Osaka Struggles but Ultimately Overcomes Starodubtseva in Miami First Round

The first round of the WTA 1000 in Miami continues. On the opening day of competition, Varvara Gracheva was eliminated in her first match by Alycia Parks, despite having a match point in the second set (3-6, 7-6, 6-3).

Following that, Naomi Osaka faced Yuliia Starodubtseva. The Japanese player, who has won four Grand Slam titles in her career, is aiming to return to her best form. To achieve this, she has recently enlisted the help of Patrick Mouratoglou.

After reaching the final in Auckland at the start of the season, the former world number 1 has struggled to maintain momentum, partly due to an abdominal injury. In Florida, she had a manageable first-round match against the Ukrainian qualifier, who has yet to win a main-draw match on the WTA Tour in 2025.

However, Osaka had a tough start to the match. Uncomfortable on her serve, the Japanese player faced a challenging opening. In contrast, Starodubtseva, with nothing to lose, played freely. After winning the first five games of the match, the world number 108 saw Osaka break back once, but the lead was too significant for Osaka to recover.

The second set began similarly, and Starodubtseva, unfazed, broke her opponent’s serve to lead 4-2. It was at this point that Osaka found her rhythm. More consistent in rallies, she troubled the Ukrainian with better movement and precision on her forehand.

Gradually, the momentum shifted in Osaka’s favor. Although last year’s Beijing quarterfinalist fought hard in the final set, earning two break points at 3-1 on Osaka’s serve and another at 5-4, it was Osaka who ultimately prevailed (3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 2 hours and 30 minutes) to advance to the second round, where she will face Liudmila Samsonova in an exciting matchup.