Sports · Tennis · 1 hr ago
Naomi Osaka beats Jasmine Paolini to reach Tokyo second round
Naomi Osaka beat Italy's Jasmine Paolini at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Osaka won 6-3, 7-6 (4) to advance to the second round of the WTA 500 tournament.
The win avenged Osaka's loss to Paolini at last year's Miami Open, their only previous meeting.
Osaka hit seven aces in a match that lasted 1 hour and 37 minutes.
The four-time Grand Slam champion is playing some of her best tennis since returning to the sport after giving birth three years ago.
Osaka says she would leave tennis if her daughter asked her to, though she is continuing to compete for now.
Naomi Osaka beat Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 7-6(4) in the Pan Pacific Open first round in Tokyo.
The win sent Osaka into the second round of the WTA 500-level event.
Osaka saved three set points while trailing 6-5 in the second set before winning the tiebreak.
The match was Osaka’s first appearance at the tournament in four years.
The victory avenged Osaka’s loss to Paolini at the 2025 Miami Open, their only previous meeting.
- Who
- Naomi Osaka defeated Jasmine Paolini.
- What
- Osaka won 6-3, 7-6(4) to advance to the second round of the Pan Pacific Open.
- When
- Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
- Where
- Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo, Japan.
- Why
- The match was the tournament’s first-round contest; Osaka advanced by winning it.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Paolini defeated Osaka in their only previous meeting.
Osaka beat Paolini in the Pan Pacific Open first round in Tokyo.
- Match score
- Osaka won 6-3, 7-6(4)
- Tournament
- Pan Pacific Open, a WTA 500-level event
- Venue
- Ariake Tennis Park, Tokyo
- Osaka's ranking
- World No. 18, according to Kyodo
- Paolini's ranking
- World No. 35, according to Kyodo
- Match duration
- 1 hour and 37 minutes
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What people are saying
The match was really difficult. I played her once before and I lost, so I'm really glad to be on the home court and win.
I just feel really happy, and I really appreciate your support.