Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has clinched a very notable win over Daria Kasatkina in the Rome Open third round.
Osaka, who is playing in Rome this week for the first time since 2021, ousted No. 10 seed Kasatkina 6-3 6-3 to progress in the round-of-16 at Foro Italico for just the second time in her career.
By beating Kasatkina, Osaka earned her first back-to-back wins on clay this season. Also, Osaka improved to 2-0 versus Kasatkina as she previously also beat the Russian in their first meeting in the 2018 Indian Wells final.
For a place in the Rome quarterfinal, Osaka will be battling against either 2024 Australian Open finalist Zheng Qinwen or rising Czech star Linda Noskova.
How Osaka beat Kasatkina?
Osaka came out firing, claiming an early break for a 3-0 lead and she also had a chance to go up by a double break but Kasatkina managed to save two consecutive break points in the fourth game and finally get on the board.
In the fifth game, Osaka experienced first potential danger on her serve but saved two break points to go 4-1 up. But Kasatkina kept pressing and earned another break points in the seventh game – and this time she realized to get the break back.
However, blowing an early…
