Osaka beats Pegula in Beijing opener; Carreno Busta, de Minaur win
Naomi Osaka reacts during her match against Jessica Pegula in the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on Sunday. Agence France-Presse
The 21-year-old former world number one racked up 26 unforced errors on the way to a 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) win over Jessica Pegula of the US.
Fourth seed Osaka looked frustrated and disgruntled on several occasions against the 76th-ranked Pegula.
Osaka, who plays Andrea Petkovic of Germany next in Beijing, was disappointed that she was unable to replicate the form which won her the Pan Pacific Open in Japan a week ago.
“During tournaments, the first match is always the worst for me,” said the US-based star.
“But I was kind of expecting it to be better because I just played really well in Tokyo (actually Osaka).
Osaka’s triumph in the Pan Pacific Open was her first trophy since her second consecutive Grand Slam win, at the Australian Open in January.
Another two-time Grand Slam winner, Simona Halep, cruised into round two in Beijing with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of qualifier Rebecca Peterson.
The Romanian has had ongoing problems with her back and, despite having little trouble swatting aside the Swede, admitted she was unable to play her normal game.
“I’m not 100 percent recovered, I still feel pain,” said the sixth seed.
Venus Williams, whose sister Serena is not in the Chinese capital because of a knee problem, battled into the next round with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Barbora Strycova.
Ashleigh Barty said that she expects to be fit for her opener in Beijing after the Australian world number one struggled with a calf problem in Wuhan.
The 23-year-old lost to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka in Friday’s semi-final at the Wuhan Open and needed treatment on her left calf halfway through the second set.
The French Open champion, the top seed at the China Open, said: “I haven’t been on court since my match in Wuhan.
Barty has a bye in the first round.
Elsewhere, Pablo Carreno Busta claimed his first ATP title in more than two years after outlasting Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik to win the Chengdu Open Sunday.
The 28-year-old Spaniard collapsed to his knees after prevailing in just over two gruelling hours, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).
The world-ranked 63’s last title on the ATP Tour came at Portugal’s Estoril in May 2017.
The triumph in China was his fourth career crown and comes after Carreno Busta struggled with a shoulder injury earlier this year.
“The surface was fast but I was very good with my serve during all my matches and I think that was the key to me being the winner of the tournament,” he said.
“This year has been quite tough for me because of injuries at the beginning of the year.
“It’s really tough when you cannot play and cannot enjoy this sport.
“But I just tried to continue working hard because I know when you work and you do as much as possible, normally you will get the prize.”
Bublik, 22, ranked 71st, had been chasing a maiden ATP title.
He stunned fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur of Australia won his third ATP title of a breakout year with victory over France’s Adrian Mannarino in the final of the inaugural Zhuhai Championships on Sunday.
The 20-year-old, who defeated former number one Andy Murray in the last 16, won 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in a little over two hours.
Agence France-Presse
