In a straightforward 6-3, 6-2 victory over Lucia Bronzetti of Italy on Wednesday, former top-ranked Naomi Osaka got off to a good start in her first match under new coach Patrick Mouratoglou at the China Open. On the first day of play, the four-time Grand Slam champion was the main attraction. She defeated the 77th-ranked Italian player in 83 minutes, demonstrating her class. Next up for Osaka is Yulia Putintseva, the 21st-seeded woman from Kazakhstan. Osaka won the 2019 China Open before COVID-19 and a WTA boycott of China over Peng Shuai's well-being prompted the cessation of events in China for four years.

 

The 26-year-old Osaka broke up with Wim Fissette after an unsatisfactory second-round loss at the US Open, and she started training with Mouratoglou before to the Asian swing of the women's circuit. "I believe I've reached a point in my life where I don't want to look back," the Japanese athlete remarked following her match on Wednesday. "At this point in my career, I feel like I really need to learn as much as possible, but I'd rather take the plunge and — I don't want to say 'fail'."

In the second set, she upped the ante and broke Bronzetti twice more to complete the match, riding some strong serve. Sofia Kenin, the last Australian Open champion, advanced after defeating Romania's Ana Bogdan 7-5, 6-2. One of a record 15 American women in the Beijing draw, Kenin, 25, will next take on Diana Shnaider, ranked 12th, in the second round. Both American Taylor Townsend, who defeated Martina Trevisan 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, and Katie Volynets, who defeated Dalma Galfi 7-5, 6-1, will play alongside Kenin in the second round.