Naomi Osaka of Japan plays in a first-round match at the Silicon Valley Classic against China's Zheng Qinwen on Aug. 2, 2022, in San Jose, California. (Kyodo)
SAN JOSE California -- Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka made a winning return to the court on Tuesday, beating China's Zheng Qinwen 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in a challenging first-round match at the Silicon Valley Classic.
Coming back from an Achilles injury that kept her sidelined since her first-round exit from the French Open, Osaka had her hands full against the 19-year-old Zheng, who looked to match the four-time Grand Slam winner's power from the baseline.
One break decided each of the first two sets before world No. 41 Osaka took control against her 51st-ranked opponent in the deciding set.
Osaka, who received a wild card entry to the U.S. Open warmup in San Jose, will face French Open runner-up Coco Gauff in the second round.
The Japanese star has won two of her three previous meetings with American world No. 11 Gauff. (Kyodo)
