Samsonova downs Osaka in Berlin WTA first round

BERLIN: Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova came from a set down to beat Naomi Osaka 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in the first round of the Berlin Open WTA event on Tuesday. The world number 20, who won the tournament in 2021, took two hours and 36 minutes to get past the four-time Grand Slam winner. Samsonova’s victory sets up a last 16 clash with American world number three Jessica Pegula on Wednesday. Osaka broke her opponent twice in the opening set but Samsonova held her serve in the second before winning a tie break, winning the final four points.