Tokyo (AFP)

From the second day of the Olympics, Naomi Osaka lost her main rival for gold, the Australian Ashleigh Barty, world No. 1, eliminated early Sunday in Tokyo, where there will be a new Olympic champion in men after the withdrawal the singles of Andy Murray, double title holder.

Two days after lighting the flame, the Japanese was reassured by winning her first competitive match since her withdrawal in the second round from Roland Garros, due to psychological distress.

The star said she was "exhilarated and happy again" after her victory over China's Zheng Saisai, 6-1, 6-4.

"The break I took was more than welcome. (...) I am more than ever fully focused on tennis. Playing the Olympics has always been my dream since I was little," added Osaka, who will meet in the next round the Swiss Viktorija Golubic (50th).

Barty, a recent Wimbledon winner, was released in straight sets (6-4, 6-3) by the 48th in the world, the Spaniard Sara Sorribes.

Surprised by the solid game of her opponent, she made too many mistakes (27) to be able to win.

"I'm disappointed that I didn't make it today, it wasn't my day," Barty commented.

"I never managed to feel good on the court or to impose my game. I was really too irregular and made too many mistakes," she regretted.

Murray, crowned in 2012 in London and in 2016 in Rio, preferred, for medical reasons, to privilege the double.

"I am very disappointed to have to give up, but the medical staff advised me not to participate in two tournaments, so I made the difficult decision to withdraw from the singles draw and focus on the doubles with Joe" Salisbury , explained the Scotsman.

Former world No. 1 who fell to 104th in the ATP ranking, he had to play his first singles round on Sunday against Felix Auger-Aliassime (15th).

The young Canadian lost to the Scottish substitute, the Australian Max Purcell, 190th in the world.

On Saturday, he crossed the first round of the doubles, beating with Joe Salisbury in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) the French Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who were among the favorites for the title.

At 34, the three-time Grand Slam winner has been collecting injuries for several years after a heavy hip operation in January 2018. In doubles, he never went beyond the second round at the Games, where he was until here aligned with his older brother Jamie.

The Spanish Carla Suarez (206th), in remission from cancer for just a few months and who is playing her last Olympics before retiring, qualified for the second round.

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