonard Francois, as her coach. Osaka had been working with Wim Fissette for the past two years.
“It’s good for him to be back because he always makes me smile,” Osaka said. “It’s just good to be back so I’m really happy.”
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