Naomi Osaka opened her China Open return with a hard-earned 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Maria Timofeeva on Lotus Court, recovering from a second-set dip to move into the next round in Beijing.
The 12th seed, champion at this event in 2019, needed 2 hours and 4 minutes to subdue a fearless performance from Timofeeva, who was making her first main-draw appearance at the tournament. Osaka had not played since her US Open fourth-round defeat to eventual champion Elena Rybakina, and she was tested immediately by the 22-year-old Uzbek.
Timofeeva arrived in Beijing at a career-best No. 68 after claiming three WTA 125 trophies this season, most recently in Porto the previous week. She had also reached the Australian Open fourth round as a qualifier in 2024 after defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia, while her breakthrough WTA title came on her main-draw debut in Budapest in 2023. Beijing marked only her third match against a Top 20 opponent.
Osaka holds firm in the key moments
Timofeeva produced much of the early flair, repeatedly using feathered drop shots and a sharp backhand down the line to pull Osaka around the court. She struck three drop-shot winners across two games and added three backhand winners while holding serve in the sixth game.
Osaka, however, was more clinical when the score tightened. The pair finished the opening set level on 12 winners and nine unforced errors, but Osaka converted the sole break point she created and erased all four she faced. Timofeeva saved five set points in the closing game before Osaka finally finished the set with a forceful overhead.
The former world No. 1 made another fast move in the second set, breaking with a crosscourt forehand to establish a 2-0 lead. Timofeeva then found the response that had eluded her in the first set, converting her seventh break opportunity when Osaka sent a backhand long.
After leveling at 2-2, Timofeeva saved four break points in the next game, with her down-the-line backhand again central to the hold. She then broke Osaka with a return winner for 4-2, taking five straight games before closing the set with consecutive aces.
Third-set turnaround sends Osaka through
Timofeeva had the first chance in the decider, earning a break point in Osaka’s opening service game. Osaka defended it by keeping the pressure on until Timofeeva missed a backhand into the net.
The missed opening proved costly. Timofeeva surrendered triple break point in the following game with two unforced errors and a double fault, and Osaka converted with a forehand winner after one of the longest exchanges of the match.
With the advantage secured, Osaka accelerated to 5-0, driving her backhand with increasing authority as Timofeeva’s level slipped. Timofeeva did produce a final three-game recovery, but Osaka completed the job on her second attempt to serve out the match, ending it with a straightforward serve-and-first-strike combination.
Osaka struck 35 winners to Timofeeva’s 32.
“It was a difficult match,” Osaka said. “I had never played her before, and it took a little time to find my rhythm because I had not competed since New York. I was happy with the way I reset in the third set, and I was pleased to get the chance to play her because, after the level she showed, I am sure she will be around.”
Bejlek awaits in the next round
Osaka will face 20th seed Sara Bejlek in their first meeting. The Czech defeated qualifier Maddison Inglis 6-3, 7-5 in her Beijing main-draw debut.
Bejlek, 20, has emerged as one of the season’s notable young players. She won her first WTA title in Abu Dhabi in February and reached the Cincinnati semifinals in August, where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys.
Osaka did not play either of Bejlek’s standout events and said she generally does not follow the tour closely while away from competition. Still, she had noted the Czech’s progress.
“I remember seeing her name and thinking it was great that young, talented players were coming through,” Osaka said. “She was on my mental list of those players. I think I watched a few points from her match against Sabalenka in Cincinnati.”
Osaka is one of three former China Open champions in the draw, alongside third seed Coco Gauff, the 2024 winner, and eighth seed Iga Swiatek, who lifted the Beijing trophy in 2023.
