Aside from a Billie Jean King Cup match last February, Naomi Osaka hasn’t competed on clay since the 2019 French Open, when she was ousted in the second round by Victoria Azarenka. After winning last September’s US Open, she declined to play Roland Garros due to a hamstring injury. All seven of her career titles have come on hard courts. Can the four-time Major champion begin to transfer that success onto the red dirt?
The women continue to take center stage as they complete first round action on Friday, while the men’s main draw won’t begin until Sunday. Two-time Madrid Open champion Simona Halep takes on Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo, who is an impressive 15-5 in 2021. Also, 2018 semifinalist Karolina Pliskova faces 17-year-old Coco Gauff, who is making her Madrid Open debut. And Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady plays fellow American, and future Hall of Famer, Venus Williams.
Throughout the tournament, this preview will analyze the two most prominent matches of the day, and note the other intriguing matchups on the schedule. Friday’s play will begin at 11:00am local time.
Naomi Osaka (2) vs. Misaki Doi (Q) – Second on Manolo Santana Stadium
This is a rematch from the first round of last year’s US Open, when Osaka required three sets to overcome her fellow countrywoman. Naomi was able to prevail despite not being at her best, just a few days after withdrawing from the Western & Southern Open championship match due to her hamstring issue. Her first serve was at only 51%, and she struck 25 winners compared to 38 unforced errors. While Osaka hasn’t play an event on clay since May of 2019, she was an impressive 9-2 that season on this surface. This should be a comfortable first opponent for Naomi, as she’s 2-0 against Doi. And the 29-year-old Doi only has two tour-level wins on clay since May of 2017.
Simona Halep (3) vs. Sara Sorribes Tormo – Third on Manolo Santana Stadium
Their only previous meeting was last September at the French Open, with Halep easily winning 6-4, 6-0. But since that time, Sorribes Tormo has played some great tennis, and is at a career-high ranking of 46th in the world. In March alone, she won the title in Guadalajara, reached the semis in Monterrey, and pushed Bianca Andreescu to the limit in Miami. Sara’s run in Miami may have been the most impressive of her career, with three top-30 victories (Jennifer Brady, Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur). Her perseverance was on full display, winning four consecutive three-setters in the Florida heat. After her loss to Andreescu, the Canadian described Sorribes Tormo as “an incredible fighter,” complimenting her endurance and explaining how difficult she is to play against due to the lack of pace her balls provide.
Halep often feeds off the pace of her opponent, so it will be interesting to observe how the world No.3 counteracts Sara’s improved game. Since Darren Cahill rejoined her team full-time at the start of 2020, she’s gone 32-6, with three titles. Simona has reached the final of this event in four of her last six appearances. Sorribes Tormo may prove to be a stern test, but it would be understandable if the Spaniard is nervous at her country’s biggest event, especially with Garbine’s Muguruza’s withdrawal leaving Sara as Spain’s top-ranked player in the draw. And with Halep coming off a walloping last week at the hands of Aryna Sabalenka, she will be eager to build some momentum heading into Roland Garros.
Other Notable Matches on Friday:
Karolina Pliskova (6) vs. Coco Gauff – Pliskova is just 8-6 lifetime in Madrid, while Gauff is only 5-3 on clay in her young career.
Jennifer Brady (11) vs. Venus Williams (WC) – Brady’s has excelled of late on hard courts, and has a losing record in her career on clay. Venus is currently ranked 91st in the world, and is just 3-11 since the beginning of last year.
Aryna Sabalenka (5) vs. Vera Zvonareva (Q) – Since losing in the third round of the French Open last October, Sabalenka is 27-6, and reached the final of Stuttgart last week. Zvonareva has only earned two tour-level wins on clay since returning in 2017.
Victoria Azarenka (12) vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova – Azarenka reached back-to-back finals of this event, but that was nearly a decade ago. Alexandrova upset 12th-ranked Belinda Bencic last week in Stuttgart.
Maria Sakkari (16) vs. Amanda Anisimova – Sakkari is at a career-high ranking of No.19 in the world, and during the last full clay court season in 2019, she went 15-5. That same year, Anisimova made her big breakthrough on this surface, reaching the French Open semifinals.
Friday’s full Order of Play is here.
