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Naomi Osaka’s comeback hit another roadblock as she suffered a 7-5, 6-0 defeat to former world No 7 Danielle Collins in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Open yesterday. Osaka, 26, returned last month from a 15-month absence from the tour, during which she gave birth to her first child Shai, but has been handed some tricky draws and has lost three of her four matches so far this campaign.
Despite a close opening set that witnessed supreme serving from both players, Osaka struggled in her service games in the second set and failed to convert any of her six break-point opportunities to fall to the American qualifier in one hour and 23 minutes.
“I know she’s still only a couple of matches into her comeback. But I think she’s playing well,” said Collins, who is currently ranked 71 in the world. — SuperSport.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter