FILE– Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts against Jasmine Paolini of Italy during their match on day 7 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 24, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Rich Storry/Getty Images/AFP
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka crashed out of the Madrid Open 2025 in the first round on Tuesday with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat by Lucia Bronzetti.
The Japanese former world number one, ranked 55th, battled back with a strong second set after losing the first, but eventually came up short against her determined Italian opponent.
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“From the outside maybe it seems easy but when you’re on the court against a great champion like her it’s always difficult — I’m proud with how I managed the match,” said Bronzetti.
“She hit the ball very strong… I tried to make some variation in my game like drop shot, I got a lot of points with that.”
Osaka, who is still finding form after a 15-month break from tennis and last played at the Miami Open in March, secured two break points in the fourth game of the first set which she spurned.
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Bronzetti broke in the seventh and served it out, before Osaka responded strongly.
The 27-year-old secured three breaks of serve and conceded one to force a decider.
Osaka immediately conceded a break and despite wrestling back on serve at 3-3 when she took her fifth break point of the game, was broken herself again straight away.
Bronzetti triumphed when Osaka slipped as she tried to reach a cross-court shot.
The Italian will face American world number five Madison Keys in the second round.
“I played against her two times, it’s going to be a real tough match like today,” said Bronzetti.
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