BUILT up as the match to watch in the first round of the National Bank Open, former world number one Naomi Osaka made light work of ninth seed Ons Jabeur en route to a dominate 6-3 6-1 victory in just 72 minutes.

Osaka returned to her preferred hardcourt surface and picked up her fifth Top 20 win in 2024 having returned this year from giving birth to her daughter Shai in July last year. The victory came in a WTA 1000 event no less, with the Japanese star impressing on the Toronto Centre Court.

Handed a wildcard for the huge event, Osaka – who is currently ranked 95th in the world – made life tough for Jabeur as the Tunisian could not quite get her game working. The ninth seed has suffered lapses in form this year and has struggled with injury of late, and the first up match against Osaka was just as daunting for the current world number 16 as it was for the Japanese Grand Slam winner.

Jabeur served at a woeful 36 per cent, though she did win 18 of 21 points (86 per cent) off her first serve. Unfortunately, she rarely got a look in to control points from her serve, and only managed 12 of 37 off her second serve (32 per cent).

Osaka generated six break point opportunities and converted four, without facing a break point herself. While she also struggled with serving efficiency (46 per cent), Osaka was able to win 58 per cent of her second serve points as well as 77 per cent of her first serve points.

“Everyone knows I really love hard courts. I wasn’t thinking too much. It was very instinctual,” Osaka said post-match. “Honestly, when I play the best players, like Ons, I tend to play better.

“I’m feeling quite confident in myself as a person and as a player, and I think that showed a little.”

Osaka will go on to face Belgian Elise Mertens who easily took care of American qualifier Katie Volynets in the Round of 32.

AROUND THE COURTS

Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia won a three-hour and 19-minute epic battle against Czech Marie Bouzkova 5-7 6-2 7-6 in the match of the day. Also winning in three sets was Brit Katie Boulter who defeated American qualifier Bernarda Pera 6-4 3-6 6-1, while her compatriot Harriet Dart – a lucky loser in Toronto – bowed out at the hands of impressive Russian Diana Shnaider, 6-3 3-6 7-6.

Shnaider needed two hours and 24 minutes to win that clash, but it was a rare win for the Russians on the day with both qualifier Erika Andreeva and Anna Blinkova going down to Canadian wildcard Marina Stakusic and United States’ Peyton Stearns.

In a battle of top-end talents, Paula Badosa was too good for Clara Tauson, winning 6-1 6-4 in 83 minutes, while American duo Amanda Anisimova and Ashlyn Krueger raced through their respective matches into the Round of 32. Other winners on day two were Poland’s Magda Linette – coming off a title in Prague – and China’s Yue Yuan.