Naomi Osaka makes big comeback against No. 21 seed, has a very favorable R16 matchup

Naomi Osaka has won back-to-back matches for the first time in three months after coming back from a set down to beat No. 21 seed Yulia Putintseva 3-6 6-4 6-2 in the second round of Beijing.

The four-time Grand Slam champion looked shaky early in the match, but managed to save a total of three break points in the first and third games. But as the Kazakh continued to press and the Japanese struggled to find her rhythm, the first set was soon over after the No. 21 seed claimed breaks in the fifth and ninth games to routinely win the opener.

After falling a set behind, Osaka started to play better and got her first break in the first game of the second set, but eventually lost it five games later. However, the former world number 1 was able to keep her composure after an early break as she took serve from Putintseva again in the ninth game before bowing out as the decider in the next game.

In the third set, the Japanese tennis star dropped her serve once but still won the decider very easily after breaking the Kazakh three times to complete her comeback victory and win two matches in a row for the first time since ‘s-Hertogenbosch win. in June.

Who is Osaka’s next opponent and can she achieve her goal?

For a place in the quarter-finals of the China Open, the 2019 Beijing champion will play 60th-ranked Katie Volynets. On paper it looks like a very favorable match for the Japanese and a great chance to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 tournament.

As this week started, the 26-year-old – who hasn’t won any titles since the 2021 Australian Open – shared that one of her big goals is to claim another trophy soon.

“I’m happy to be able to play on this field again. And I hope to be able to win another trophy soon,” said the Japanese after her opening victory.

For Osaka, winning her second title in Beijing – five years after she first came – would certainly be a dream scenario.