Osaka Rallies Past Fernandez for First Wuhan Win

Naomi Osaka’s first trip to Wuhan in eight years – and her first ever appearance on Center Court – resulted in a comeback victory against Leylah Fernandez. The four-time major champion rallied for a 4-6 7-5 6-3 to book a second-round clash with China Open runner up Linda Noskova. 

Noskova, who lost to Amanda Anisimova in the final in Beijing, defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-4 4-6 7-6(2).

Osaka nets her 13th Top 50 win of the season and jumps to 28-14 on the year with a gritty effort that saw her take control of the final two sets with big serves and first strike tennis on a hot, sunny day in Wuhan. 

The No.11 seed did not face a break point in the final set, as she broke open the contest by winning five straight games from 5-5 in the second set. 

Osaka needed just the one break in set three to earn her first career win in Wuhan, and her first over Fernandez. 

The stifling conditions wreaked havoc on a few players on Tuesday, as Emma Raducanu and Jelena Ostapenko were both forced to retire in the second set of their encounters with lower-ranked players. 

Emma Raducan retired while trailing American Ann Li, 6-1, 4-1, while Ostapenka pulled the plug after winning just one game of nine against Sorana Cirstea, 6-0, 2-1 RET. 

[12] Karolina Muchova (d. Kostyuk) and Zhang Shuai (d. [14] Navarro) each notched three-set wins.