Tokyo (AFP)
Japan's Naomi Osaka continued her run smoothly at the Tokyo Olympics, beating Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic on Tuesday to clinch her place in the round of 16.
The day after his entry into the running, after two months of absence due to psychological distress, the world No. 2 only missed five games against the world 49, winning 6-3, 6-2.
His first match, initially scheduled for Saturday, had been postponed to Sunday to allow him to light the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday evening.
On Monday, after a balanced start, Osaka tightened the game at the end of the first set and made the break at the perfect time to take the lead, before breaking his opponent twice at the start of the second set.
The game was completed in 1h07.
In an attempt to reach the quarterfinals, she will face the winner of the match between Czech Marketa Vondrousova (42nd) and Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu (134th).
After the defeat on Sunday of world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in the first round, Osaka is more than ever a big favorite in these Games, which take place in his native country.
If it were sacred, it would give Japan its first gold medal in tennis, five years after the bronze won in Rio by Kei Nishikori.
"It would mean a lot to me if I managed to win gold here, but I am well aware that this is only the beginning," said the Japanese, already holder of four Grand Slam titles (US Open 2018 and 2020, Australian Open 2019, 2021).
"I know there are the best players in the world here, and it's been a while since I played competitively, so I'm trying to take it game after game. But at the end of the day, I'm fair. happy to be here, ”she testified.
At the end of May, Osaka withdrew from Roland Garros after refusing to appear in front of the media to preserve his sanity, before withdrawing from Wimbledon to preserve himself and arrive "at his best" at the Games.
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