Naomi Oska exits the Italian Open after a tight three-set battle with American Peyton Stearns. Source image: Today
Naomi Osaka’s search for top form continued on Monday as she bowed out of the Italian Open following a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) defeat to rising American Peyton Stearns in a grueling two-hour, 43-minute encounter.
Stearns, who stunned fifth seed Madison Keys in the previous round, added another big scalp to her Rome run and will next face either Danielle Collins, fresh from eliminating defending champion Iga Swiatek or Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals.
Osaka, a former world number one and four-time Grand Slam winner, has struggled for consistency since returning from a 15-month break to have her daughter. Her comeback has been marred by an abdominal injury and early-round exits in major tournaments.
Despite winning a WTA 125 event in Saint Malo earlier this month, the 26-year-old has yet to make it past the last 16 in a top-tier event since finishing runner-up in Auckland in January.
About the Author
