Naomi Osaka’s return to the Rome Open came to an end in the last 16 as she suffered a straight-set defeat to Zheng Qinwen. The four-time Grand Slam champion fell 6-2, 6-3 to the seventh-seeded player in a match that lasted one hour and 24 minutes.
Ranked at 173 in the world, Osaka was competing at the Foro Italico for the first time in three years after a hiatus from the tour.
Although she couldn’t replicate her quarter-final run in Doha, Osaka had a notable moment in the tournament by defeating a top-20 ranked player on clay for the first time in her career.
Zheng Qinwen’s commanding victory over Osaka sets up a quarter-final clash with either Paula Badosa or third seed Coco Gauff.
Meanwhile, other matches at the Rome Open include Iga Swiatek facing Angelique Kerber and Aryna Sabalenka taking on Elina Svitolina.
