Osaka crashes out while Muguruza completes stunning comeback win at Rome Masters

Naomi Osaka once again lost her first match of a clay event while Garbine Muguruza was able to come back and win her match at the Rome Masters.

Naomi Osaka gave a very curious interview ahead of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia where she explained that these events are just prep events. She certainly played like that against Pegula in another match which she lost. The Japanese player looked more comfortable than in Madrid but she could not find a way to win the first set.

Osaka was the better player in the first set overall leading 3-1 and having a set point at 5-4 but she simply could not finish the set. Pegula forced a tiebreak and in it, she proved better winning 7-2. Osaka vented her frustration by smashing her racquet but that did not help her moving forward.

The Japanese player completely collapsed in the 2nd set playing abysmally. Pegula was able to attack Osaka who looked disinterested winning close to 70 % of points on Osaka's first serve. That was a recipe for disaster for Osaka and she lost the set 6-2. Another crashing out in the 1st round by Osaka ahead of the impending Roland Garros.

A different day at the office had Garbine Muguruza. She copied Osaka to an extent in the first set against Pera which she lost 6-2. Muguruza moved well and looked well but she was just not focused enough.

That changed in the 2nd set where Garbine was very focused smashing Pera 6-0. Lapses in focus almost became her doom in the final set where she found herself down 1-4 after really lacklustre play. After that, she went on a 6-1 run to close out the match 7-5. A very close call for Muguruza who is working her way back from injury which appeared to be serious initially.