Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova pulled off a gritty comeback to defeat Naomi Osaka in the first round of the Berlin Open on Tuesday. After dropping the first set, Samsonova rallied to win 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in a match that lasted over two and a half hours.
The world No. 20, who won the Berlin title back in 2021, held her nerve in the second set, pushing it to a tiebreak where she closed it out by winning the final four points. In the deciding set, both players traded early breaks before Samsonova broke again to seal the win. She now moves on to face American world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
For Osaka, it was another tough result in her return to the tour after maternity leave. The former world No. 1 also exited early at the French Open and is still searching for momentum.
In another upset, world No. 6 Madison Keys was knocked out in the opening round by 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. The Czech player won 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), picking up her first win over a top-10 player this year as she works her way back from a shoulder injury.
The Berlin Open, one of the oldest women’s tournaments on the circuit, made the switch from clay to grass in 2021 and has since become a key tune-up event ahead of Wimbledon, which begins later this month.
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