Tokyo Olympics: Naomi Osaka goes on a cruise to win the opening match against Zheng Saisai

The Japanese world No. 2 quickly coped with the Chinese Zheng Saisai at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which was her first match in almost two months. Osaka beat Saisai 6-1, 6-4 in a match that lasted just under an hour and a half.

It was Osaka’s first match since she withdrew from the French Open and sat out Wimbledon to take a mental health break while revealing she has dealt with depression.

Osaka’s match was originally scheduled to open the tournament on Saturday but then was moved to Sunday before her starring role in Friday’s opening ceremony.

Earlier, Australian world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, widely considered the biggest threat to Osaka for gold medal, fell to a stunning 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo to get knocked out in the first round.

It was Barty’s Olympic singles debut. She won a doubles match with Australian teammate Storm Sanders on Saturday.

Barty, who won Wimbledon just 15 days ago, dropped serve twice in each set as 48th-ranked Sorribes Tormo made just five unforced errors to the Australian’s 27 to earn a shock win.