At the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday, Lucia Bronzetti achieved a significant milestone by earning her first-ever win against former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka. In their third career meeting, the Italian triumphed in a hard-fought first-round match on the clay courts, with the final score reading 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
World No. 59 Bronzetti had previously faced Osaka twice and lost, including a three-set encounter at Roland Garros the previous spring. However, she successfully navigated this opening round challenge in Madrid, winning after a match lasting 2 hours and 21 minutes. This victory sends her into the second round of the tournament for the second consecutive year.
The 26-year-old`s win over Osaka is her fourth career victory against a former top-ranked player, notably with three of these coming this year alone. Earlier in the season, she was the opponent who defeated Simona Halep in the Romanian`s final professional match at her home tournament in Cluj-Napoca. Bronzetti also claimed a win against two-time champion Victoria Azarenka at the Australian Open in January.
Bronzetti`s next challenge will be against the No. 5 seed, Madison Keys, who is the reigning Australian Open champion. Bronzetti will be aiming to secure her first win against a Top 10 ranked opponent (her current record is 0-8) and also to improve her 0-2 head-to-head record specifically against Keys.
