Naomi Osaka will look to bounce back at the Wuhan Open after suffering a shock exit at the China Open.
Osaka, who had been in excellent form after reaching the US Open semi-finals, was stunned by world number 130 Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the China Open round of 64.
In Wuhan, the Japanese star will have the opportunity to prove whether this result was merely a blip or whether it was indicative of future form.
Unfortunately for Osaka, her opportunity to rebound has become significantly tougher following the release of the Wuhan Open draw.
Naomi Osaka’s tough Wuhan Open draw
Naomi Osaka’s potential run to Wuhan Open glory is littered with Grand Slam winners and finalists.
In her first match, Osaka faces 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, who is an excellent hard-court player and recently won the Washington Open.
If the four-time Grand Slam champion navigates her way past Fernandez, she will likely face 20-year-old Czech star Linda Noskova.
Noskova recently became the youngest Czech player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 event since 1990 while competing at the China Open.
If Osaka, seeded 11th, defeats Noskova, she will likely be rewarded with an even tougher task: 2022 Wimbledon Ladies Singles champion, Elena Rybakina.
The Japanese star, if she defeated Rybakina, would most probably play world number one and recent US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.
Leylah Fernandez defeated Naomi Osaka in their only previous meeting
Naomi Osaka and Leylah Fernandez’s only previous meeting on the WTA Tour came during the 2021 US Open.
Fernandez, aged 19 at the time, was in the midst of a fairytale run to the US Open final when she met Osaka in the third round.
The Canadian defeated the defending US Open champion, 5-7, 7-6, 6-4.
After defeating Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka, Fernandez was defeated by fellow teenager Emma Raducanu in the US Open final.
