Improving Osaka beats 10th seed Kasatkina to make last 16 in Rome

Japan’s Naomi Osaka took another step in her clay-court progression as she beat Russian Daria Kasatkina, the No 10 seed, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the last 16 of the Italian Open at the Foro Italico in Rome on Saturday.

Osaka, ranked No 173, followed up her first ever clay-court win over Marta Kostyuk with a second one as she set up a clash with the winner of the match between No 29 seed Linda Noskova and Chinese Qinwen Zheng, the No 7 seed, next.

Progression since Madrid clear for all to see

Former world No 1 Osaka said she had practised with Kasatkina in Madrid and lost heavily. But a quick trip to Mallorca for a training bloc before Rome has clearly worked wonders.

“I remember her beating me like 6-0, or 6-1, if I’m being generous to myself (smiling),” she said. “I just remember thinking, ’cause we were warming up before the actual practice set, and I was hanging in there with her. For some reason when the match started, I didn’t really know how to play on clay. I didn’t know how to structure the point.

“So obviously that’s what I tried to learn a lot in Mallorca. I’m very happy that apparently I figured it out.”

The Japanese won against Frenchwoman Clara Burel (7-6 (2), 6-1) and Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, the No 19 seed (6-3, 6-2) earlier in the tournament.

In the previous round of the Rome tournament, Kasatkina, ranked No 11, won against German Tatjana Maria (7-5, 6-1).

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Rome WTA 1000, other round of 32 results (Foro Italico, clay, USD 5.509.771, most recent results first):

• Dayana Yastremska vs. Aryna Sabalenka
• Elina Svitolina vs. Anna Kalinskaya
• Sara Sorribes Tormo vs. Jelena Ostapenko
• Sofia Kenin vs. Rebecca Sramkova
• Elise Mertens vs. Irina-Camelia Begu
• Danielle Collins vs. Caroline Garcia
• Victoria Azarenka vs. Mayar Sherif
• Maria Sakkari vs. Anhelina Kalinina
• Coco Gauff vs. Jaqueline Cristian
• Sorana Cirstea vs. Marketa Vondrousova
• Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Madison Keys
• Linda Noskova vs. Qinwen Zheng
• Angelique Kerber beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Q): 6-3, 7-6 (4)
• Paula Badosa beat Diana Shnaider: 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
• Iga Swiatek (1) beat Yulia Putintseva: 6-3, 6-4