Reigning champion Naomi Osaka and top-ranked Ashleigh Barty both comfortably made the second round of the 2022 Australian Open on Monday, while 2020 champion Sofia Kenin lost in straight sets to Madison Keys.
Naomi Osaka started her title defense with a confident 6-3 6-3 victory over Australian Open debutante Camila Osorio of Colombia. The four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set before the 20-year-old Osorio battled back. In the second set, Osaka went up a break as Osorio made three double faults in a row.
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty needed just 54 minutes to get past qualifier Lesia Tsurenko 6-0 6-1. The home favorite won 11 games in a row before her Ukrainian opponent managed to avoid a double bagel.
Fresh from lifting her first title in over two years at the Adelaide International 2, Madison Keys eliminated 11th seed Sofia Kenin 7-6(2) 7-5. Kenin was playing only her third tournament since last July and was one of four former Australian Open champions in the draw.
American world No.51 Keys recorded 15 aces to her opponent’s zero! The 23-year-old Kenin, currently ranked No.13, is projected to fall to No.91 in the WTA rankings!
No longer a Fila representative, Kenin is now sponsored by FP Movement!
Coco Gauff, the youngest player in the draw, was upset by Wang Qiang 6-4 6-2, as the Chinese recorded her first victory over the American in their three career meetings.
Maria Sakkari, Elina Svitolina, Belinda Bencic, Barbora Krejcikova, and Victoria Azarenka all advanced to the second round in straight sets on Monday.
