RETIRING German Angelique Kerber ensured her swan song had at least one more chapter after defeating Naomi Osaka in a battle of the former world number ones in the first round of the Paris Olympics. Kerber won 7-5 6-3 to book her place in the second round as she looked to go out on a high.

The 2016 Olympic silver medallist needed 68 minutes to overcome her opponent in a clash between players who have won seven Grand Slam titles between them. It looked as if the Japanese competitor would get away to the perfect start, claiming the early break and going up 3-1 in the first set. However Kerber broke back to level the scores and the pair went toe-for-toe into the 12th game.

In the end, a dominant return game from the German saw Kerber break Osaka to love to claim the first set and continued to mount the pressure on her opponent. Kerber’s backhand posed a problem for Osaka, with her trademark short able to ensure she held serve, and then in the seventh game of the second set, secured the crucial break.

Kerber would win the four three games of the match to take the win, moving to a 5-2 head-to-head record against Osaka in what was their first – and last – meeting on clay. Five of the previous six meetings between the pair came in the years of 2017-18.

The German won a remarkable 75.7 per cent of her first serve points and 77 per cent of her second serve points. She only hit the 12 winners to Osaka’s 23, but hit far less errors (18-46) in the win.

Kerber will next face Romanian Jaqueline Cristian who upset 17th seed Caroline Garcia in a come-from-behind victory to oust the home nation hope. Cristian won 5-7 6-3 6-4 on Court Suzanne Lenglen in the late match while most others were washed out.

AROUND THE COURTS

The two other singles matches in action saw top four seeds Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini advance through to the second round of the Olympics with victories over Romanians. Swiatek knocked off Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2 7-5, while Paolini fought past Ana Bogdan 7-5 6-3.

Due to the rain, just one women’s doubles match was played. American top seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula got off to the perfect start with a crushing 6-3 6-1 win over Australian pair Ellen Perez and Daria Saville.