Naomi Osaka celebrated her return to the Toray Pan Pacific Open with a victory built under pressure. On Tuesday, the No.7 seed defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 7-6(4) in the first round of the Tokyo WTA 500 on outdoor hard courts.
Osaka raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, saw Paolini level at 3-3 and then had to save a break point before regaining control. The Japanese player accelerated with a series of down-the-line winners and closed the set 6-3.
Three consecutive set points saved
In the second set, Osaka earned the first break and moved ahead 3-2, but Paolini immediately broke back. The Italian edged in front 6-5 and held three consecutive set points. Osaka erased the first two with a forehand combination and a backhand winner; on the third, she survived a high-intensity exchange when Paolini found the net.
The tie-break was decided by a single mini-break. A Paolini forehand error moved Osaka ahead 5-3, and the former champion completed the breaker 7-4 to advance without dropping a set.
A return with Japanese identity
It was Osaka's first appearance at the tournament in four years. Before the match, she walked onto Center Court in a blue-and-white cape embroidered with cranes, created in collaboration with designer Hana Yagi. The outfit renewed a partnership that began at Wimbledon and brought Japanese references to Osaka's Tokyo presentation.
The 2019 champion, when the event was held in her birth city, will next face Slovakia's Mia Pohankova. The 18-year-old wild card and 2025 Wimbledon junior champion defeated qualifier Tereza Valentova 6-1, 6-4 in 70 minutes.
Official WTA highlights capture Osaka's escape late in the second set and the tie-break. The video is from the Osaka vs. Paolini first-round match in Tokyo in 2026 and was published by the WTA's official channel.
