Tennis-Confident Osaka eases into Miami Open second round

Mar 20, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Sloane Stephens (USA) (L) salutes the crowd after her match against Angelique Kerber (GER) (R) after their match on day three of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

MIAMI (Reuters) -Naomi Osaka took another confident step in her comeback from maternity leave by easing past Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday to move into the second round of the Miami Open, where another returning mother awaits.

Cocciaretto, ranked 51st in the world, represented a potentially tricky first test for Osaka with the Italian coming into Miami having won the WTA 125 event in Charleston last week.