Staff Reporter.
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Former world No 1s Naomi Osaka battled past Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic to earn a 7-6(6) 7-6(4) victory at the Bad Homburg Open in Germany on Monday.
Osaka fired 16 aces with Danilovic hitting 10 in a big-serving battle which lasted just over two hours.
“It’s my first grass-court win of the year, so I’m really excited about that,” said Osaka, a wildcard to the main draw.
“I think I have potential (on grass), but everyone else is also really good.
“I can never take it for granted, the wins. Just super excited that I won today.”
The victory halts Osaka’s three-match losing streak after Rome, the French Open and Berlin as she continues her comeback from maternity leave last year.
Meanwhile two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka had to qualify for this week’s main draw, but eased past wild card Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-2.
Elsewhere Croatian Donna Vekic lost to Diana Shnaider in last year’s Bad Homburg final, but she reversed that result on Monday.
Vekic saved all four break points she faced to sweep past the sixth seeded Russian 6-3, 6-3. She next plays Czech Linda Noskova who beat Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-2.