On May 7, 2025, Naomi Osaka made a strong statement at the Internazionali d'Italia in Rome, defeating Italian wildcard Sara Errani in the first round with a score of 6-2, 6-3. The match, which lasted 1 hour and 19 minutes, showcased Osaka's superior ball speed and skill, as she dominated the first set and rallied effectively in the second to secure her place in the next round.
Errani, currently ranked 177th in the WTA standings, faced the former world number one with high hopes but struggled to keep pace with Osaka's powerful game. The Italian veteran, a finalist in Rome back in 2013, showed glimpses of her potential, particularly in the second set when she initially broke Osaka's serve to lead 3-1. However, the Japanese star quickly regained control, winning five consecutive games to clinch the match.
"It's not easy to accept that I try to do things, but my body doesn't react as I would like, and my shots don't go where I want them to go," Errani reflected after the match. She acknowledged having opportunities to capitalize on her momentum in the second set but lamented, "I could have done better from the baseline since we were playing on clay."
Osaka's victory sets her up for a second-round clash against Spain's Paula Badosa, the tournament's ninth seed. Badosa received a bye in the first round and will be looking to make an impact in this prestigious event.
Meanwhile, Viktoria Azarenka also advanced to the second round, defeating Colombia's Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-3. Azarenka's performance was impressive, as she capitalized on Osorio's inability to hold serve throughout the first set. The Belarusian will face Poland's Magdalena Frech, the 26th seed, in her next match.
Kamilla Rakhimova, entering the tournament as a lucky loser after replacing Marketa Vondrousova, continued her strong form by defeating China's Xinyu Wang 6-3, 6-2. Rakhimova will next take on Emma Navarro, the tenth seed from the United States.
Errani's exit from the singles competition leaves her with a focus on the doubles event, where she will partner with Jasmine Paolini, the defending champions from 2024. Last year, Errani and Paolini triumphed over Coco Gauff and Erin Routliffe to claim the title in Rome.
As for Paolini, she is set to debut in the singles draw on May 9, 2025, against New Zealand's Lulu Sun, who is currently ranked 46th in the world. The Italian fans will be hoping for a strong showing from Paolini as she looks to continue the legacy of success established by Errani in the doubles.
With the tournament in full swing, other Italian players are also competing on May 7, including Zucchini-Mboko, Cocciaretto-Avanesyan, Stefanini-Kudermetova, Urgesi-Andreescu, Sonego-Burruchaga, Passaro-Tseng, and Bu Y. – Darderi, who will close the day on the central court.
As the Internazionali d'Italia progresses, the spotlight will be on Osaka as she aims to reclaim her status among the elite in women's tennis, while Errani looks to shift her focus to doubles, possibly marking the end of her singles career after this season.
