Naomi Osaka survived a very tricky Wuhan opener after coming back from a set down to beat world No. 27 Leylah Fernandez 4-6 7-5 6-3.
In the first set, one break of serve gained by Fernandez in the fifth game proved to be enough for the Canadian to take the opener.
Down by a set, Osaka instantly responded, collecting the opening three games of the second set. While the four-time Grand Slam champion twice blew a break and found herself tied with Fernandez to five games apiece, she didn't panic and still won the second set after breaking the Canadian in the 12th game.
Just as she started the second set, Osaka also went 3-0 up in the third set. But this time, the former world No. 1 was untouchable on her serve as she didn't allow Fernandez any break points in the rest of the match and went on to complete her comeback win.
Osaka gets her revenge versus Fernandez but also secures her first Wuhan win
Prior to the Wuhan clash, Osaka and Fernandez's lone clash came at the 2021 US Open, when the Canadian upset the Japanese 5-7 7-6 (2) 6-4. Four years later, the 27-year-old got her revenge.
A bit interestingly, this was also Osaka's first Wuhan win. In the past, she competed at the tournament only in 2017, losing to Elise Mertens in the first round. Also, this was the Japanese's first triumph of this year's Asian swing since she was upset by Aliaksandra Sasnovich in Beijing two weeks ago.
In the Wuhan second round, Osaka plays against the winner of the match between Linda Noskova and Yulia Putintseva.
