Naomi Osaka received a pretty tricky Wuhan first-round matchup as she is set to meet Leylah Fernandez in what definitely looks like one of the most intriguing opening matches at the Chinese WTA 1000 tournament.
In Wuhan, only 16 players are seeded. And while Osaka is the 11th-seeded player in the draw, world No. 25 Fernandez is unseeded. That left the doors to two notable names meeting in the first round, and it happened after the Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion drew the Canadian tennis player, who won Washington in July.
Going into their Wuhan match, there is one interesting thing - Osaka and Fernandez are due to clash against each other for the first time since the 2021 US Open. If you remember well, the Japanese former world No. 1 was one of the top players that the Canadian upset en route to setting up a teenage final at Flushing Meadows versus Emma Raducanu.
In what was their first and lone meeting so far, Osaka made a better start, but Fernandez refused to quit and ultimately pulled off a 5-7 7-6 (2) 6-4 third-round win.
Osaka will look to avoid a 0-2 start to the Asian swing
After making the semifinal at this year's US Open, the Japanese tennis star entered the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing as the No. 12 seed and had a first-round bye. But while many expected the former world No. 1to continue with her fine form, she didn't impress in Beijing as her campaign shockingly came to an end in the second round following a three-set loss to world No. 130 Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
In the past, Osaka played in Wuhan only once - she was beaten in the 2017 first round by Elise Mertens. When the Japanese meets Fernandez, she will hope to clinch her first win at the Chinese WTA 10000 tournamentbut also register her first victory in Asia this fall.
