Tokyo Olympics: Naomi Osaka beats China’s Zheng Saisai in return to action after mental health break

Name: China leads medal tally at Tokyo Olympics; Hong Kong star fencer misses out on finals spot
Uploaded: 2021-07-25T05:33:26.000Z
Duration: 4 min 37 s
Description: China leads medal tally at Tokyo Olympics; Hong Kong star fencer misses out on finals spot

World No 2 and Olympic second seed returns to court for first time since French Open to swat aside Chinese No 3

Straight sets victory takes her to second round meeting with Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic

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Japan’s Naomi Osaka, of Japan takes on China’s Saisai Zheng during the first round of the tennis competition at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: AP Photo

Jonathan Whitein Tokyo

Published: 1:33pm, 25 Jul 2021Updated: 2:49pm, 25 Jul 2021

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Home medal hope Naomi Osaka strolled into the second round of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games tennis tournament on her return to the court after taking time out for her mental health.

Osaka, who lit the flame of the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony on Friday, made swift work of China’s No 3 Zheng Saisai at the Ariake Tennis Park.

The world No 2 and Tokyo second seed won 6-1, 6-4 in just 87 minutes after more than two months away from the sport since she walked away from the French Open in May.

Osaka beat Romania’s Patricia Tig in the first round at Roland-Garros before pulling out of the tournament following a fine from the organisers over her refusal to fulfil media commitments.

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China leads medal tally at Tokyo Olympics; Hong Kong star fencer misses out on finals spot

The 23-year-old then sat out Wimbledon before confirming that she would play at her home Olympics where she was drawn to face Zheng. The Japanese star had a 2-1 career record over the Chinese player before the Games.