Confident Osaka eases through at Miami Open

Naomi Osaka took another confident step in her comeback from maternity leave by easing past Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday to move into the second round of the Miami Open, where another returning mother awaits.

Cocciaretto, ranked 51st in the world, represented a potentially tricky first test for Osaka with the Italian coming into Miami having won the WTA 125 event in Charleston last week.

But the step up in class proved too much as Osaka showed flashes of the form that carried her to four Grand Slam crowns, breaking Cocciaretto at the first opportunity while never allowing her opponent a break chance in the opening set.

Osaka only needed one break in the second as well to get the job done, closing out the contest with an ace on her second match point.

The Japanese player next faces Ukrainian 15th seed Elina Svitolina, who is less than year into her return from maternity leave.

Earlier on Hard Rock Stadium court, Sloane Stephens celebrated her 31st birthday by beating Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-2 6-3 in a one-sided battle between former Grand Slam champions.

Florida native and 2018 Miami champion Stephens converted four of her eight break point chances against Kerber and dropped serve once in the 70-minute match.

Up next for the 2017 US Open champion, who fell in the third round at Indian Wells last week, is Romania's Sorana Cirstea.

In an all-American first round match-up, qualifier Katie Volynets upset compatriot and former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-2 4-6 6-3, while Croatia's Donna Vekic was a 6-4 2-6 6-2 winner against big-hitting Czech Karolina Pliskova.

Massive 🔥@naomiosaka ends a blistering rally with an explosive inside-out backhand winner 😮#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/voHMdgiFeU

— wta (@WTA) March 20, 2024