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TOKYO — Japan’s Naomi Osaka sent out an ominous message to competitors at the Tokyo Games yesterday, sweeping past 50th-ranked Viktorija Golubic 6-3, 6-2 to book a place in the third round.
Osaka is relishing her time at the Tokyo Games while other medal contenders have fallen away in the early rounds of the Olympic tournament. The world No. 2, back on the court after pulling out of the French Open on mental health grounds and also missing Wimbledon, has been barely troubled in her first two matches at the event.
She brushed aside her opponents in straight sets and has been handling the outsized attention she is receiving on home soil with aplomb. “I’m here for a good time,” Osaka, who lit the Olympic flame at Friday’s opening ceremony, tweeted yesterday after beating Swiss Viktorija Golubic 6-3 6-2 at Ariake Tennis Park.
The same could not be said of her closest rivals, with world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus crashing out of the tournament on Monday after a tough, three-set encounter against an inspired Donna Vekic of Croatia.
Sabalenka’s loss came a day after Australian No. 1 Ash Barty was dumped out of the tournament in a stunning upset by Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo. Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was also beaten yesterday, going out 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 to Belgian Alison van Uytvanck, while last year’s French Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland fell 6-3, 7-6(4) to Spaniard Paula Badosa
Osaka has been in impressive form this week, returning to competition after a two-month break and embracing her role as one of the host country’s most prominent ambassadors of the Games. Winning Olympic gold on home soil would be the icing on the cake though Osaka said she was determined not to look too far ahead.
“Well you know, definitely it would mean a lot for me to win gold here but I know it’s a process,” she said.
“You know, these are the best players in the world and I honestly haven’t played in a while so I’m trying to keep it one match at a time. All in all, I’m just really happy to be here.” — IOL Sport
Online Reporter