Naomi Osaka is returning to Indian Wells for the first time since 2022, when she made an early exit from the tournament at the hands of Veronika Kudermetova. Can she make her comeback successful this year? Well, the answer lies in the hands of Italy’s Sara Errani. The two take on each other at the blockbuster clash on Day 2 of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Who has the edge in this match?

Naomi Osaka made a comeback to competitive tennis this year at the Brisbane International after missing most of the last season due to her maternity leave. Not to mention, the Japanese star earned her first WTA title here almost 6 years ago. Can she repeat the heroics?

Naomi Osaka vs Sara Errani: Preview

Osaka started off her 2024 campaign with a win against Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in Brisbane but then was defeated by Karolina Pliskova in her next match. After that, she faced two shocking first-round exits at the AO and in the Abu Dhabi Open. However, in Doha, she managed to make a run to the QF, before eventually getting stopped by Pliskova yet again. Can she change the fortunes in one of her lucky venues?

Since her triumph in 2018, Naomi Osaka has only played 2 more times here. On the other hand, this will be Sara Errani’s first main draw appearance since 2017. Although the veteran Italian has passed her prime time on the court and hasn’t been in the finals of the WTA event in over 8 years, she has played a few matches in the qualifiers ahead of this clash.

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Osaka has a 3-4 win-loss record in 2024 with the same 3-4 on the hard courts. She has an overall 241-131 record in her career and a positive 172-83 record on hard courts. Whereas, Errani has won 55% (259-213) of matches in the last 10 years. The former world number 5 has a 7-5 win-loss record in 2024 with 3-3 on hard courts. But have they previously met each other on the Tour?

Osaka vs Errani: Head-to-Head

Naomi Osaka and Sara Errani had previously met each other once during the 2016 Miami Open. Back then the Japanese had defeated the Italian by a comfortable 6-1,6-3 margin. Can the veteran Italian give it back this time? Well, although Osaka looked a bit rusty in her first few matches this year, her performance in Doha might give her a little boost of confidence ahead of her Indian Wells campaign.

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So, Naomi Osaka is expected to display a very comfortable performance against the rank 100. So what’s the prediction? Let us give you a hint. The three wins that Naomi Osaka has managed this season have all come in straight sets.

Prediction: Osaka to win in straight sets

Naomi Osaka has never lost her first-round match at Indian Wells. However, Sara Errani has lost 5 of her last 12 outings this season. Out of her five defeats three have come on the hard court. So, irrespective of the weather tomorrow, the former world number one is expected to take Court 1 by storm snatching a comfortable victory in Indian Wells Tennis Garden a few hours later.

What are your predictions for this match? Can Naomi Osaka keep his record intact at the first match of the Indian Wells? Or do you think the 2012 French Open runners-up will cause yet another disappointment in the Japanese camp?