Angelique Kerber made sure there would not be another slipup against Naomi Osaka on Monday as the former U.S. Open champion eliminated the local favorite in straight sets in the first round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Kerber, who was beaten in the first round by the 19-year-old Osaka as defending U.S. Open champion last month, returned the favor to the new face of Japanese women's tennis, winning 6-3, 6-4 at Ariake Coliseum.
Apart from her brief lead in the second set, Osaka, who lost to Caroline Wozniacki in the final at last year's tournament, was largely kept at bay by Kerber, the world No. 14 and the seventh seed.