Osaka finds footing in grass debut with three-set win over Sakkari

Naomi Osaka's chase for her first grass-court title got off to a tricky but positive start Tuesday in Birmingham. The top seed and world No. 1 overcame Maria Sakkari, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, to reach the round of 16 of the Nature Valley Classic.

Osaka is enjoying her 21st straight week at the summit of the WTA, having earned the top spot after securing her second consecutive major at the Australian Open in January. One of the best hard-court players on tour, she's quick to admit that grass isn't her best surface.

"You know, grass, I'm not really that comfortable with it. And it's always the first tournament that's the hardest," said Osaka. "I have only practiced twice on grass because it was raining a lot. I guess I'm feeling as good as I can. It's just really different to everything I have played on. As a little kid, I never played on grass."

On Tuesday, Osaka was playing her first grass-court match since losing in the third round of Wimbledon to the eventual champion Angelique Kerber last July. But it was a one-way traffic for Osaka in the opening set. She was hitting big serves, playing aggressive, first-strike tennis. Recognizing how quickly the match was getting away from her, the 23-year-old Greek sought on-court coaching on the changeover.

"What am I doing wrong?" an exasperated Sakkari asked her coach Tom Hill. "Am I not pushing?"

As always, Hill was patient with his charge, advising her to keep using her legs and to weather the storm.

Despite winning only one of the first eight games, Sakkari did gradually find her rhythm. Heeding her coach's advice to slow down the rallies by throwing in slices, she earned her first break of the match to lead Osaka up 3-2 in the second.

After dropping two straight serves, and the second set, it was now Osaka's turn to summon her coach, Jermaine Jenkins.

"She's rallying more," said Osaka. "I don't know if I'm being more defensive with my first serve."

Jenkins, who had noticed that Sakkari was using the slice tactic, advised the Japanese star to stay low. Deep in the third set, Osaka fended off six break points in a ten-minute game, prompting the world No. 33 to tell her coach that she felt like she lost her chance, which she indeed did.

Up next for Osaka is Yulia Putintseva, who toppled Dart Harriet earlier on Tuesday. Putintseva won their only previous encounter in Hobart last year.