ZCZC
BSP-10
TENNIS-WTA-USA-OSAKA-MLADENOVIC
Osaka turns tables on Mladenovic at Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS, United States, March 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – World number one
Naomi Osaka on Saturday launched her Indian Wells title defense with a 6-3,
6-4 victory over 65th-ranked Kristina Mladenovic of France.
Osaka, whose second straight Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in
January propelled her to the top of the rankings, avenged a loss to
Mladenovic in Dubai last month in her first match since she lifted the trophy
in Melbourne.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing as Osaka was broken when serving for the match
at 5-2 in the second.
After Mladenovic held serve to narrow the deficit to 5-4, the Japanese
player faced another break point before wrapping up the match after one hour
and 21 minutes.
“I’ve never been a defending champion before — that’s new and I was really
nervous,” said Osaka, whose first WTA title at Indian Wells last year
launched a 2018 campaign that would eventually include her first Grand Slam
crown at the US Open.
Osaka next faces Danielle Collins, the 25th-seeded American who beat
Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, 6-4, 6-1.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1154 hrs