Former world number one Naomi Osaka made a triumphant return to Wimbledon after a five-year absence, navigating a challenging first-round match against France’s Diane Parry. The Japanese star, competing as a wildcard, secured victory with a 6-1 1-6 6-4 scoreline, benefiting from her opponent’s nervous serving.
Osaka, 26, dominated the first set with powerful groundstrokes and a commanding serve that kept Parry under constant pressure. However, she struggled to maintain momentum in the second set, allowing Parry, ranked 53rd, to seize opportunities and level the match.
Reflecting on her performance, Osaka acknowledged the rollercoaster nature of the match, admitting, “I wish I could say I enjoyed (the match) all the time. My heart was racing.” Despite the ups and downs, Osaka regained control in the decisive third set, saving crucial break points before capitalizing on Parry’s serving errors to clinch victory.
“These are the type of matches that you kind of have to play just in order to ease into the tournament,” Osaka remarked, expressing gratitude to the supportive crowd after her win.
In other matches, American Sloane Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion, advanced to the second round with a straight-sets victory over France’s Elsa Jacquemot. Stephens’ opponent, Victoria Azarenka, withdrew due to a shoulder injury, altering the match lineup for the day.
Wimbledon continues to unfold with former champions and rising stars alike striving for glory on the renowned grass courts of the All England Club.
