Naomi Osaka rolls past Ons Jabeur in Toronto
Aug 7, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Naomi Osaka (JPN) waves to fans after defeating Ons Jabeur (TUN, not shown) in second round play at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports Naomi Osaka didn't face a break point in cruising to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over ninth-seeded Ons Jabeur on Wednesday in the first round of the National Bank Open in Toronto.
A former World No. 1, Japan's Osaka needed only one hour and 12 minutes to notch her fifth win over a Top-20 opponent this year in her return from maternity leave.
Three of those victories have come on hard courts, where Osaka has collected her four Grand Slam crowns.
"Everyone knows I really love hard courts. I wasn't thinking too much. It was very instinctual," Osaka said after the match. "Honestly, when I play the best players, like Ons, I tend to play better.
"I'm feeling quite confident in myself as a person and as a player, and I think that showed a little."
Osaka converted 4 of 6 break points and hit 14 winners against Tunisia's Jabeur, who had seven double faults and landed just 36 percent of her first serves (21 of 58).
Spain's Paula Badosa, who won last week in Washington, extended her winning steak to six straight matches with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson.
Padosa recorded seven aces, converted 4 of 12 break points and saved 4 of 5. Tauson notched 10 double faults.
Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia, seeded 13th, needed three hours and 19 minutes to outlast the Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (1).
Haddad Maia saved 9 of 14 break-point opportunities and converted 6 of 12.
Russian Diana Shnaider, seeded 14th, also went three sets in eliminating Great Britain's Harriet Dart 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2). Shnaider converted 6 of 23 break points, while Dart converted 6 of 9.
In other matches in the Round of 64, American Ashlyn Krueger won 6-3, 6-2 over Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto, and Amanda Anisimova defeated fellow American Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 6-4. American Peyton Stearns won 6-4, 6-3 over Russia's Anna Blinkova.
Other winners were Poland's Magda Linette, Canada's Marina Stakusic and Belgium's Elise Mertens.
Matches later Wednesday featured Great Britain's Katie Boulter against American Bernarda Pera, and China's Yue Yuan facing Spain's Cristina Bucsa.
--Field Level Media
Six WWE Superstars Who Could Miss WrestleMania 42
Scottie Scheffler Trying to Regain Form Before The Masters
Three NBA Moments Everyone Misunderstood Last Week
Sunday NBA Odds and Betting Picks for March 15th
- UFC Vegas 114 Betting Preview: Three Best Bets for Fight Night
- Free NBA Picks for March 14: Three Bets to Target
- College Basketball Best Bets: Conference Tournament Semifinal Picks
- MLB Home Run Future Prop Bets: Four Picks to Target This Season
- Thursday NBA Betting Guide: Key Spreads and Totals to Target
- Players Championship Betting Guide: Top Picks, Props, and Odds
- College Basketball Best Bets Today: Kentucky and Texas SEC Tournament Picks

