Miami Open 2024: Naomi Osaka calls Elina Svitolina tie an ‘incredible honour’ after downing Elisabetta Cocciaretto

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka said it will be “an incredible honour” to face Elina Svitolina at the Miami Open after powering past Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the first round.

Osaka’s comeback from maternity leave continued with a 6-3 6-4 victory that earned her a tie against the Ukrainian.

Svitolina, the 15th seed in Miami, made an incredible comeback to the WTA Tour in April 2023 following the birth of her daughter, reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open and semi-finals at Wimbledon.

And four-time major winner Osaka could not hide her excitement at the draw after a confident 78-minute victory over Cocciaretto.

“It’s going to be a really incredible honour to play against her,” Osaka said.

She added: “I remember watching [Svitolina] playing Wimbledon while I was pregnant, and I remember thinking that I want to be there too one day.

“She’s always just been a really great player, so it’s not surprising to me she’s back in the top 20. It’s more like that’s where she belongs.”

Osaka, who gave birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023, returned to the Tour at the start of the year and has steadily improved, reaching the quarter-finals in Qatar last month.

The seven-time Tour titlist reached the final in her last Miami appearance in 2022, losing to Iga Swiatek, and got her bid for another deep run off to a good start with a fifth win in her last seven matches.

Cocciaretto came into the match in a confident mood after her victory in Charleston last week, but she had no answer to the serving power of Osaka, who hit six aces and won 85% of her first-serve points.

The Japanese player raced into a 4-1 lead in the opener after seizing an early break and although Cocciaretto clung on by seeing off four break points at 4-2, she couldn’t force her way back into the set.

One break again proved enough for Osaka in set two, a backhand return winner claiming it for a 3-2 lead as she cruised through to victory thereafter.

“Honestly, this is probably the most free that I was able to hit my balls, the closest to the feeling I want to capture going forward,” Osaka said.

“I would say this is probably my best match in terms of shot-making. I felt like the balls I wanted to hit were there. I’m pretty happy with this one.”

Osaka’s meeting with Svitolina will be their sixth but the first since 2019, when the Japanese won in straight sets in the Australian Open quarter-finals – before going on to claim the title.