Osaka overcomes Pera in Washington opener

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA -- No.3 seed Naomi Osaka of Japan made her Citi Open debut on Tuesday with a straight-set win over American Bernarda Pera, 6-2, 7-6(4), to advance to the second round in the capital of the United States.

In the first meeting between the two players, Osaka needed to twice come back from a break down in the second set, both before and after a 30-minute rain delay, but the World No.17 rebounded to emerge victorious in 79 minutes of play.

After the match, Osaka told the press that she "probably" plays her best in close matches: "I feel like I have more concentration when it gets to a more crucial point."

The 20-year-old Japanese star won 71 percent of points on her first serve, fired eight aces, and claimed exactly half of the points on Pera's second serve, which led to the American firing eight double faults in response. Pera did convert both of the break points she held in the match, but lost both of her single-break leads in the second set due to double faults.

"I also saw that most of the matches were later in the day, and I wanted to get used to playing night matches," Osaka said, when discussing why she wanted to play at the Citi Open. "I love playing hard court. Red clay, no thank you, grass is okay, I guess. Hard court, heart court."

Osaka will now face either Magda Linette of Poland or Australia’s Olivia Rogowska in the second round. Osaka is the top seed remaining in the top half of the draw following the withdrawal of the No.1 seed and World No.2 Caroline Wozniacki, due to a leg injury.

The first four games went with serve before Osaka kicked into high gear, blasting two aces in the fifth game to hold for 3-2, then claiming the first break of the match with a bruising backhand winner to claim a 4-2 lead. More powerful serving by the Japanese rising star continued to set up fantastic forehand winners as she eased to a 5-2 lead. 

Serving to stay in the opening frame, Pera was not able to effectively deal with a handful of blistering service returns, and facing double break point, the American fired a backhand miscue long to hand Osaka the one-set lead. Osaka reeled off four straight games to take the first set.

Osaka orchestrated a stellar opening set, playing near top form on both serve and return. In the opening frame, the third seed won 12 of 14 points on her first serve, won an impressive 71 percent of points on Pera’s first serve, and was 2-for-2 on break points.

The second set was much more competitive, as left-handed Pera amped up her aggression -- she had just one winner in the first set -- and was often rewarded by her risky play, particularly with winners down the line off both sides. The American claimed the first break of the set for 3-2, with those down-the-line shots whizzing past a more error-prone Osaka.

Serving in the next game, Pera watched a 40-0 lead slide to 40-30, but at that juncture, a roughly 30-minute rain delay ensued. On the first point after resumption, Osaka let Pera off the hook with a backhand error, allowing Pera to hold for 4-2.

But the American faltered in her next service game, hitting four double faults in a 12-point game, and Osaka broke back for 4-4. The Japanese player was not out of the woods, as consecutive forehand errors gave Pera another break and a chance to serve out the set at 6-5. But Pera could not close, double faulting the game away to level the set at 6-6.

In the tiebreak, Osaka raced to 4-1, and hit her eighth ace to reach 5-3. A backhand error by Osaka gave Pera the mini-break back for 5-4, but a forehand winner by the No.3 seed on the next point put her up 6-4, for double match point. A long forehand by Pera ended the contest, and Osaka found herself safely in the second round.