Osaka advances to second round at Bad Homburg Open ahead of Wimbledon

Naomi Osaka secured her place in the second round of the Bad Homburg Open, a WTA 500 event held in Bad Homburg, Germany, by defeating unseeded Magdalena Fręch of Poland 6-4, 6-1 on June 22. The match spanned two days after rain forced a postponement, with Osaka building an early 5-0 lead in the first set before the weather delay at 5-4. After resuming play, Osaka broke Fręch's serve in the tenth game to claim the first set, then dominated the second set with a 66% first-serve point-winning rate and 73% on second serve, securing two breaks while conceding only one game.

The 28-year-old sixth seed, currently ranked 15th in the world following her French Open quarterfinal run, marked her grass-court season debut at the tournament, which serves as a final warm-up before Wimbledon begins on June 29. In her post-match interview, Osaka highlighted her serving power as a key asset on the grass surface. "My ball is quite heavy compared to many other players," she said. "I hope that helps me win on this surface." She also spoke positively about the impact of her fashion choices, noting that she enjoys expressing herself both on and off the court.

Osaka will face Belgian player Elize Mertens, ranked 26th globally and a 10-time tour winner, in the second round. This is Osaka's second appearance at Bad Homburg in two years, having exited in the second round during her previous visit. The strong opening performance provides an encouraging foundation as she prepares for her grass-court campaign leading into the Grand Slam.