Naomi Osaka is finally about to be back to competitions after a long hiatus. The world no.3 has played just 3 tournaments in 2021 and she decided to take a 1 month’s break from competitions. The Japanese sensation will be back to the WTA tour in Madrid, a tournament that will start next week and where Ashleigh Barty will be the top seed.
Naomi Osaka posted a funny video of her in the airplane going to Europe.
Naomi Osaka on her way to Madrid!! pic.twitter.com/Bv0rQqtl4W
— Luke (@Luke16572469) April 25, 2021
Naomi Osaka in 2021
Currently the world no.2, the Japanese played her last match on the 31st of March when she capitulated to world no.19 Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-4 in the quarter in Miami (draw).
This season Naomi has an overall 12-1 win-loss record. Naomi clinched 1 title at the Australian Open.
Barty in Stuttgart, ranking, and results in 2021
Currently the world no.1, the Australian owns an overall 19-3 match record in 2021. Ashleigh is now having a run in Stuttgart where she bested Laura Siegemund 6-0 7-5, Karolina Pliskova 2-6 6-1 7-5 and Elina Svitolina 4-6 7-65 6-2.
Ashleigh Barty will play the world no.7 Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Sunday at 2:00 pm on Centre Court. Their actual record is 3-3.
Barty conquered 2 titles in 2021 in Melbourne and in Miami.
The Australian won 10 titles in her career: 6 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 2 on grass courts. (See the list of her titles)
Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty fought against each other 4 times. Their actual head to head record is 2-2. Previously, the last time they locked horns, Naomi Osaka won 3-6 6-3 6-2 in the final in Beijing (China Open) in October 2019.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.