Disappointment for Osaka, upset by Sasnovich in opening match at Beijing WTA 1000

Naomi Osaka suffered an unexpected defeat against Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round of the Beijing WTA 1000.

Osaka had hoped for a strong run at the Beijing WTA 1000 tournament. But things did not go as planned for the Japanese player, who fell in a general surprise to Aliaksandra Sasnovich (1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in 1h32), a qualifier opponent whom the former world number one had never lost to before in four previous meetings.

A defeat that was even more surprising given that the Japanese player had control of the match, leading 6-1, 3-2, 40/15 on her serve before experiencing a fatal drop in form.

On the other side, the world number 130, who had dominated Prozorova and Lepchenko in qualifying and then Tjen in the first round of the main draw, this time secured a prestigious victory against a top 15 player.

In form in recent weeks after reaching the final of the Montreal WTA 1000 against Victoria Mboko and then the semifinals of the US Open against Amanda Anisimova, the world number 14, who was a quarterfinalist in this same tournament last year, this time bowed out in her opening match. Sasnovich continues her journey and will face Marta Kostyuk for a spot in the round of 16.

Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian had easily eliminated Ella Seidel (6-1, 6-1), another qualifier. The two women have already faced each other in the first round of the Guadalajara WTA 1000 tournament in 2022.

At that time, Kostyuk won without difficulty (6-1, 6-3). Before arriving in the Chinese capital, Sasnovich was on a streak of five consecutive defeats but has now awakened at the best possible time and rediscovered her form in a major tournament.