Osaka reaps benefits from minor-league comeback slog

Naomi Osaka claimed another reward for temporarily dropping down to the WTA entry level as the former world No. 1 continued her comeback with an opening in at the Rome Masters on Wednesday.

Japan’s four-time Grand Slam winner who won a 125-level title in Saint-Malo this month in a major boost to confidence, dispatched 2014 Rome finalist Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 to reach the second round.

Osaka, who currently stands 48th as her return from motherhood grinds on, is far from comfortable on clay after winning two titles each at the hardcourt Grand Slams in Melbourne and New York.

The 2019 quarter-finalist at the Foro Italico has 73 match wins at the elite 1000 level with only a dozen on clay and six of those in Rome.

Her Saint-Malo victory also came on the dirt.

“This clay court season’s different because I’m coming into it with a lot
more wins,” the 27-year-old said. “I’m a lot more comfortable on clay now.

“I was really lucky to play some really good matches on clay last year. I had that in my mind when I’m playing in Saint-Malo and when I’m playing here. 

“It’s an accumulation of all of those.”

Osaka won her sixth clay match in a row, coming from 3-1 down in the second set against Italian wild card Errani.