Naomi Osaka makes winning start to Tokyo Olympics in first match since pulling out of French Open

All eyes were on Naomi Osaka and she delivered a display to suggest that she will be the centre of attention for days to come as she breezed into the second round of the women’s singles in Tokyo.

Osaka pulled out of the French Open in May following a row over a press conference boycott, something she elected to do because of the ‘anxiety’ they caused her, and had not played since.

But Osaka, who lit the flame in the opening ceremony in her home Olympics, took to Centre Court here against Zheng Saisai and dominated, winning 6-1, 6-4.    

After the match she spoke to a handful of Japanese reporters in the mixed zone. 

Osaka is the face of these Games for Japan and lit the cauldron with the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony on Friday.

She torched some forehands on Centre Court here with a display that left Saisai with little hope of progression.

The Japanese star will face Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist, in the second round.   

More to follow.