Former Grand Slam winners Sofia Kenin and Naomi Osaka won their opening round encounters at the 2025 Miami Open but took contrasting routes to their victories on day one of the tournament.
Kenin handed Petra Kvitova another defeat as she overcame the former Wimbledon winner 6-4, 7-5 in an hour and 25 minutes. Kvitova, who has returned to the circuit this following her maternity leave, had entered the encounter having yet to win a match since coming back and she suffered another loss here.
The American will now face her countrywoman and world number three Cori Gauff in the second round match. They have played each other four times with both winning two matches apiece.
Naomi Osaka, who had entered the Miami Open without a victory since the Australian Open, looked to be in strife against Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva when she lost the first set to her unfancied opponent.
However, Osaka showed steel and proved her fitness to go with that as she came through with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory in a match last nearly two and a half hours.
Having lost to Camila Osorio in the first round of Indian Wells two weeks ago and described it as her worst ever, Osaka came back well here and later said she looked forward to taking on the top players who have been doing well in recent times.
She said in her post-match press conference:
“I want to play with the big dogs so bad, and I just see everyone playing so well, and I want to do the same. But I have to remember it’s a process.”
Other WTA Miami Open Day 1 Results:
- Tomova d McNally 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
- Ruse d P Kudermetova 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2
- Masarova d Minnen 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5
- Cirstea d Cocciaretto 6-3, 7-6 (5)
- Davis d Ito 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
- Townsend d Li 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
- Parks d Gracheva 3-6, 7-6 (0), 6-3
- Krueger d Zarazua 6-3, 6-2
- Bronzetti d Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-3
- Linette d Pavlyuchenkova 7-6 (3), 6-2
- Fruhvirtova d Liu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
- Baptiste d Danilovic 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1
- Siniakova d Yuan 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (4)
- Sramkova d Stefanini 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
