Source : ABC NEWS
Four-time major singles winner Naomi Osaka has claimed her first WTA Tour title since triumphing at the 2021 Australian Open.
Second-seeded Osaka defeated Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 in the final of the L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament on clay.
It was the 27-year-old Japanese player’s first title since she became a mother in July 2023.
Osaka had not previously won a WTA Tour tournament on clay.
Her clay-court season had started with a loss in the first round of the Madrid Open last month.
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“Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst,” Osaka posted on X.
“That’s one of my favourite things about life though, there’s always room to grow and evolve.”
Osaka, a former world number one, will rise from 55 to 48 on the WTA rankings on Monday.
She struggled with a lack of power and accuracy as she failed to progress beyond the second round of the four majors last year.
Osaka, who reached the third round of the Australian Open in January before retiring due to injury, is set to feature in the main draw of the French Open later this month.
Reuters/AP
