Naomi Osaka, the esteemed former World No. 1 in tennis, is gearing up for her comeback to the clay court scene after a hiatus of two years. This anticipation arises as the Japanese tennis sensation secures a coveted wild card for the Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole main draw.
Set to unfold from April 15th in the charming French city of Rouen, the WTA 250 tournament marks its third annual installment. For Osaka, this venture onto clay marks a significant return since her last appearance at Roland Garros in 2022, where she faced an early exit at the hands of Amanda Anisimova in the initial round. Her most recent triumph on clay dates back to Madrid 2022, where she conquered Anastasia Potapova in the opening round, as reported by WTA.
Osaka's journey to this point has seen personal milestones too, with the birth of her daughter, Shai, in July of the preceding year. Having resumed her professional endeavors post-maternity leave in January, Osaka has notched a commendable 7-6 record, notably reaching the quarterfinals in Doha during February.
The roster for the forthcoming WTA 250 event promises a thrilling spectacle, with luminaries such as Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a finalist at Roland Garros in 2021, and Caroline Garcia, the reigning champion of the 2022 WTA Finals, set to grace the indoor clay courts of Rouen. Among the contenders is the rising starlet, Mirra Andreeva, aged just 16, alongside established figures like Sloane Stephens, the former US Open titlist, and the resurgent Karolina Pliskova, who once held the prestigious World No. 1 ranking.
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