{"id":23353,"date":"2024-03-08T04:28:55","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T09:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/indian-wells-venus-williams-loses-on-return-to-action-as-naomi-osaka-progresses-to-second-round-tennis-news\/08\/03\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-03-08T04:28:55","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T09:28:55","slug":"indian-wells-venus-williams-loses-on-return-to-action-as-naomi-osaka-progresses-to-second-round-tennis-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/indian-wells-venus-williams-loses-on-return-to-action-as-naomi-osaka-progresses-to-second-round-tennis-news\/08\/03\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Wells: Venus Williams loses on return to action as Naomi Osaka progresses to second round | Tennis News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Venus Williams lost her first match back on tour for six months as the 43-year-old faded badly to succumb 2-6 6-3 6-0 to qualifier Nao Hibino in the first round at Indian Wells.<\/p>\n

Williams hadn’t competed anywhere since a first-round exit at the US Open on August 29, while her last appearance at the BNP Paribas Open came in 2019.<\/p>\n

The former world No 1, now outside the top 450, started impressively, taking the opening set 6-2 but she’d lose the final 10 games in the match, being broken in seven out of her last 12 service games.<\/p>\n

Despite the defeat, the seven-time Grand Slam winner left the court with a smile and a wave as much of the Indian Wells crowd stood to applaud.<\/p>\n

The 80th-ranked Hibino, who came into this match with a 0-3 career record at Indian Wells, will meet No 17 seed Veronika Kudermetova in the second round.<\/p>\n

Four-time Grand Slam title winner Naomi Osaka had a strong outing in her tournament opener on Thursday, defeating Italian qualifier Sara Errani 6-3 6-1 to reach the second round.<\/p>\n

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Highlights of Naomi Osaka’s first-round match against Sara Errani in Indian Wells<\/span>
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Osaka, the 2018 champion at Indian Wells, improved her match record to 4-4 since her comeback from maternity leave after the birth of her daughter Shai last July.<\/p>\n

Errani led 3-2 in the first set and, serving, was within a point of going up 4-2, but Osaka would lose only one more game the entire rest of the match after breaking to level things up at 3-3.<\/p>\n

The Japanese star saved two break points on her next service game for a crucial hold, before again breaking Errani for a 5-3 advantage as she closed out the first set and then breezed through the second.<\/p>\n

Next up for Osaka is No 15 seed Liudmila Samsonova in the second round on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, like Williams and Osaka, a former world No 1, beat China’s Zhu Lin 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 to advance to the second round.<\/p>\n

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The Dane returned to the tour last year after stepping away from the sport in 2020 to start a family. The tournament’s 2011 champion will next take on Croatian Donna Vekic, who is seeded 25th.<\/p>\n

Other winners in the women’s draw on Thursday included the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova and Katerina Siniakova, France’s Clara Burel, Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, Russia’s Anna Blinkova and China’s Xinyu Wang.<\/p>\n

The United States’ Danielle Collins completed a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (8-6) win over Russia’s Erika Andreeva, setting up a clash in the next round with world No 1 Iga Swiatek, who edged her out in three sets at the Australian Open in January.<\/p>\n

Murray back in action on Friday<\/h3>\n

Andy Murray<\/strong>, who produced an accomplished display to beat David Goffin in straight sets last time out now takes on fifth seed Andrey Rublev on Friday in a real test from 9pm UK time<\/strong>, live on Sky Sports Tennis<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Andy Murray breaks down his win over David Goffin in the first round at Indian Wells and looks ahead to his next match against Andrey Rublev<\/span>
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British men’s No 1 and 2021 champion here, Cameron Norrie<\/strong>, will start his tournament on Saturday against Lorenzo Sonego after receiving a bye through to the second round due to being seeded No 28.<\/p>\n

World No 1 Swiatek and defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina also take to the court in ‘Tennis Paradise’ on Friday, as does Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner.<\/p>\n

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The only remaining Brit in the women’s draw, Emma Raducanu<\/strong>, moved into the second round with victory in straight sets over Rebeka Masarova<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n

The 21-year-old, given a wild card at this tournament, set up a meeting with Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska as she got past Spanish qualifier Masarova 6-2 6-3.<\/p>\n

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Highlights of Emma Raducanu’s first round match against Rebeka Masarova in Indian Wells<\/span>
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Looking ahead to Raducanu’s match with Yastremska on Saturday, Sky Sports’<\/em> Laura Robson said: “There’s going to be some heavy hitting. It’s going to be a match where you’re not going to get much rhythm from Yastremska because it’s going to be a winner or an error.<\/p>\n

“I think in some ways you know what you’re going to get but if you’re overthink a few of your shots then you’re going to get exposed. It’s going to be a fun one.”<\/p>\n

How to watch play on Sky Sports Tennis<\/h3>\n
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\n The stars of tennis will appear on the new Sky Sports Tennis channel every day
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Sky Sports has confirmed a new home for tennis in the UK and Ireland, with Sky Sports Tennis on Sky and NOW, making tennis content available all day, every day for fans.<\/p>\n

Sky Sports will broadcast more live tennis than anywhere else, bringing over 4,000 matches from more than 80 tournaments a year on the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as full coverage of the US Open, all exclusively live.<\/p>\n

Non-Sky subscribers can stream live matches with a NOW Sports Day and Month Membership<\/a>, via Sky Sports Tennis<\/em>, Sky Sports Arena<\/em>, and Sky Sports Mix<\/em> channels.<\/p>\n

For further access, fans will also be able to follow their favourite players and gain deeper insights from both Tours via Sky Sports News<\/em>, the Sky Sports<\/em> app, on SkySports.com and via Sky Sports<\/em> social channels.<\/p>\n

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Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours<\/span>
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Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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You can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!<\/p>\n

Find out more here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – just \u00a321 a month for 12 months. No contract, cancel anytime.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Francis Ngannou takes place on Friday March 8, live on Sky Sports Box Office with the main event expected around 11pm. Book now!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Venus Williams lost her first match back on tour for six months as the 43-year-old faded badly to succumb 2-6 6-3 6-0